Leg drop to legacy: Fox Nation charts the influence of ‘larger-than-life’ wrestling titan Hulk Hogan

He was larger-than-life — a hero in red and yellow who body-slammed his way into American pop culture. But now, Hulk Hogan has taken his final bow. 

News of the wrestling legend’s passing shocked the world in late July, inspiring an outpouring of reactions and tributes, even one from the president of the United States. 

To honor the titan of the ring, Fox Nation has unveiled a brand-new special capturing the heart and history of Hulk Hogan’s legacy.

“He was a broad character with broad appeal, played by a big man who loved this country,” “Fox & Friends” co-host Brian Kilmeade said.

HULK HOGAN NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY WAS IN PRODUCTION BEFORE HIS DEATH; WRESTLER DID 20-PLUS HOURS OF INTERVIEWS

“His story is heroic and complicated and full of surprises, and we have a great cast of characters assembled here to tell that story.”

Kilmeade hosts the half-hour-long special that debuted on the streaming platform on Thursday. The story begins with Terry Bollea – Hogan’s birth name – playing a bass guitar in his youth. 

His size and musculature caught attention beyond the music, however, and with a body built for the sport, he was drawn to wrestling early.

“He grew up as a wrestling fan. He would sit in the second row… and watch Dusty Rhodes and Superstar Billy Graham. Those were his heroes,” said Dave Meltzer, a wrestling journalist whose career dates back to the ’70s.

DWAYNE ‘THE ROCK’ JOHNSON PAYS TRIBUTE TO ‘IMMORTAL’ HULK HOGAN: ‘A CHILDHOOD HERO’

Actor Sylvester Stallone and Hulk Hogan on the set of the MGM/United Artist movie “Rocky III” in 1982.  (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Meltzer is one of many personalities featured in “The Life of Hulk Hogan” special. He shared his own reflections on Hogan’s life and career, his memories beginning decades ago.

As the special explores, coming up in the 1970s worked to Hogan’s advantage. The local nature of wrestling at the time made him a “big fish” in a small pond right away.

Meltzer had never seen anyone like Hogan. Despite standing tall at 6’7″ and weighing in at over 300 pounds, he was still “green” in the sport, but Meltzer knew right away he was destined to become a “big star.”

WWE UNVEILS TRIBUTE TO HULK HOGAN AT SMACKDOWN AFTER HIS DEATH AT 71

Donald Trump and World Champion Wrestler Hulk Hogan at Wrestlemania Vl Convention Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey March 29 1987. (Jeffrey Asher/ Getty Images)

It wasn’t long before he captured the attention of wrestling icon Vince McMahon, Sr., who was the promoter of the New York territory of the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF), which would later become the World Wrestling Foundation (WWF) then World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).

McMahon needed a popular hook to promote the up-and-coming Hogan, so he borrowed from a popular TV series at the time. 

Thus, the idea of the big, blonde all-American hero “Hulk Hogan” was born, and, at the backdrop of the Cold War and Reagan’s “Morning in America” messaging, the timing couldn’t have been better.

Hogan went on to the cinema, facing off against Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Balboa in “Rocky III.” He became the face of McMahon’s company as it went national, a pop culture icon and an “America First” patriot.

The special documents Hogan’s tie-in to President Donald Trump decades before he assumed office, the rise of “sports entertainment,” and Hogan’s role in Trump’s 2024 campaign.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN FOX NATION

“He was the biggest name in the WWF and then the WWE… of all time,” Fox News contributor Joe Concha said while appearing in the installment.

“You will never match Hulk Hogan, Hulkamania and that whole movement,” he added.

Hogan died in Florida on July 24 after suffering a heart attack. He was 71-years-old.

To learn more about the life and legacy of Hulk Hogan, subscribe to Fox Nation.