Hulk Hogan's 10 Most Shocking Losses

Hulk Hogan is arguably the biggest name in the entire history of professional wrestling. Fans and critics will always debate him as both a wrestler and a person, but no one can deny that without Hulk Hogan - his ability to perform, personality, sheer drawing-power and overwhelming charisma - wrestling would never have exploded in popularity like it did in the 1980s and again in the 90s.

A 12-time World Heavyweight Champion, the Hulkster spent most of his time on top in both WWE and WCW. And because Hogan was on top for so long (being arguably the biggest star of all time) it was very rare that he lost (as either Hulk or Hollywood). But when the almighty Hogan fell, it was often a huge deal.

10 Jacques Rougeau

Hulk-Hogan-Vs-Jacques-Rougeau-WCW-1997-MASTER

Someone like Jacques Rougeau - famous for being The Mountie and one-half of the Quebecers - isn't a name that immediately springs to mind when you think of wrestlers who've beaten Hulk Hogan. But believe it or not, it actually happened.

At a non-televised WCW House Show on April 11th 1997 (in Montreal, Canada), Jacques surprised Hollywood Hogan with a small-package pin for a clean victory. Much to the surprise & delight of Rougeau's countrymen.

9 Yokozuna

Yokozuna v Hulk Hogan King of the Ring 1993 Cropped

Following the infamous WrestleMania 9, Hulk Hogan was back on top as WWE Champion, having beaten the late, great Yokozuna in an impromptu match. Fast-forward to the 1993 King of the Ring, Yoko got his rematch and people were expecting Hogan to triumph once again.

But what WWE fans didn't know (at the time) is that this would be the last they would see of Hulk Hogan for nine years. Yokozuna beat the Hulkster with his own leg drop to regain the WWE Championship, then crushed Hogan with a Banzai Drop to actually write him off television. Both the victory and aftermath proved that Yokozuna was here to stay and Hogan would ultimately leave for WCW.

8 The Giant

Paul Wight - aka the Big Show - has had a legendary career for nearly thirty-years. And it all began with the hugest of upsets. Debuting for WCW in 1995 as The Giant, Wight's first match took place at Halloween Havoc where his opponent was none other than WCW World Champion Hulk Hogan. And The Giant actually defeated him for the title.

Granted, it was via a very silly disqualification finish, and the World Heavyweight Title would be vacated seven days later. But the fact remains is that the future Big Show beat the Hulkster for the belt in his first match, which is absolutely incredible.

7 Lex Luger

After Hulk Hogan had shockingly betrayed WCW and all his Hulkamaniacs to form the New World Order, it wasn't long until he was back on top as WCW Champion. For the next 359 days, it seemed like no one could stop Hollywood Hogan and his NWO cohorts.

Enter Lex Luger; who emerged to challenge Hollywood on the August 4th, 1997 edition of Nitro. To everyone's surprise, Luger not only fought off all NWO interference by himself, he forced Hogan to submit to the Torture Rack and bring the World Title back to WCW. Sadly, Luger would lose the belt back to Hogan just five days later, but for one shining moment, Lex Luger had proved that Hogan and the NWO were not invincible.

6 Kurt Angle

WWE Kurt Angle Applying Ankle Lock To Hulk Hogan

It was rare for wrestlers to score a clean pinfall victory over the Hulkster. It was even rarer for someone to force Hogan to submit cleanly. However, Lex Luger had proved it could be done. And so did Kurt Angle.

In a solid bout at the 2002 King of the Ring, the Olympic Gold Medalist actually forced Hogan to tap out to the Ankle Lock, without any cheap tactics or outside interference. The win further legitimized Angle's standing in WWE as a serious player, and that the Ankle Lock was a finishing move to fear.

5 Andre the Giant

After the amazing spectacle of WrestleMania 3, the legendary Andre the Giant continued to chase after Hulk Hogan's WWE Championship. And a rematch was set for February 5th, 1988 at The Main Event on NBC. After over four years, nobody thought that the Hulkster could actually be beaten for the title.

But thanks to the crooked-officiating of referee Earl Hebner (who had replaced his identical twin brother, Dave), Andre actually pinned Hulk to become WWE Champion. Then Andre immediately tried to surrender the championship to Ted DiBiase as part of an elaborate conspiracy. The entire angle was unfathomable, legendary, and perfectly set up the WrestleMania 4 tournament to crown a new WWE Champion.

4 The Undertaker

Undertaker v Hulk Hogan Survivor Series 1991 Cropped

At the 1990 Survivor Series, a grave newcomer (pun intended) had arrived in the WWE. Hailing from Death Valley, The Undertaker immediately made an impact, and proceeded to destroy all in his path. At the 1991 Survivor Series, The Undertaker had now earned himself a title-opportunity against Hulk Hogan at the same event where he'd debuted.

In what was billed as The Gravest Challenge, Hulkamaniacs prayed that their hero would prevail against the dark and enigmatic challenger. But with assistance from Ric Flair, the Undertaker delivered a Tombstone Piledriver to Hulk Hogan onto a steel chair and won his first WWE Championship. The reign was short-lived for the Deadman, but scoring such a monumental victory only a year after his debut showcased the Undertaker as a serious player.

3 Goldberg

For so long, the New World Order had ravaged WCW. And despite the occasional loss, the NWO remained the most dominant force in all wrestling, with Hollywood Hogan retaining his stronghold on the WCW World Title. It seemed like no one could decisively dominate Hogan for the World Heavyweight Title. But everyone had reckoned without accounting for Bill Goldberg.

Since his 22nd September 1997 debut on Nitro, Goldberg was demolishing all his in path; racking up wins and picking up the United States Championship. With his undefeated streak ever-increasing, Goldberg was eventually announced as the No.1 Contender for Hogan's World Title. And in the Atlanta Dome on the July 6th 1998 edition of Nitro, the unthinkable happened. Goldberg Speared Hogan, then finished him off with the Jackhammer to bring the WCW Title back home. The fact that Hogan never avenged his monumental loss to Goldberg makes this all-the-more amazing.

2 The Ultimate Warrior

Hulk Hogan had reigned supreme for so long as WWE Champion that it was virtually impossible to think of a man who could beat him. Granted, Hogan had lost before via count-out or disqualification, and Andre had pinned him for the belt (thanks to various shenanigans), but before WrestleMania 6, no one had scored a decisive pinfall victory over the Hulkster.

At the Toronto Skydome, the Ultimate Warrior (then-Intercontinental Champion) squared-off against the Immortal Hulk Hogan in the Ultimate Challenge: Champion vs. Champion, Title-For-Title. In what was truly a battle for the ages, Hogan shockingly missed his patented Leg Drop, and the Warrior nailed the Warrior Splash to cleanly pin Hulk Hogan. Not only that, but Hulk even presented the Warrior with the WWE Title belt and raised the Warrior's hand afterward.

1 Brock Lesnar

When Hulk Hogan finally returned to World Wrestling Entertainment in 2002, he was enjoying a great comeback. Hulkamania had truly been reborn for a new generation of fans. But it also coincided with the rise of The Next Big Thing: Brock Lesnar.

25-years-old at the time, Lesnar's star was on a meteoric rise. He'd won the 2002 King of the Ring, and was now scheduled to fight the Rock at SummerSlam for the Undisputed Championship. In a grudge match on the August 8th 2002 episode of SmackDown, Lesnar absolutely destroyed the Hulkster. Using a bear hug to score a shocking TKO victory, Brock then busted Hulk open with a steel chair and smeared his blood over his chest. Hogan was not only written off television for months, he'd never avenge his loss to Lesnar; who was now truly a made man in WWE.