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I've been a wrestling fan since a little boy. Every Saturday night, it was the racing replay from Yonkers or the Meadowlands and at midnight eastern it was the WWF on Channel 9 out of NY.
To this day I still watch the WWE. I record it and fast forward through most of it or it's the same through Netflix.
I was fortunate to see the Hulkster wrestle live once at the Struthers Field House in Struthers, Ohio. I was probably somewhere between 13-15 years old. I can't quite remember.
The place was packed as packed could get and they thought for sure the fire marshalls were going to shut it all done. I have Polaroid pictures from that show and I'm certain I have the Hulkster in those pictures.
He was a giant amongst men due to his size and physique back then, Only Andre and perhaps Big John Stud were taller.
I really wasn't a over the top Hogan fan until he went to WCW and went heel in the NWO. Yes Hogan did a lot for the business in WWF back then from the early WM shows to get the WWF in the mainstream but to me at points it was overkill. Once in WCW he had what I felt more creative and while his contract allowed that, he took advantage of it. I've always loved the NWO and outside of the 4 Horsemen that had to be one of the greatest factions of all time.
Most people and history credit Cyndi Lauper with the Rock and Wrestling Connection as it helped MTV get to a new audience but it also fueled the WWF to a much bigger audience. The central characters involved Hulk Hogan and Mr T along with Roddy Piper and Cowboy Bob Orton. Hulkster once again helped McMahon get the company over.
He was great with kids and although he had some low lights - steroid trials, divorces, sex tape etc, his highs far outweighed the lows.
He will go down as the top performer in wrestling history and I don't think anyone will ever top what he did to help put wrestling on a national level but a world level as well.
Ask anyone who Hulk is and they say Hogan.
RIP Terry and thanks for your contributions to the sports entertainment business.