'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#7 Hulk Hogan
Trending
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Hulk Hogan elevated wrestling in general and the WWF specifically into mainstream popularity. From 1984 to 1993, Hogan would hold the belt on 5 separate occasions with a cumulative reign of over 2000 days, including his first run of 1,474 days. The 1980s would see the rise of "Hulkamania" in the WWF as both Hogan and the promotion would gain international success.
Did you know a top WWE Superstar just wrestled outside the company? More details HERE
Hogan would eventually leave the promotion in 1993, originally intending to pursue an acting career. While working at Disney's MGM studios on "Thunder in Paradise", Hogan would be contacted by representatives of the WCW and would enter into negotiations with Eric Bischoff. Hogan would work for the promotion from 1994 to 2000, including Hogan's first run as a heel in the company signing with fellow WWF alumni in Scott Hall and Kevin Nash, forming the popular faction the New World Order.
Despite WWF buying out WCW, Hogan had a guaranteed contract with Time Warner and chose to sit out his contract with Time Warner and receive payments as opposed to signing with the WWF. After the contract expired, Hogan would return to the WWF in 2002 and 2003, with New World Order stablemates Scott Hall and Kevin Nash. The run would last for a short time with Hogan facing The Rock and turning face in the process during his run. Hogan would once again leave the WWE following issues with payments.
Hogan would then bounce around from the WWE to TNA and back again. However, Hogan's contract with WWE would be terminated in 2015, after tapes had surfaced of Hogan using racist slurs. Hogan's profile with the company and any merchandise relating to Hogan was removed from the company's online store. It would take a further 3 years before Hogan would controversially be brought back into the company, first backstage with the wrestlers and then with fans in stadiums. Upon his return, Hogan would host the controversial Crown Jewel PPV in Saudi Arabia as well as returning to Monday Night Raw in 2019 to present a tribute to Mean Gene Okerlund.
