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The news hit like a steel chair to the soul. On July 24, 2025, Terry Gene Bollea — the man the world knew as Hulk Hogan — passed away at his home in Clearwater, Florida, following a cardiac arrest. He was 71. While tributes poured in from across the US, few outside the region may realize the profound impact Hogan had on the Arab world — a place where Hulkamania was not just a pop culture phenomenon, but a childhood rite of passage.

Born on Aug. 11, 1953, Hogan’s rise to fame in the 1980s coincided with a time when American entertainment was beginning to seep into global consciousness. Long before satellite television or the internet’s broadband revolution, a handful of American icons became unofficial ambassadors of “Brand America.” Sylvester Stallone, Michael Jackson, and perhaps more than any of them, Hulk Hogan — with his bandana, handlebar mustache and booming charisma — became a household name from Riyadh to Rabat.

VHS tapes were the medium of the time, else spectators — be it men, women or children — awaited eagerly for local television channels to broadcast the latest works of these superstars.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Opening credits for the weekly wrestling show on Saudi television back in the 1980s (Instagram)

In ��������, Tuesday nights were sacred. At 10pm, the Kingdom’s domestic Channel 1 aired a one hour recorded special, with Arabic commentary by the late legendary broadcaster Ibrahim Al-Rashed.

Families gathered around their televisions to watch recorded World Wrestling Federation matches. Schoolchildren were allowed to stay up late, and living rooms erupted with excitement the moment Hogan’s entrance music blared: “I am a real American, I fight for the rights of every man.” It was not just a theme song — it was a declaration. Hogan was the hero who stood tall against the villains of the ring, and by extension, the world.

He took on wrestling’s most notorious “baddies” — from the sumo-sized Yokozuna to the Machiavellian “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase, the monstrous Andre the Giant, and the flamboyant Ric Flair. But Hogan was not just a wrestler; he was a symbol. And when the Gulf War erupted in 1990, that symbol took on new meaning. As American forces mobilized to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi occupation, many Arab children — raised on Hogan’s battles against evil — saw him as a real-life Superman. WWE even introduced characters such as Sgt. Slaughter, who controversially turned heel by aligning with Iraq, setting the stage for Hogan to once again embody the American savior at WrestleMania VII.

And that was the backstory of how wrestling became extremely popular in ��������. Hogan opened the door to the hearts and minds of millions of Arab fans. He paved the way for future generations of professional wrestlers including Bret Hart, The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, The Rock and the new breed of superstars who now perform in �������� at Crown Jewel — a pay per view special created for the Kingdom by the WWE as one of the very first collaborations which came as a result of the recent Saudi entertainment boom.

As American forces mobilized to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi occupation in 1990, many Arab children — raised on Hulk Hogan’s battles against evil — saw him as a real-life Superman.

Faisal J. Abbas

Yet Hogan’s strength was not just physical. His true power lay in his ability to evolve. In 1994, he shocked the wrestling world by defecting from WWF to its rival, World Championship Wrestling. Two years later, he did the unthinkable; he turned heel — wrestling jargon for becoming a villain. As “Hollywood Hogan,” he led the New World Order, a faction that redefined wrestling’s narrative and helped WCW to dominate the ratings during the infamous Monday Night Wars.

Even in his final year, Hogan remained relevant. On July 18, 2024, just days after Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania, Hogan took the stage at the Republican National Convention. Ripping off his shirt to reveal a Trump-Vance tee, he declared: “Let Trumpmania run wild, brother!” For Hogan, it was not just politics — it was personal. “When I saw him stand up with that fist in the air and the blood on his face — as a warrior, as a leader — I realized that’s what America needs,” he told Fox News.

Hogan’s legacy is golden — forged in the squared circle, polished on the silver screen, and etched into the hearts of millions. He starred in films such as “Rocky III,” “Suburban Commando,” and “Mr. Nanny,” and even had his own reality show, “Hogan Knows Best.” But his greatest role was always as the immortal Hulkster — the man who taught generations to train hard, say their prayers, and eat their vitamins.

He may be gone, but Hulkamania will most certainly live on for a very long time.

• Faisal J. Abbas is the Editor-in-Chief of Arab News.
X: @FaisalJAbbas