Inside Hulk Hogan’s Life: 5 Things From His Final Documentary That Hit Different Now

Hulk Hogan’s final documentary is shedding new light on the life of one of wrestling’s biggest icons.

Netflix’s Hulk Hogan: Real American takes a deep dive into his career, personal life and controversies, featuring interviews filmed just months before his death in July 2025 at age 71.

From behind-the-scenes clashes to deeply personal struggles, the docuseries reveals a side of Hogan fans haven’t fully seen before. Here are five of the biggest takeaways.

His Fallout With Vince McMahon Sr.

Hogan recalled a major turning point early in his career when he chose to appear in Rocky III — despite pushback from WWE leadership.

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At the time, Vince McMahon Sr. reportedly told him he’d be fired if he went through with the role.

Hogan said he took the risk anyway, even after being warned he might never work there again — a decision that ultimately helped launch his career beyond wrestling.

He Wasn’t Sold on His Name

The now-iconic name almost didn’t stick. Hogan said Vince McMahon Sr. pushed him to add “Hogan” to his already-used nickname “Hulk,” despite his hesitation.

“I said, ‘What is Hulk Hogan?’” he recalled, noting the name didn’t reflect his Italian background. He eventually went along with it — and the rest is history.

His Marriage Scandal Played Out Publicly

The documentary revisits the end of Hogan Knows Best and the fallout from his split with first wife Linda.

Hogan acknowledged the turmoil that came with his personal life becoming public, while Linda shared how she discovered evidence of another relationship.

As their marriage unraveled, Hogan described returning home to find his house largely emptied out — a low point in his personal life.

His Health Struggles Were Severe

Hogan also opened up about the toll wrestling took on his body, including heavy use of pain medication during his later years in the ring.

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He described taking large amounts of fentanyl to manage pain, recalling a pharmacist telling him they had “never seen a human being take this much.” It’s one of the most sobering moments in the series.

His Final Years Showed a Different Side

In footage filmed near the end of his life, Hogan is seen dealing with the physical toll of years of injuries and surgeries.

At one point, he shared that his son Nick had to help with simple tasks, like opening water bottles — something he admitted was difficult, but also humbling.