Daily Dirt for July 25, 2025
Hogan brought chaos inside the squared circle to the attention and approval of the general public. Welcome to The Daily Dirt’s Vol. 1,353: Three Thoughts for Today.
1. The first time I saw Hulk Hogan live was with my son, Geoff, who was in grade school at the time back around the mid-to-late 1980s.
I had always attempted to instill in Geoff the most important values in life: the beauty of professional wrestling, a love of all Cleveland professional sports, the Ohio State Buckeyes, the appreciation of all pizza save the horrible deep dish, and the importance of the TV remote control as a household item. There has always been a connection between the two of us.
We witnessed Hulk Hogan at the height of his early fame on this especially memorable night (he first held the WWF title from 1984-88). We saw him at Columbus, Ohio’s arena, which was a veritable zoo that night. It was louder than any rock event I’ve ever been to, and the roar was overwhelming when Hogan made his way to the ring.
Hogan won that night, of course. I don’t remember which opponent he thrashed; all I can remember is him waving the American flag while the about 20,000 spectators soaked up every second. It was amazing.
After learning of Hogan’s passing and receiving several texts from pals, I found myself thinking about that night a lot on Wednesday. According to preliminary accounts, the 71-year-old superstar died of some form of heart arrest. Hogan had not wrestled since 2012 due to a variety of health problems in recent years.
How well-known was Hogan, and what kind of reputation had he built over the years? He was dubbed the Babe Ruth of professional wrestling by one author. I doubt that was much of an exaggeration.
In response to Hogan’s death, even President Donald Trump issued a message. Only a year prior, Hogan had supported Trump’s campaign in a speech at the Republican National Convention.
According to Trump, he had a huge cultural influence and delighted people from all around the world.
There’s no dispute.
In addition, Vice President J.D. Vance offered his thoughts on Hogan’s passing. Hogan’s real name was Terry Bollea.
One of the first persons I ever really adored as a child was the legendary American figure Hulk Hogan. We agreed to have drinks together the next time we saw each other when I last saw him. My friend, you’ll have to be on the other side the next time! Peace be with you.
Not that Hogan was flawless by any means. In recent years, he has been involved in at least two significant scandals, one involving a sex tape and the other including some racial remarks. However, I believe it’s safe to say that we will never forget the Hogan we witnessed in the ring and his capacity to electrify an audience.
The only bad thing about Hogan’s in-ring career, in my opinion, was when he took a back seat for several years, dressed in black, and led the New World Order (NWO) alongside people like Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, Miss Elizabeth, Lex Luger, Scott Steiner, Buff Bagwell, and a few more. We all knew that he would eventually transform back into a good guy, and he did.
Other responses from legendary figures are as follows:
Ric Flair: Ever since we first entered the professional wrestling industry, the Hulk has supported me. An amazing father, friend, athlete, and talent! For me, our friendship has been invaluable. Even when I didn’t ask him to, he was always there for me. He prayed by my bedside and was among the first to come to me when I had only a two percent chance of survival in the hospital. When (my kid) Reid was ill, Hulk also gave me a loan. Nobody will ever be like you, Hulkster! Peace be with you, dear friend!
Triple H (Paul Levesque): Without the legendary figures that compete in the ring, the WWE would not be where it is today, and Terry Hulk Hogan Bollea was one of the few that stood out the most.
Working with Hulk Hogan for a few years was an honor and a delight for Troy Aikman, who went from being a fan to a friend. He was just as much of the entertainer and showman that we all grown up seeing. Hulk, may you rest in peace.
In the history of WWF/WWE, the longest title reigns
The reign of Bruno Sammartino lasted 2,803 days, followed by 1,237 days.
2. Bob Backlund: 2,135 lifetimes
3. Hogan the Hulk: 1,474 days
The all-time record for Hulk Hogan is 1,042 victories, 177 defeats, and 24 draws. That’s a.838 winning percentage.
2. Did you know (Part 436)
- That Hulk Hogan majored in business management at the University of South Florida before becoming a pro wrestler.
- That before Hogan became a full-time wrestler, he played bass guitar in several Florida-based rock bands.
- That Hogan s first pro wrestling match was against B. Brian Blair.
- That Hogan won his first of 12 WWF/WWE titles by beating the hated Iron Sheik in January 1984.
- That he body-slammed 520-pound Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III in 1987.
3. Appalachian word of the day: Asthma.
I’ll have to take care of my mom’s asthma, so I’m not sure whether I can come over later.
Steve’s Daily ThoughtHulk, thanks for the memories. I will never forget that night in Columbus, Ohio, with my son.
Every day, Steve Eighinger contributes to Muddy River News. He’s a true American, too.
