Bollea was trained by Boris Malenko, debuting on the Floridian independent circuit in January 1990 under the ring name "Horace Boulder".[2] Bollea competed for promotions such as the International Championship Wrestling Alliance.
In April 1992, Bollea began tagging with Sabu. On May 7, 1992, in Tokyo, Bollea and Sabu defeated Onita and Tarzan Goto for the WWA World Martial Arts Tag Team Championship. They held the championship until May 24, 1992, when they were defeated by Goto and Gregory Veritchev in Tokyo.[10] Bollea continued to compete with FMW until December 1992.
The fall of 1998 held one of the most crucial moments in Horace's wrestling career. Hollywood Hogan, backed by fellow New World Order (nWo) Hollywood members, revealed on the October 19 episode of WCW Monday Nitro that Horace was the son of his dead brother.[13] Showing a sincerity not seen in previous years, he continued by proclaiming his love to his family and offering Horace a membership in the nWo.[13] The mood took a turn when Hogan bashed his nephew with a steel chair, causing a wound that required several stitches. He continued by throwing his nephew off a stretcher and mercilessly beating him.[13] During this time, Hogan was involved in a heated rivalry with The Ultimate Warrior, and this scene worked as a testament to Hulk's fragile state of mind. With fellow nWo members standing in bewilderment, Hogan took the mic and said "If I could do this to someone I love, imagine what I'm gonna do to you, Warrior!"[13]
Despite their unsettling confrontation, on October 25 at Halloween Havoc, Horace joined nWo Hollywood by interfering on his uncle's behalf during the final match between Hollywood Hogan and The Warrior.[13][14] Thereafter, he began using the ring name "Horace Hogan" to signify his blood ties with Hulk Hogan. He wrestled for the nWo in singles matches and teamed with Scott Norton, Stevie Ray, Vincent; in early 1999, he and Brian Adams challenged for the WCW World Tag Team Championship while feuding with The Four Horsemen.[13] Hogan also participated in a WCW Thunder battle royal for leadership of the nWo Hollywood faction.[13] When the nWo Elite and B-Team began to dissolve in 1999, Horace began competing for the WCW Hardcore Championship.[13]
Horace and his uncle began feuding with Billy Kidman and the New Blood in April 2000, with Horace helping Hogan defeat Kidman at Slamboree on May 7, 2000.[13] He defected to the New Blood after its leader, Eric Bischoff, offered him Kidman's girlfriend Torrie Wilson in exchange for his assistance. Horace feuded with his uncle until The Great American Bash on June 11, when he refereed a rematch between Kidman and his uncle fairly, allowing his uncle to defeat Kidman after interference from Torrie who gave Hulk some brass knuckles, which he used to get the win.[13] After Hulk Hogan left WCW in July 2000 due to a legitimate incident with Vince Russo that happened at that year's Bash at the Beach pay-per-view, Horace left the promotion.
In 2002, Bollea was signed to a developmental contract by World Wrestling Entertainment.[7] He was assigned to the Ohio-based Heartland Wrestling Associationdevelopment territory. In September, Bollea was recalled to the main roster, wrestling dark matches for the SmackDown brand. He remained with WWE until being released later that month.[7] Following his release, Bollea wrestled briefly on the independent circuit before retiring from professional wrestling to work in the construction industry.[3]
Personal life
Bollea is the son of Alan Bollea, brother of professional wrestler Terry Bollea better known as Hulk Hogan, making him Hogan's nephew. Bollea's parents separated when he was a child. In 1986, his mother, Martha Alfonso, was murdered by her boyfriend, and his father died of a drug overdose. Bollea has two sisters.[4][5][14]
^ abRoyal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). "Japan: WWA Martial Arts Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
^ abcdCawthon, Graham (2013). the History of Professional Wrestling Vol 2: WWF 1990–1999. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ASINB00RWUNSRS.
^ abcRoyal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). "Japan: FMW Brass Knuckles Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
^ abcdefghijklCawthon, Graham (2015). the History of Professional Wrestling Vol 5: World Championship Wrestling 1995–2001. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN978-1-4996-5634-3.
^"Pro Wrestling Illustrated 500 – 1991: 256 Horace Boulder". Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, United States: Sports and Entertainment publications LLC. September 24, 1992. p. 51. October 1992.
^"Pro Wrestling Illustrated Top 500 of the PWI Years: 497 Horace Hogan". Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, United States: Sports and Entertainment publications LLC. May 21, 2003. p. 62. June 2003.