Icon Hulk Hogan Once Had to Make Tough Choice Between WWE and Hollywood

Hulk Hogan wasn’t just a wrestling legend—he was a pop culture powerhouse. But that crossover appeal didn’t come without some serious consequences. Before he became the face of WWE in the 1980s, Hogan made a career-defining decision that nearly ended his run in professional wrestling: he chose Hollywood over the ring.

As tributes pour in following Hogan’s death at age 71, fans are revisiting the pivotal moment when Hogan risked everything for a shot at the big screen.

Hulk Hogan Was Fired Over ‘Rocky III’

In an appearance on “Barstool Rasslin’,” Hogan reflected on the tough decision that led to him being fired from the then-WWF by Vince McMahon Sr.

“[McMahon] told me to get into my car and drive,” Hogan recalled. “I said, ‘Well, I told you Vince’—Vince senior of course, the old man—‘That I was going to L.A. to make this movie.’ So, he goes, ‘If you go do the ‘Rocky’ movie, you’re fired.’ So, I said, ‘Okay, cool,’ and went to do the ‘Rocky’ movie.”

Hogan was cast as Thunderlips in 1982’s “Rocky III,” playing a showboating pro wrestler opposite Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Balboa. The over-the-top exhibition match may have only lasted a few minutes onscreen, but it catapulted Hogan into the mainstream—and cost him his job.

“I was seeing a beautiful Japanese woman at the time, and I spent like 20 weeks a year in Japan,” Hogan added. “So I really didn’t care if I was fired.”

But as fate would have it, it didn’t take long for wrestling to come calling again. “Vince [McMahon] Jr. flew to Minnesota, we talked, made the deal, and I went back,” Hogan said. “The timing was perfect.”

Sylvester Stallone Remembers Hulk’s Magic On Set

Following Hogan’s death on July 24 from cardiac arrest, Stallone took to Instagram to share a heartfelt tribute. The “Rocky” star posted a photo from their iconic scene together and praised Hogan’s impact on the film.

“I had the pleasure of meeting this brilliant personality and showman when he was 26 years old,” Stallone wrote. “He was absolutely wonderful, and his amazing skill made “Rocky III” incredibly special. My heart breaks. I think that he’s gone.”

The two remained close friends for over four decades. In a 2024 post, Stallone marveled at Hogan’s athleticism and power: “WOW, HULK was the best. Fantastic athlete and threw the most amazing punches of all. Because he was bare fisted I could actually feel his punch touching my skin yet he knew just when to pull back… Amazing!”

Despite the rocky start with WWE, Hogan returned to the company and went on to become a 12-time world champion. Earlier this year, he even signed a new WWE Legends deal.

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