Someone like Hulk Hogan needs no introduction considering his overwhelming accomplishments throughout his professional wrestling career, especially being the "poster boy" of WWE's Golden Era during the 1980s. With that said, while Hulk Hogan is arguably the most recognizable name in professional wrestling, there are some things in Hulk Hogan's life that some may be surprised to see in a different light.
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Whether growing up as a kid or just first getting into the professional wrestling business, Hulk Hogan has evolved so much to achieve his mainstream success during the 1980s and 1990s. Furthermore, let's look at ten photos of Hulk Hogan when he was much younger, from his childhood to when he first stepped inside the squared circle in the professional wrestling business.
9 Hulk Hogan As A Young Child
Even the biggest and baddest men in professional wrestling were once like any other ordinary kid. Hulk Hogan is no different from that criteria, growing up as a child in Florida.
In this photo, this may look like any other child holding a football. But believe it or not, this was Hulk Hogan when he was only a kid, coming a long way to get to where he's at in his professional wrestling legacy.
8 Hulk Hogan's Yearbook Photo In High School
As one can tell, Hulk Hogan is a perfect example of a larger-than-life figure. Because of this, it's hard to imagine someone like him as a regular-looking high-school kid.
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Furthermore, this image is a high-school yearbook photo of Hulk Hogan. As one can see, Hulk Hogan looks completely unrecognizable compared to his signature look when he became a professional wrestler and gave birth to Hulkamania during the 1980s.
7 Another High School Photo Of Hulk Hogan
For someone known for his red and yellow clothing, who could imagine Hulk Hogan in a suit and a bow tie? Hulk Hogan wearing a suit of any kind doesn't seem like his type.
However, even Hulk Hogan will try to look his best when it's time to take a good school photo. Taking a class picture from when he was in high school, Hulk Hogan looks like a completely different person wearing a classy suit and bow tie.
6 A Younger Hulk Hogan Flexes For The Camera
For the longest time, Hulk Hogan has always been a physically-massive human being, which is part of his appeal as an on-screen character. There's a reason Hulk Hogan made it big into the world of professional wrestling when he won his first WWE Championship reign after less than a decade since debuting.
After only a few years in the professional wrestling industry, Hulk Hogan quickly established a marketable look. In this black and white photo, Hulk Hogan flexes one of his twenty-four-inch pythons in front of the camera in 1979.
5 Hulk Hogan Vs. Rocky Balboa In Rocky III
Before returning to WWE, Hulk Hogan was already on his way to becoming a mainstream celebrity in the 1980s pop culture. Starring as Thunderlips in the 1982 film Rocky III, Hulk Hogan had his hands full as he had to face Rocky Balboa in a Wrestler vs. Boxer exhibition.
Starring in Sylvester Stallon's Rocky III was Hulk Hogan's first acting gig in a movie. Seeing Hulk Hogan in acting before getting his big break in WWE showed he had the tools to become a pop culture phenomenon.
4 Hulk Hogan Posing With Antonio Inoki
Hulk Hogan's relationship with Japanese professional wrestling is something that doesn't recognize enough. Some people may not realize this, but Hulk Hogan has worked matches with the late legendary professional wrestler Antonio Inoki in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
Not long before Hulk Hogan returned to WWE in 1983, he wrestled Antonio Inoki in New Japan Pro Wrestling that year in a singles match for the IWGP Heavyweight Title. Furthermore, this photo features Hulk Hogan and Antonio Inoki posing a picture with each other.
3 Hulk Hogan And Andre The Giant Battling It Out In Japan
Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant rivalry gets considered among the all-time greats in professional wrestling history. Furthermore, it's worth mentioning that Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant's historic professional wrestling rivalry goes beyond WWE, even though it represented much of the company's Golden Era during the 1980s.
Before Hulk Hogan returned to WWE in 1983, he and Andre the Giant had a series of matches in New Japan Pro Wrestling, where Hulk Hogan spent a good portion of his in-ring career. This photo below showcases one of their matches as Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant were battling it out before showcasing their rivalry on a grander scale at WrestleMania.
2 Hulk Hogan And "Mean Gene" Okerlund In AWA
Hulk Hogan and "Mean Gene" Okerlund have a compelling on-screen history, considering "Mean Gene" interviewed Hulk Hogan in his most memorable backstage interviews during WWE's Golden Era. However, it's worth noting that Hulk Hogan and Gene had interactions during their stint in AWA, a promotion Hulk Hogan was becoming popular among wrestling fans.
In this photo, here's an old-school picture of Hulk Hogan getting interviewed by "Mean Gene" Okerlund backstage. And although Hulk Hogan still had his signature horseshoe mustache that would carry to his WWE run, he decided to wear sunglasses in this interview.
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1 Hulk Hogan And Bret Hart In A Friendly Picture
It's no secret that Hulk Hogan and Bret Hart are not on the best terms these days. However, some might find it interesting to see the two get along when they were much younger in the professional wrestling business.
In an image that some may find hard to believe, here's an old-school photo of Bret Hart and Hulk Hogan smiling together as they appeared much younger than they were in their in-ring prime. Hulk Hogan and Bret Hart would go to successful careers in WWE despite not always being on the same page.
