Japanese Wrestling World Reacts to Death of Hulk Hogan, 71
MP | Peatzilla
Japanese Wrestling World Reacts to Death of Hulk Hogan, 71
By: Thom Fain
The Japanese professional wrestling community mourns the loss of one of its most beloved foreign competitors. News of Hulk Hogan’s death at age 71 made waves last Thursday in Japan, after his passing was announced in America.
Unlike the polarized reactions emerging from certain segments of US media, Japan’s wrestling world remembers Hogan through the lens of his in-ring contributions and his profound respect for Japanese wrestling culture—a perspective unburdened by the identity-focused controversies that have dominated recent Western discourse.
While Hogan faced significant backlash after racist comments surfaced in 2015, multiple industry insiders have noted his subsequent efforts to make amends, though some critics have remained unforgiving.
Japan’s approach to evaluating public figures has historically centered on professional accomplishments and cultural contributions rather than ideological alignment, and this cultural framework shapes how Hogan’s legacy is being discussed in Japanese wrestling circles. While some American outlets have focused on past controversies, Japanese wrestling personalities and media are emphasizing his decades-long relationship with New Japan Pro Wrestling and his role in bridging American and Japanese wrestling cultures.
Hulk Hogan, who led the professional wrestling world with global popularity and played a big role as a top foreign player in New Japan Professional Wrestling in the 1980s, passed away on July 25, local time, at a hospital in Florida. He died at the age of 71.
Terry “Hulk Hogan” Bollea was born on August 11, 1953, in Tampa, Florida. He made his professional wrestling debut in 1977. As part of New Japan Pro Wrestling, he came to Japan for the first time in the “3rd MSG Series” in 1980. In October 1980, he challenged Antonio Inoki for the NWF heavyweight title.
With his iconic blond mane, stout frame and patriotic persona, Hulk Hogan was one of the first mainstream professional wrestling stars, helping Vince McMahon Jr. grow pro wrestling from a regional and territorial sport into an international machine watched by millions (AND millions!).
Hogan was the key superstar to the industry’s rise in the 1980s, becoming a crossover figure who appeared in movies, popular talk shows and big commercials. His action figures/merch, TV appearances, and cross-cultural appeal was rivaled in hockey by Wayne Gretzky, in baseball by Ken Griffey Jr. and in basketball by Michael Jordan.
His journey from the blue canvas to the silver screen blazed the trail for future superstars Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, John Cena, Dave Bautista and others to find their paths between wrestling and Hollywood.
As recently recapped in NJPW’s own tribute, Hogan’s importance in Puroresu cannot be understated. His run as “Hogan Ichiban” was the progenitor of HULKAMANIA, something Vince McMahon Jr. would capitalize on in tandem with Hogan for more than 20 years.
Deep Roots in Japanese Wrestling Culture
From his third visit at the end of 1980, Hogan put “Ichiban” in kanji on his tights and began shouting “Ichiban!” – a style that became his established trademark in Japan. This gesture of cultural respect resonated deeply with Japanese audiences and wrestlers alike. In 1982, he became increasingly popular in Japan, appearing in the role of Thunder Lips in the movie “Rocky III.”
In 1983, he participated in the “IWGP Final League” as a representative of the United States. On June 2, he won the finals at Kuramae Kokugikan, defeating Antonio Inoki, a challenger for the championship, with an Axe Bomber to claim his first IWGP championship. Later that year, in the “MSG Tag League,” he formed a tag team with Inoki and won the championship – a pairing that symbolized the international brotherhood of professional wrestling.
The American Wrestling Boom
After 1983, Hogan’s canvas shifted from Verne Gange’s AWA to McMahon Jr’s WWF (currently WWE). In January 1984, he defeated Iron Sheik and was crowned WWF World Heavyweight Champion for the first time. After collaborating with MTV, WrestleMania was held for the first time in March 1985. As a “Real American” with yellow and red as his image colors, he rapidly grew into a charismatic pop icon that transcended the professional wrestling world.
It was during HULKAMANIA that I, and many others inside of the professional wrestling business today, first became super fans of the wrestling spectacle.
On March 29, 1987, “WrestleMania III” was held in Michigan. In the WWF World Heavyweight Championship match, Hogan famously clashed with Andre the Giant in what became a legendary bout that drew 93,173 spectators – a moment that defined an era of American professional wrestling.
Return to Japan and Cross-Cultural Impact
On April 13, 1990, Hogan participated in the joint event “Japan-U.S. Wrestling Summit” featuring All Japan Pro Wrestling, New Japan Pro Wrestling, and WWF held at Tokyo Dome. In the main event, he faced Stan Hansen and emerged victorious, further cementing his status in Japanese wrestling lore.
On May 3, 1993, he returned to New Japan Pro Wrestling for the first time in about eight years as the WWF World Heavyweight Champion. At the Fukuoka Dome, a dream match with Great Muta, who held the IWGP heavyweight championship, came to fruition. His victory (despite it being a non-title match) proved his enduring “superhuman” appeal to Japanese audiences.
On September 23 of that year, at Yokohama Arena, he defeated the Hell Raisers in a dream tag team with Muta. On September 26, he also won a one-on-one battle with Keiji Muto at Osaka Castle Hall. The following year, on January 4, 1994, at the Tokyo Dome, he also competed against Tatsumi Fujinami in singles competition.
The nWo Era and Cultural Exchange
In 1994, Hogan transferred from WWF to WCW. In 1996, he formed nWo with Kevin Nash and Scott Hall, switching to a heel character and creating a dramatic break from his past image. The nWo boom spread to Japan through Masahiro Chono, who had competed in the United States, forming nWo JAPAN as the Japanese branch – demonstrating how American wrestling innovations could take root and evolve in Japanese soil.
In 2002, he returned to WWF for the first time in about nine years. The historic match with The Rock in Toronto’s WrestleMania X8 attracted attention as “Icon vs Icon” – a passing of the torch between generations.
On October 13, 2003, Hogan participated in New Japan Pro Wrestling, revisiting his home turf yet again. A singles match with Chono was realized at the Tokyo Dome, bringing his career full circle with one of his most enduring Japanese rivals.
The Hulkster’s Final Chapter
As an immortal superstar, Hogan had a significant impact not only in the professional wrestling world but also in the entertainment world globally. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005, and in 2020, he was inducted again as part of nWo – recognition of both his individual excellence and his role in one of wrestling’s most influential storylines.
The Japanese wrestling community’s response to Hogan’s passing reflects their appreciation for his consistent respect for Japanese wrestling traditions and his willingness to embrace the cultural exchange that made international wrestling possible. His legacy in Japan stands as a testament to the power of mutual respect and professional excellence transcending cultural boundaries.
New Japan Pro Wrestling released an official statement: “We respectfully pray for the peace of Hulk Hogan, whose contributions to our company and to the art of professional wrestling will never be forgotten.”
