Iconic professional wrestler and international pop culture giant Hulk Hogan died on Thursday, July 24, at the age of 71 in Florida from cardiac arrest. The first genuine megastar of wrestling, Hogan departs with a legendary career full of unforgettable bouts, out-sized storylines, and unparalleled charm that conditioned professional wrestling during the 1980s and 90s.
A two-time WWE Hall of Famer, Hogan, otherwise known as Terry Bollea, went on to become a global household name. Having dominated WWE, he jumped to WCW and helped the company establish itself by turning heel and embracing the then-famous character of 'Hollywood Hogan', which formed the core of the nWo (New World Order) plot.
One of Hogan's greatest matches was his legendary encounter with The Rock at WrestleMania 18, which many regard as one of the greatest shows in the history of wrestling. The bout contained a thrilling crowd split and established itself in WWE lore.
Although Hogan enjoyed legendary feuds with greats such as Randy Savage, Andre the Giant, and Ric Flair, supporters were always left questioning why he never competed against another WWE icon, John Cena. Although they crossed paths in the WWE career timeline, the match of a lifetime never took place.
During an insightful interview on Chris Van Vliet's YouTube channel, Hogan revealed that the fight had been scheduled for WrestleMania 25 but that his health got in the way.
"You know, I'm just too battered up from the surgeries. I think if I took a couple of bumps, you probably would have to cut me up again. But no, I wanted to have that last match. I wasn't sure, I think it was WrestleMania 25 in Orlando," Hogan said.
"Vince had me all wired up with Cena, and I said I'd do it. Vince and I were communicating every week, and we were making the plans, you know, like the good old days when I was in the office every day. And suddenly I'm on the phone with Vince, I was like, 'Oh my God. Oh, my back.' My back went out talking to Vince on the phone."
"I'd just had back surgery three or four times then, and I had to go in right away and get cut open. So that did it for that, but I figured that was my last match, then you know, but that never came to pass, and then it just sort of died out."
Although he never faced Cena in a singles match, Hogan partnered with him for four tag team matches—one on TV and three at house shows. Hogan's final WWE match was against Randy Orton at SummerSlam 2006. He appeared only once in 2007 and 2008, and then wrestled four matches with Ric Flair on a tour of Australia in 2009.
Despite his physical downfalls, Hogan was one of the most lasting personalities in wrestling history. His legacy cut across generations, and he paved the way for the worldwide phenomenon that WWE is today.
