Week 0️⃣ 4️⃣

Professional wrestling has always combined athletic performance with storytelling, and two classic roles define its drama. The babyface, or “face,” is the hero that fans are meant to cheer. In contrast, the heel is the villain, the bad guy who cheats or insults the crowd. These roles create the tension that drives every storyline, and some wrestlers even switch sides during their careers to surprise the audience.

No one symbolized the babyface role more than Hulk Hogan in the 1980s. With his red and yellow gear and his message to train, say prayers, and eat vitamins, Hogan became a global hero and the biggest star of Vince McMahon’s World Wrestling Federation. His career had many ups and downs, but his impact was enormous. In July 2025, Hogan died of a heart attack at the age of 71, marking the end of an era in wrestling history.

The man behind this empire was Vince McMahon, who bought the WWF from his father in the early 1980s. At that time, wrestling was regional, with different territories across the country. McMahon changed everything by going national through cable television, pay-per-view, and merchandising. His vision created stars such as Hogan, The Undertaker, and later The Rock, a third-generation wrestler who went on to become a Hollywood icon.

There were controversies, too. In 1991, Hogan denied using steroids on The Arsenio Hall Show. But during the 1994 steroid trial, he admitted under oath that he had taken them for years. McMahon was accused of distributing steroids to his wrestlers, but he was acquitted. Still, the scandal damaged the company’s image.

The 1990s also brought competition. Media mogul Ted Turner purchased WCW and launched Monday Nitro. For several years WCW beat McMahon’s Raw in the ratings, especially after Hogan shocked fans by turning heel and joining the villainous New World Order. This battle, known as the Monday Night Wars, ended when McMahon bought WCW in 2001.

Not every story was a triumph. Wrestling has seen tragic early deaths, such as The British Bulldog, Mr. Perfect, and The Ultimate Warrior. The most shocking moment came in 1999 when Owen Hart fell to his death during a WWF show. Many criticized the decision to continue the event after the accident.

In 2002, after losing a court case to the World Wide Fund for Nature, WWF became WWE. The name change highlighted McMahon’s vision of wrestling as sports entertainment: scripted but physically real, a mix of drama, danger, and unforgettable spectacle.