Terry Gene Bollea, higher recognized by his WWE ring identify Hulk Hogan, handed away on July 24, 2025, his household knowledgeable. He was 71. In response to a press release from the Clearwater Police Division, officers responded to a cardiac arrest name from the wrestler’s house. Nonetheless, he was pronounced lifeless after being rushed to a close-by hospital.
Two-time WWE Corridor of Famer and former world champion Hulk Hogan was not solely recognized for his unbelievable wrestling abilities, however was additionally embroiled in a variety of controversies, together with his moniker “Hulk”. Are you aware Hulk Hogan’s iconic wrestling identify wasn’t all the time fully his personal, and for about 20 years, he was in a authorized tussle with Marvel Comics over the rights to the “Hulk” identify?
Hulk vs Hulk
Within the 80s, Vince McMahon Sr. gave Terry Bollea the ring identify “Hulk Hogan” to attach with Irish-American followers. Hogan used it with no issues throughout his rise to fame. However as soon as McMahon Sr. handed away and Vince Jr. took over, issues modified. Marvel Comics got here knocking, claiming the wrestling star’s identify was infringing on their trademark for The Unimaginable Hulk. They warned of a lawsuit, and Hogan had no alternative however to agree.
As a substitute of a messy courtroom battle, Hogan agreed to a take care of Marvel. In response to Looper, for twenty years from 1985 to 2005, he paid Marvel a tiny royalty, simply one-tenth of 1 % of his earnings, which means for each greenback he made, Marvel obtained a fraction of a penny. That deal appeared truthful at first, particularly since Hogan was simply breaking into superstardom.
Marvel even had some enjoyable with the entire saga. They featured a 1990 comedian storyline known as “Hulk vs. Hulk,” the place the Marvel Hulk throws Hogan by means of a roof, principally telling him he picked the mistaken identify to tear off.
Initually, Hulk Hogan used the identify The Unimaginable Hulk Hogan, prompting Marvel to gather royalties from him for two many years (acquiring the emblems Hulk Hogan, Hulkster, and Hulkamania. In Marvel Comics Presents #45 (1990), Peter David and Herb Trimpe pitted Hogan (Terry… pic.twitter.com/CxpGxrxo65
— Alok Sharma (@toonfactory) July 25, 2025
When the deal led to 2005, Marvel put a cease to using the identify for Hogan. At this level, the shirt-shredding celebrity was at a profession peak and badly wanted to maintain utilizing “Hulk Hogan.” He turned to his attorneys, who wrangled a one-year extension the place Marvel obtained a hefty 30% minimize of all the things Hogan constructed from motion pictures, TV, and wrestling appearances. Nonetheless, there was a catch. If Marvel ever determined to promote the rights to the identify, Hogan had the primary choice to purchase it at truthful market worth.
Marvel vs WWE Battle
Right here’s the place issues obtained attention-grabbing. Marvel and WWE entered their very own heated authorized battle over mental property, particularly about Marvel blocking WWE from re-airing previous Hogan matches. Marvel misplaced, ending up owing WWE USD 35 million. Somewhat than pay up in money, Marvel provided WWE the “Hulk Hogan” trademark as a settlement. That’s when Hogan smelled alternative, reported the leisure web site Comicbook.
Hulk Hogan Wins Hulk Deal
Due to the prior settlement, Marvel needed to give Hogan a primary choice at shopping for the identify as a substitute of promoting it outright. The truthful market worth was pegged at a comparatively modest USD 750,000. Hogan grabbed the possibility, purchased the trademark, and took full management of his well-known persona. Vince McMahon needed the identify as nicely, however Hogan was adamant that this one was his to maintain.
With this, Hogan was capable of maintain “Hulk Hogan” with out paying Marvel or WWE a minimize.
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