The landscape of pro-wrestling would’ve been much different if Hulkamania didn’t run wild on millions of fans worldwide. Two-time WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan carried the wrestling industry on his shoulders and paved the way for younger stars.

Although names like André the Giant, Randy ‘Macho Man’ Savage, and Ric Flair did their bit, Hogan’s Hulkamania had a separate fan base back in the 80s and the mid-90s. But Hulkamania wasn’t a WWE creation.

However shocking it may seem, it is true that Hulkamania was not born in Vince McMahon’s WWE. Sure, McMahon was the one who put Hogan on every TV set, but the phenomena started in AWA.

In the 80s, Hogan would jump ship between WWWF, AWA, and Japan. However, it was in Verne Gagne’s AWA where Hogan got the moniker of Hulk and started to gain some momentum.

Bruce Prichard recalls when Hulk Hogan brought Hulkamania to life

What is Hulkamania? It is simply the wave of emotions and the excitement Hogan evoked from fans because of his sheer presence, promos, and matches.

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Speaking on his podcast, ‘Something To Wrestle With‘, current WWE Senior Vice President, Bruce Prichard confessed that Hulkamania began in the 80s in Verne Gagne’s AWA.

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Prichard noted that it began to gather some momentum after Hogan came back from his role in Rocky III. When Vince Sr. fired Hogan from WWE, Verne Gagne grabbed the opportunity and capitalized on it.

“When Hulk [Hogan] came out of Rocky III, the Hulkamania was running wild… Hulkamania is a babyface and really is a great phenom. The first time I remember, it was in the AWA [American Wrestling Association] with Verne Gagne,” said Prichard.

However, the former WWE writer also confessed that it was the mettle of WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, as he made Hulkamania so popular in the 90s.

“I don’t know that Verne [Gagne] would’ve been able to take Hulkamania to the next level the same way the same way that Vince McMahon did. I think it was a combination of Vince McMahon’s vision and Hulk Hogan’s charisma.”

The WWE Universe just loved to see the Hulkster grace the ring with his larger-than-life character. With a career spanning over two decades, Hogan has earned the right to be in every Hall of Fame.

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