The wrestling world is still reflecting on the monumental legacy of “The Immortal” Hulk Hogan following his passing last month. In a recent interview, current AEW star Bishop Dyer weighed in on Hogan’s impact, calling him and Andre the Giant the industry’s very first “global Superstars” and crediting them as the pioneers who all modern wrestlers owe their careers to.
Bishop Dyer Reflects on the Global Impact of Hulk Hogan
Speaking on the latest edition of Busted Open Radio, Bishop Dyer shared his thoughts on what made Hulk Hogan such a transcendent figure in the history of entertainment. He argued that Hogan, along with his legendary rival Andre the Giant, was responsible for breaking wrestling out of its regional confines and transforming it into the global phenomenon it is today.
“I mean, I just, him [Hogan] and Andre were, in a sense, the first global Superstars, you know. They’re the ones that took it from territories and throughout the U.S. and became global,” Dyer said.
Dyer’s comments speak to the massive shift that occurred in the 1980s. Prior to the rise of Hulkamania, professional wrestling in North America operated under a regional “territory” system. With Hogan as his unstoppable, charismatic centerpiece, Vince McMahon broke from that tradition and expanded the World Wrestling Federation into a national promotion, eventually taking it worldwide. Dyer also made a point to mention Hogan’s often-overlooked in-ring talent, referencing his work in Japan where he utilized a more technical style, showing a deeper appreciation for Hogan’s complete body of work.
The Mainstream Appeal That Built WrestleMania
Dyer also highlighted the crucial role Hogan’s mainstream appeal played in the single most important event in WWE history: the first WrestleMania. He referenced the legendary story of Vince McMahon risking his entire company on the success of that inaugural show, a gamble that would not have paid off without a star who could attract an audience beyond the traditional wrestling fanbase.
“When you think about, you know, Vince having to mortgage everything and putting it all on WrestleMania, and like, without people who outreached that wrestling bubble, that probably would’ve never happened,” Dyer explained.
Hogan, with his appearances in movies like Rocky III and his undeniable charisma, was that star. His ability to cross over into pop culture, along with the involvement of other celebrities like Mr. T and Cyndi Lauper, turned WrestleMania from a wrestling show into a must-see entertainment spectacle, securing the future of the company.
A Debt Owed by All Superstars
Ultimately, Bishop Dyer believes that every single wrestler competing today, and those who will compete in the future, owe a debt of gratitude to the pioneers like Hulk Hogan who paved the way. He sees the success that modern superstars enjoy—the global platform, the lucrative contracts, the mainstream recognition—as a direct result of the foundation that was built during the Hulkamania era of the 1980s.
“We owe our careers, superstars now and in the future, we owe our careers to the pioneers, the original pioneers to this. They are the reason it still is what it is,” he concluded.
Bishop Dyer’s thoughtful comments are part of an ongoing wave of tributes that have continued since Hulk Hogan’s passing last month. The impact of Hogan’s legacy was on full display throughout the recent SummerSlam weekend, where WWE opened both Raw and SmackDown with tributes to the late icon. Dyer’s perspective, as a modern superstar, serves as a powerful reminder of the historical significance of the “Hulkamania” era and the foundational role it played in creating the global sports entertainment powerhouse that WWE is today.
