'He built WWE': Tampa pro wrestlers remember Hulk Hogan

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — On Thursday, the Tampa Bay area mourned the loss of wrestling icon Hulk Hogan, a larger-than-life personality with a legacy that transcends a career in the ring.

“When somebody that has the notoriety that Hogan had passes, obviously, you know, it makes a mark,” said retired Professional Wrestler Joe Malenko.

Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, became a pro-wrestler in the 1970s.

It didn’t take long before he was known around the world.

“Hogan was the guy who set the tone, he built WWE,” Malenko explained. “WWE, WWF at the time, built him.”

“He brought wrestling back to national notoriety,” he continued.

Hogan’s legacy didn’t end inside the ring.

Before he became the most recognizable professional wrestler on the planet, Hogan had humble beginnings in the Tampa Bay area.

He grew up in Tampa and attended Robinson High School.

After his rise to fame, he never let go of his Tampa Bay roots, opening multiple businesses including Hogan’s Beach Shop in Clearwater Beach.

On Thursday, fans were stunned by news the legendary wrestler passed away at his Clearwater home.

Reactions poured in, including from other Tampa Bay wrestlers like Titus O’Neil.

“Professional wrestling, a large part of it and where we are today and the box office gates, paper views and things like that, a large part of that definitely has to be credited to Hulk Hogan,” he said.

In the ring, Hogan won six WWE championships.

Outside of the ring, he appeared in multiple movies and TV shows.

Arguably one of his most notable appearances came in 1982’s “Rocky III,” as “Thunderlips,” a wrestler who squared off against Rocky Balboa in an exhibition match.

O’Neil called Hogan a “legend” Thursday, saying he had a profound impact and not just within pro wrestling.

“I think it’s not just the wrestling community that mourns, I think it’s people that really didn’t even watch wrestling, but they might’ve seen the character Hulk Hogan in a movie, ‘No Holds Barred,’ or commercials… or whatever it may be,” he said. “It goes far beyond what happened inside of the ring.”