Hulk Hogan embraced Jesus after sex tape

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(NewsNation) — Eighteen months before he died, Hulk Hogan, the icon of professional wrestling, was baptized.

“Total surrender and dedication to Jesus is the greatest day of my life. No worries, no hate, no judgment… only love!” Hogan posted on X in December of 2023.

Hogan posted video of the baptism, which shows him being immersed in a pool with a white bandana on. Hogan is seen smiling in the video after emerging from the water.

“Now that I am one with God, the main event theme of surrender, service and love makes me the Real Main Event that can slam any giant of any size through the power of my Lord and Savior,” Hogan posted on X earlier that year.

Hulk Hogan’s often wild journey

It was a long, and often wild, journey for the World Wrestling Entertainment’s biggest star.

Hogan, who was born Terry Bollea, was the main draw for the first Wrestlemania in 1985 and remained a fixture for years. He went up against everyone from Andre the Giant and Randy Savage to The Rock. He was known for his flamboyant personality and style and his muscular physique during the “Hulkmania” era.

But he got into trouble outside the ring.

In 2015, the WWE cut ties with Hogan for three years, after it was reported that he was recorded using racial slurs. He apologized and said his words were “unacceptable.”

In 2012, Gawker obtained and posted a video of Hogan having sex with his former best friend’s wife. Later in 2016, a jury awarded Hogan $115 million in a lawsuit against Gawker Media, adding $25 million in punitive damages.

Terry Bollea, aka Hulk Hogan, testifies in court during his trial against Gawker Media at the Pinellas County Courthouse on March 8, 2016, in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by John Pendygraft-Pool/Getty Images)

Hulk Hogan: ‘God is good. Always thankful’

In the months leading up to his death, Hogan returned to Christianity, the faith he said he accepted at 14 years old.

“Every day I’m reminded that God is good. Always thankful,” he posted in February of this year.

Despite his success, Hogan said that years in the wrestling business “derailed” his life of faith.

“I just got tired of crashing and burning. You know I got tired of making mistakes and getting up and moving forward,” he told TBN. “And I got to the point where um I was married a couple times and they were the wrong partners because they weren’t true believers.”