5 Reasons Hulk Hogan was good for wrestling, and 5 he may not have been so good.

In the early 1980s, America was in something of a state of shock. After the civil rights movement successfully challenged the ruling class's power, and the stunning defeat during the Vietnam War, many citizens of the country were feeling powerless.

Worse, the Iran hostage crisis shook their faith in their government's ability to protect them. Movies like Missing in Action and Let's Get Harry all tried to make Americans feel as if they still had some power.

Into this morass of self-doubt emerged Hulk Hogan, the nigh perfect hero for his time. Hogan was big, loud, powerful, and he never ever gave up or lost. Hogan was not pinned cleanly in the WWE until the 1980s were over.

During his nearly five year reign with the WWE championship, Hogan was the flag waving, dyed in the wool true blue American Patriot. Many of his enemies were foreigners, like Nikolai Volkoff and The Iron Sheik. When international politics became more complex, and America engaged in more diplomacy than saber rattling, Hogan's enemies shifted to elites like the Million Dollar Man and Mr. Perfect, who challenged Hogan's common man character.

There's no doubt that Hogan was influential and the biggest wrestling star of the 1980s, but as the 1990s began fans interest started to waver. He dropped the title to Ultimate Warrior and tried to break into Hollywood as an actor.

His efforts were less than spectacular, and when Ted Turner offered a contract, Hogan returned to wrestling. The nWo and his heel turn possibly made his career relevant again.

Hogan departed WCW under less than auspicious terms when Vince Russo broke kayfabe and had Jarrett lay down for him in the promotion's waning days. Unexpectedly, he debuted in WWE a year later as the villainous Hollywood Hogan, though the fans couldn't seem to stop cheering for him, even when facing the super babyface Rock.

Hogan has most recently been in the news because of a new WWE contract, though at this time it is unknown exactly what his role will be. With such a long and wildly fluctuating career, Hogan has been bound to make some ripples. But has his effect been overall good for the sport, or bad?

Here are five reasons why Hogan was good for wrestling, and five he may have done damage to sports entertainment.

Good for Wrestling: Hogan was the Rock n Wrestling pioneer.

Hulk Hogan and rock music have a lot in common; Loud, over the top, and up-tempo.

Hogan had a great television presence and was so influential in the 1980s that not only did he greatly expand sports entertainment, he may have helped MTV become a cultural icon as well.

Without Hogan fighting Piper on MTV, the whole pro wrestling revolution of the 1980s may not have happened.

Bad for wrestling: He lowered the standard for technical wrestling.

If you look back at the WWF champions prior to Hogan, you will see a lot of technical wrestlers like Bob Backlund and the Iron Sheik (who was known as a human suplex machine a long time before Taz.)

When Hogan took over the mantle of WWF Champion, he played up the dramatic elements of his persona and matches. Rather than simulating an athletic contest, as pro wrestling had strived to do almost since its inception, Hogan's matches resembled something akin to a Superman comic book, with the beat downs and subsequent comebacks played up for dramatic effect.

Others followed suit and the 1980s were a rare time in wrestling when innovation in the United States didn't match that in other countries.

Good for Wrestling: Hogan made wrestling 'family entertainment.'

Pro wrestling had found its niche as a form of slightly dangerous or risque entertainment by 1980. Pro wrestling was similar to thrills such as fireworks, the circus, or skateboarding, something that's a little bit on the dangerous side.

However, Hogan helped change pro wrestling into something fans of all ages could enjoy. Blood was eliminated for most of Hogan's run, and the old dangerous cyclonic steel cages were switched out for a lacquered framework, which was much less likely to cause cuts.

Thanks to Hogan's influence, wrestling became family entertainment, which was ultimately good for the business.

Bad for wrestling: Held down smaller and younger talents.

Hulk Hogan has always managed to wield a great deal of clout backstage in any promotion he works for. Shawn Michaels has stated he suspects Hogan was the reason he never got a main event push until after the Hulkster's departure.

The Hulkster has been known to say that 'people under 40 can't draw' (as in ticket sales.) He once ran down Billy Kidman on an interview, saying Kidman couldn't even 'sell out a flea market.' The incident upset Kidman so much he lambasted WCW into putting him into a program with Hogan.

Hogan's propensity to stay stuck in the same mold has held back many potential hall of fame careers from ever getting off the ground.

5. Good for Wrestling: Hogan's film forays forged a path for other wrestlers to follow in his footsteps.

Hollywood Hogan made great strides in breaking down the wall for wrestlers in Hollywood.

While his movies may never have won Oscars, they were passable for their time and helped put the idea in people's heads that wrestlers were more than just grunting, sweaty men without pants fighting for a belt.

Without Hogan trailblazing, there would be no Dwayne Johnson or John Cena making films.

Bad for wrestling: Hogan's terrible films hurt wrestling's image.

Hulk Hogan's Hollywood fare is best avoided at all costs. Hulk Hogan was great as a pro wrestler, and his interviews and promos are the stuff of legend.

But that charisma didn't translate well to the big screen. The problem is that wrestlers are being ostensibly 'real.' Hogan was playing a turned up version of himself, which came across naturally. When he was acting in a film, however, he had to be that character and sublimate himself.

The result was, as Arn Anderson put it, "Cheap, z grade movies that went straight to the video store and ended up on the shelf next to Ishtar."

Bad scripts, Hogan's limited acting ability, and low budgets all conspired to make Hogan's film career a bust. His antics may have hurt the public perception of wrestlers more than helped it.

Good for Wrestling: Hogan helped lift WCW to real competition with WWE.

Hogan, as his villainous persona Hollywood, once said that he took a 'hillbilly promotion that struggled to make ten thousand dollars a show into one that took in hundreds of thousands of dollars."

While we don't agree with his use of the derogatory term like Hillbilly, the truth is he really did turn WCW's fortunes around. These days casual fans make up a smaller portion of the audience, but back in the 1990s a name like Hogan could still pack arenas with people who just wanted to be able to say they'd seen him wrestle.

Bad for Wrestling: He may have also helped WCW's demise.

Hogan did turn WCW's fortunes around at first, but after years of being at the top of the card the fans were growing tired of him, even as a heel character.

However, Hogan had a great deal of control over his character written into his contract. He often refused to 'do the job' to other wrestlers, making sure that he stayed on top.

His tactics may have led to the exodus of WCW talent for WWE-namely, Jericho and the Radicalz.

Good for wrestling: Brought pro wrestling to multiple forms of media.

Hulk Hogan transcended being a wrestler and became a true entertainer, pioneering that role for other wrestlers to follow.

Wrestling cartoons, video games, action figures, posters...the list goes on and on. Hogan's appearances in mainstream movies like Gremlins 2 and Spy Hard help to create a bigger footprint for the sport.

Bad for wrestling: Tabloid fodder.

While Hogan has carefully managed his character in the wrestling ring, he hasn't been so circumspect in the real world.

This was never a problem before the internet made news spread like wildfire. Hogan has put his foot in his own mouth on several occasions and was caught up in an unsavory affair with a friend's wife that resulted in a billion dollar lawsuit against Gawker, which Hogan won.

The Hulkster has tarnished his own image, and that of wrestling along with it.

There you have it, readers. Was Hogan ultimately good or bad for the industry? Please comment and let us know, and thanks for reading!