Terry Bollea, who was better known as Hulk Hogan, transcended the sports and entertainment industry in such a way that Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered flags to be flown at half-staff last August 1, one day after his death at 71. Hogan moved to Tampa from his native Georgia as a youth.
“Hulkamania” swept the country and much of the globe for decades and collectors have long sought items pertaining to the wrestling legend. That remains the case nearly one year after his passing and the level of interest in Hulk Hogan memorabilia is sure to continue for years to come.
Proof of such interest was underscored in realized prices of several items sold by Dallas-based Heritage Auctions last week. Leading the way was a pair of boots Hogan wore during a 2003 WWE “No Way Out” match against Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. The winning bid was $183,000, including the buyer’s premium.
“This bout stands as Hulk Hogan’s final WrestleMania match, closing an important chapter in his career on a major stage,” Heritage noted in its auction lot description. “It serves as a reminder of his lasting impact on the industry and his ability to remain relevant alongside a new generation of talent while continuing to perform at a high level.”
READ: Hulkamania Hits The Auction Block: Iconic Boots And Championship Gold Up For Grabs
Hogan often tore off his shirt as a way of firing up the crowd. Well, one that remains fully intact and, according to Heritage, was tossed into the crowd at the Richmond Coliseum in 1986 commanded $12,810.
It is not only items Hogan wore that were prominent in the auction. A 2013 card produced by Upper Deck for the company’s employees – Upper Deck Employee Exclusive Precious Metal Purple – that was numbered to 125 and graded Gem Mint 10 by Professional Sports Authenticators (PSA) attracted a final price of $28,060.
Did you save your Wrestlemania ticket stubs? A PSA 8 (NearMint-Mint) stub from a 1985 event at Madison Square Garden that included a tag team match between the Hulk and Mr. T against “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and former Brandon High product and University of Tampa football player Paul Orndorff sold for $10,675.
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