Top 5 Hulk Hogan appearances in TV shows to remember the legend 

Hulk Hogan made sure to dominate not just the wrestling ring but also pop culture at its finest with his flamboyance and iconic hairdo by popping up in the most unexpected corners of TV and somehow making it all about him. One minute he’s in a cartoon, the next he’s guest-starring in a family sitcom like he belongs there. And the wild part? It always worked. There was something so hilariously magnetic about seeing this larger-than-life wrestler show up on the silver screen, adding to the show's premise and iconic status.

Hogan didn’t just bring the flex; he brought full-blown Hulkamania to the small screen, and whether you laughed with him or at him, you were definitely watching. So, in honor of the man, the myth, the muscle tank, we’re revisiting five of his most iconic TV moments that prove Hogan didn’t just take over the ring, he hijacked the remote, too.

Thunder In Paradise

In the gloriously weird world of '90s TV, Thunder in Paradise was Hulk Hogan’s wild attempt to swap the wrestling ring for high-octane ocean adventures, and honestly, it was kind of iconic. He played Randolph J. “Hurricane” Spencer, an ex-Navy SEAL with a mullet, muscles, and a souped-up talking speedboat named Thunder.

Was it a little cheesy? Absolutely. Was it awesome? Also yes. The show ran for one glorious season after a direct-to-video pilot, and while it never hit Emmy gold, it earned a cult following. Because nothing says “peak ’90s” like Hulk Hogan, a talking boat, and justice at sea.

The show had everything: cheesy one-liners, explosions, a kid sidekick, and that unbeatable "straight-to-VHS" vibe that made it feel like a fever dream. Originally a movie in 1993, it turned into a full series by 1994, running for one gloriously chaotic season. And while critics were confused, fans couldn’t look away. Hogan wasn’t just starring; he helped produce it too, proving he was all in.

It didn’t win awards, but Thunder in Paradise cemented Hulk Hogan as the king of campy action TV. And honestly? We salute that.

Hulk Hogan's Celebrity Championship Wrestling

Back in 2008, Hulk Hogan took his larger-than-life persona from the ring to reality TV with Celebrity Championship Wrestling, and it was as chaotic as you'd expect. The concept? Toss a bunch of B-list celebs into the squared circle and train them like real wrestlers. Hogan wasn’t just hosting; he was judging, producing, and Hulk-smashing his way into every frame. The show featured Todd Bridges, Trishelle Cannatella, Dustin Diamond, Danny Bonaduce, Eric Esch, Erin Murphy, Dennis Rodman, Frank Stallone, Tiffany Darwish, and Nikki Ziering.

Across eight hour‑long episodes, the celebs were split into two teams, coached by former wrestlers Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake and Brian “Nasty Boy” Knobs. Weekly, they battled through training drills, learning moves like clotheslines, bodyslams, and promo cutting, and faced elimination matches judged live by an audience and the panel.

Despite its high-energy premise, the show flopped, criticized for sloppy matches, cheesy gimmicks, and Hogan’s overbearing presence overshadowing contestants. It wrapped in December 2008 with Dennis Rodman winning the “Celebrity All‑Star Wrestling Champion” title.

China, IL

Hulk Hogan pops into Adult Swim’s surreal animated series China, IL as “The Dean,” the over-the-top head of the country’s worst community college. During one episode, Dean Hogan presides over bizarre academic chaos, including enrolling crows as students in an episode titled “Crow College.”

The persona fits Hogan like his iconic bandana: brash, ridiculous, and impossible to ignore. Even though it’s a cartoon, his booming presence steals the spotlight, parodying his larger-than-life wrestling persona in bureaucratic absurdity. The producers reportedly flew to Tampa just to record his voice remotely, since Hogan was enthusiastic to support his daughter’s involvement in the show.

It’s a delightfully absurd cameo that nods at Hogan’s pop‑culture ubiquity: yes, he body‑slammed wrestling fans, but he could equally flex comedic chaos on the small screen.

Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling

Long before wrestlers were hopping into Marvel movies or reality TV, Hulk Hogan’s Rock ’n’ Wrestling sashayed its way into pop culture. Premiering in 1985, right at the height of Hulkamania, this Saturday morning fever dream turned the wrestling ring into a cartoon universe where muscles, morals, and mullets ruled.

Now, Hogan didn’t actually voice his animated self; that honor went to a pre-fame Brad Garrett, but animated Hogan still flexed the same iconic ‘say-your-prayers, eat-your-vitamins’ energy that made him a household name. He led a team of baby-faced legends, Andre the Giant, Junkyard Dog, and Wendi Richter, among others, on wild, villain-thwarting adventures that somehow always circled back to friendship and clean living. Opposing him? A squad of absolute chaos: Rowdy Roddy Piper, The Iron Sheik, and Fabulous Moolah, cackling through every evil plan like cartoon Bond villains in spandex.

It wasn’t really about wrestling. It was about vibes. Neon, over-the-top, Saturday morning vibes. The animation was clunky, the plots were bananas, but kids were obsessed. Hogan wasn’t just in the ring anymore; he was in your living room, part superhero, part moral compass, and part marketing machine.

More TV shows featuring Hulk Hogan

When Hulk Hogan steps into a TV show, subtlety gets thrown out the window. The man doesn’t just make appearances; he hijacks the screen with pure 80s bravado and a voice that sounds like it drinks motor oil for breakfast.

On American Dad's Stanny Tendergrass, Hulk Hogan voices himself as a symbol of self-made success. When Stan turns into a snob chasing wealth, Steve recruits Hogan to snap him out of it. Together, they beat up the elitists, reclaim the lost swim privilege, and Hogan strolls off naked into the sunset. Iconic.

Over on Robot Chicken, he willingly becomes a parody of himself, poking fun at the Hulkster legacy in sketches. He also voiced Abraham Lincoln in one episode, and in more episodes, he voiced Bigfoot, The Giving Tree, a bartender, and even a cop.

In Baywatch, he somehow fits in like a natural among the slow-motion lifeguards, flexing just as hard as the waves hit the shore. Hogan and Randy Savage team up with the lifeguards to take on Ric Flair and Big Van Vader. Their mission? To save a local youth center from being shut down and turned into flashy beachfront condos. Wrestling meets waves in this unforgettable showdown.

Suddenly Susan showed off a surprisingly chill Hogan, proving he could throw a comedic line just as smoothly as a leg drop. And Camp WWE? Even animated, he’s still pure spectacle, a tank top-wearing hurricane of charisma, grounding John Cena.

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In hindsight, Hulk Hogan and his Hulkamania gave fans some of the most iconic moments in pop culture. Whether it's animated satirical comedies or vintage wrestling shows, Hogan brought all his star power and charm to the screen, making sure that he stays iconic even beyond the wrestling ring.