Hulk Hogan, who died Thursday at the age of 71, will be remembered as a true icon of professional wrestling. His extraordinary star power helped turn the fledgling wrestling industry into a global phenomenon that rivals traditional sports in reach, income and cultural impact.

It's hard to overstate just how violent and commie-hating American pop culture was in the 1980s. The late wrestler was among its biggest stars.

Hulk Hogan called the Netflix biopic's script "powerful," even hoping Chris Hemsworth would receive Oscar attention for his role

Before The Rock morphed into movie star Dwayne Johnson, and well-before John Cena traded his jorts for a Peacemaker helmet, Terry “ Hulk Hogan ” Bollea made the leap from a professional-wrestling ring to Hollywood.

The nearly 40-year personal connection between World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Famers Donald Trump and Hulk Hogan — who died Thursday at 71 — began with WrestleMania IV. The 1988 pay-per-view event,

Years Ago, 'Hogan Knows Best' Premiered. Read Our 2005 Interview With Hulk Hogan They were icons of the 1980s, known for their outlandish exploits onstage and in the ring, who later redefined their images in the 2000s by starring alongside their families in reality shows.