Hulk Hogan's Forgotten Last Match

• Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff took over creative control of TNA in 2009.
• Fans were upset that TNA became a promotion for past and aging stars.
• Hogan wrestled in TNA from time to time.

Hulk Hogan was wildly popular for most of his career, but by the time he landed in TNA in 2009, it felt like the sport had passed him by. WCW no longer existed, and in WWE, names like John Cena, Randy Orton, and Batista ruled. There was no place left for the Hulkster, but rather than ride off into the sunset, Hogan went with his friend Eric Bischoff to TNA, where they took over creative control of the promotion.

To many, this began the downfall of TNA. They went from being the cool, six-sided ring alternative to WWE, led by the likes of AJ Styles and Samoa Joe, to a company where old-timers from the past were not only in charge but became the focal points of storylines. Rather than being exciting and a showcase of the future, it was bad tasting nostalgia. It didn't help that Hogan stepped into the ring now and then too, where he was now a shadow of his former self. Still, fans ate it up and reacted every time he laced up the boots.

Hulk Hogan's Last Televised Match Was Against Sting

• Sting and Hulk Hogan were rivals in WCW and TNA.
• Hulk Hogan's last televised match had him losing to Sting at Bound For Glory 2011.
• Hogan turned good and helped Sting beat up Immortal.

One of Hulk Hogan's biggest rivals was Sting. He and the Icon not only battled in WCW, where the Crow Sting tried to take down the nWo at every turn, but their rivalry continued into TNA as well. It all culminated at Bound For Glory 2011 in a match between two guys in their 50s that could have been a disaster, but was instead so much better than that 1997 WCW Starrcade mess.

Bound For Glory was headlined by Kurt Angle defending his TNA World Championship against Bobby Roode, but it was the match before it that claimed most of the attention. In a match for control of TNA, with Eric Bischoff's son, Garrett, as the special guest referee, Sting took on the Hulkster (who had Ric Flair in his corner) one last time. Their storyline had Sting trying to turn Hogan good, step away from the Immortal faction, and give TNA control back to Dixie Carter. Hogan agreed to the last point if he lost, which he did, but it's what happened afterward that everyone loved. When Immortal hit the ring to attack Sting, the Icon and the Hulkster reunited to take them out. Hogan, covered in blood and taking in the cheers of the crowd, was a good way to go out, but it wasn't quite the end.

Hulk Hogan Came Back For A Last Match At A TNA House Show

• Hulk Hogan's last match was at a TNA house show in Noddingham, England.
• He was a tag team partner with Sting and James Storm.
• The Hulkster came out to "Eye of the Tiger."

Bound for Glory 2011 was in October, but two months later, on January 26, 2012, the 58-year-old Hulk Hogan came back for one last match, and it wasn't even on TV. The company was on an Impact Wrestling house show tour in the United Kingdom, when they stopped at Nottingham. The main event saw Bully Ray, Bobby Roode, and Kurt Angle ready to take on Sting and James Storm, but Sting got on the mic and spoke about needing to find one more partner. "You ain't got nobody" Bully Ray yelled before "Eye of the Tiger" hit for the first time in many years, and out came Hulk Hogan sporting a yellow shirt and wearing jeans.

Last month, TNA released never-before-seen footage of the match. Although it sadly has "Eye of the Tiger" dubbed out, it's quite the sight to behold to see a legend in the ring for the last time in a moment lost to time until now. Hogan, in his jeans and tennis shoes, didn't do a lot, but he did get in a few spots and played to the crowd. At the end, Hogan even got to Hulk up and punch out all of the heels, before hitting a low big boot to Bobby Roode's stomach. He didn't make the moment about himself though, as he tagged in James Storm to hit the leg drop for the pin.

Hulk Hogan continued on in TNA storylines for another year, before leaving the company in 2013. He never wrestled again, but if you were one of the lucky ones in Nottingham, England on that January 2012 night, you got to witness history without even knowing it.