Hulk Hogan Discusses Legal Fight With Marvel to Keep His Name

WWE Legend and Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan reveals how he was able to license the Hulk name from Marvel Comics early in his career.

WWE legend and Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan wrestled legally with Marvel Comics for years over his iconic name.

Per Fightful, Hogan spoke to Theo Von on The Weekend After where he recalled how Vince McMahon, Sr. gave him the Hulk name early in his wrestling career to represent Irish Americans. At the height of his popularity in WWE under Vince, Jr. in 1985, however, Marvel came after him and the sports entertainment company over his name infringing on Marvel's Incredible Hulk. "Right when Hulk Hogan takes off, we get a call from Marvel Comics. 'You're infringing on our mark. Reasonably similar. We're going to sue you, put you in litigation,'" Hogan said. "We let them have the name, didn't license the name. I only had to pay them one-tenth of 1%."

Of all the wrestling superstars of the Rock 'N' Wrestling era, Hogan and Hulkamania took the world by storm. Beyond his accomplishments in the ring, Hogan's name had been used not only to sell toys but also a plethora of merchandise and even a short-lived restaurant in Florida. While the Hulk name was always synonymous with Marvel, Hogan stood out on his own.

Hogan continued by explaining how the long and drawn-out legal battle with Marvel lasted twenty years until he nearly lost the name while attempting a comeback in WWE. "In 2005, it's over. Now, I can't use Hulk Hogan anymore, and I'm red hot in 2005. I went to my attorney, 'I don't give a damn what deal you make, you're going to make a deal because I need the name.' What happened was, I got a one-year extension and I had to pay them 30% of everything I made. Movies, TV wrestling, they got 30% of everything, but if they decided to sell the name, they had to give me first shot at it. They couldn't sell the name or do anything. Fair market value."

Hogan continued, "All of a sudden, Marvel Comics gets in a bitchfest with WWE about intellectual properties, that they can't re-air old Hulk Hogan matches. Marvel Comics lost. They owe Vince $35 million. They made a huge mistake. They said, 'Instead of paying $35 million, how about we give you the Hulk Hogan name.' I heard about it and went, 'You screwed up now.' Now, I don't have to pay $35 million for the name, you have to sell it for me for fair money value,' which is only $750 grand."

After the situation with Marvel was settled, McMahon tried unsuccessfully to purchase the Hulk name from Hogan. With the wrestling icon in full control of his name and trademarks, Hogan will be using his post-wrestling days to honor his past. A biopic starring Chris Hemsworth was in development at Netflix with Todd Phillips attached to direct; however, the Hogan biopic is reportedly in limbo due to Hemsworth's schedule and Phillips' work on Joker 2.