10 Best WWE Champions in History

#2 Hulk Hogan

Hulk Hogan: Dominated the WWE Championship in the 1980s

Like him or not, Hulk Hogan is synonymous with professional wrestling, WWE and the Heavyweight Championship.

Hogan lifted his first title in January 1984 when he battered The Iron Sheik in under five minutes.

With Hogan as his figurehead, McMahon took his wrestling promotion global and Hogan's unique look and unmatched charisma, led WWE to previously unheard of prosperity and fame.

Hogan's brand of wrestling entertainment was so effective, it saw his first reign last an incredible four years and include three Wrestlemania main events.

Although Hogan took somewhat of a backseat at Wrestlemania IV, he was still instrumental in assisting "Macho Man" Randy Savage win the gold and regained the title from his friend turned enemy at Wrestlemania V.

At 36 years of age, Hogan's thoughts turned to retirement in early 1990, incredible as that seems now and he agreed to drop the title to The Ultimate Warrior in the main event of Wrestlemania VI which was his first clean pinfall loss in the promotion.

Hogan departed to try and make a success for himself in Hollywood. When that proved unsuccessful, he returned to WWE and became the first three-time champion in company history when he defeated Sergeant Slaughter at Wrestlemania VII. A fourth title victory followed in late 1991 when he lost and regained the title from The Undertaker in the space of a six-day period between November and December 1991.

Hogan defeated Yokozuna to win the fifth crown in an impromptu challenge at Wrestlemania IX before he dropped the WWE Championship back to the gargantuan 'Zuna at King of the Ring in June 1993.

It would be a further nine years before Hogan tasted gold in WWE once more, when he lifted the WWE Championship for the sixth and final time in April 2002, defeating Triple H at Backlash before losing the title for the last time to The Undertaker at Judgment Day 2002.

With six championships spanning 18 years, Hogan was an incredible talent who was a tremendous success as champion. In fact, only one man can surpass his achievements.