{{short description|American professional wrestler (born 1965)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}} {{Infobox professional wrestler | name = Horace Hogan | image = | image_size = | caption = | birth_name = Michael Allan Bollea<ref name="Loverro2007" /> | names = Axe Boulder<br />Horace<ref name=oww /><br />Horace Boulder<ref name="Williams2013" /><br />Horace Hogan<ref name="Williams2013" /><br />The Predator<ref name="Lentz" /><br />Prey of the Dead<ref name="Lentz" /> | height = {{convert|6|ft|6|in|cm}}<ref name="Lentz" /> | weight = {{convert|240|lb|kg|abbr=on}}<ref name="Lentz" /> | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1965|10|21|mf=y}}<ref name="Lentz" /> | birth_place = Tampa, Florida, U.S.<ref name="Lentz" /> | family = Hulk Hogan (uncle)<ref name="Hogan2010" /><ref name="Hogan2002" /><br />Nick Hogan (cousin)<br />Brooke Hogan (cousin)<br />Mike Awesome (cousin)<ref name="Loverro2007" /><ref name="Williams2013" /> | children = 2<ref name=Nagel /> | billed = Tampa, Florida | trainer = Boris Malenko<br />WCW Power Plant<ref name=oww /> | debut = January 1990<ref name="Lentz" /> | retired = September 2002 }} '''Michael Allan Bollea''' (born October 21, 1965) is an American retired professional wrestler. The nephew of fellow wrestler Hulk Hogan, he is best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling in the late 1990s under the ring name '''Horace Hogan'''.<ref name="Lentz">{{cite book|author=Harris M. Lentz III|title=Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling, 2d ed.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QjGSCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA159|year=2003|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-1-4766-0505-0|pages=159}}</ref><ref name=oww>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/h/horace-hogan.html|title=Horace profile|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|access-date=August 11, 2009}}</ref>
== Professional wrestling career ==
=== Early career (1990–1991) === Bollea was trained by Boris Malenko, debuting on the Floridian independent circuit in January 1990 under the ring name "Horace Boulder".<ref name="Lentz" /> Bollea competed for promotions such as the International Championship Wrestling Alliance.
=== Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (1991–1992) === In May 1991, Bollea joined the Japanese promotion Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling.<ref name="Williams2013" /><ref name="PopeWhebbe2003">{{cite book|author1=Kristian Pope|author2=Ray Whebbe|title=The Encyclopedia of Professional Wrestling: 100 Years of History, Headlines & Hitmakers|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hLJZAAAAYAAJ|date=January 2003|publisher=Krause Publications|isbn=978-0-87349-625-4|pages=193}}</ref> In mid-1991, Bollea formed a dominant tag team with a fellow gaijin wrestler, The Gladiator (his cousin).<ref name="Jericho2011">{{cite book|author=Chris Jericho|title=A Lion's Tale: Around the World in Spandex|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y-oOAv5YSY8C&pg=PT197|date=May 12, 2011|publisher=Orion|isbn=978-1-4091-3692-7|pages=197}}</ref> The duo engaged in a long-running feud with Atsushi Onita and Sambo Asako.
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.<ref name=WWAMartialTag /> Bollea continued to compete with FMW until December 1992.
=== World Wrestling Federation (1993) === In January 1993, Bollea joined the World Wrestling Federation as "The Predator". Sometimes he wore a mask. He made his televised debut on the January 30, 1993, episode of ''WWF Wrestling Challenge'' losing to El Matador.<ref name=WWF9099Book>{{cite book | first=Graham | last=Cawthon | title=the History of Professional Wrestling Vol 2: WWF 1990–1999 | publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | year= 2013 | asin=B00RWUNSRS}}</ref> This was his sole televised match in the WWF, as he competed exclusively at house shows for the remainder of his tenure.<ref name=WWF9099Book /> He was used primarily as a jobber, losing to wrestlers such as Jim Brunzell, Jim Powers, and Marty Jannetty.<ref name=WWF9099Book /> His only victory was against Louie Spicolli. Bollea made his final appearance with the WWF in August 1993.<ref name=WWF9099Book />
=== New Japan Pro-Wrestling (1993) === In April 1993, Bollea toured Japan with New Japan Pro-Wrestling, wrestling as ''"Axe Boulder"''.
=== Extreme Championship Wrestling (1995) === In early 1995, Bollea briefly performed with Extreme Championship Wrestling under the ring name "Prey of the Dead".<ref name="Lentz" />
=== Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (1995–1996, 1998) === In mid-1995, Bollea returned to FMW. He joined the stable "Lethal Weapon" with Hisakatsu Oya, The Gladiator, Mr. Pogo, and Ricky Fuji. He and Oya began teaming together and won the FMW Brass Knuckles Tag Team Championship from Daisuke Ikeda and Yoshiaki Fujiwara on December 21, 1995, in Yokohama.<ref name=FNWBrassTag /> Their reign lasted until January 5, 1996, when Jason the Terrible and Super Leather defeated them in Tokyo.<ref name=FNWBrassTag />
=== World Championship Wrestling (1997–2000) === Returning to America, Bollea debuted in World Championship Wrestling. On the February 23, 1997 episode of ''WCW Worldwide'', Bollea, as Horace Boulder, defeated J.L. (Jerry Lynn). On April 19, 1998, at Spring Stampede, Boulder officially debuted helping Raven defeat Diamond Dallas Page for the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship and joining Raven's Flock in the process,<ref name=oww /> under the name "Horace Boulder".<ref name=WCW9501Book>{{cite book | first=Graham | last=Cawthon | title=the History of Professional Wrestling Vol 5: World Championship Wrestling 1995–2001 | publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | year= 2015 | isbn=978-1-4996-5634-3}}</ref> He remained in the Flock until the stable disbanded on September 13, 1998.<ref name=WCW9501Book />
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.<ref name=WCW9501Book /> 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.<ref name=WCW9501Book /> 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.<ref name=WCW9501Book /> 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!"<ref name=WCW9501Book />
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.<ref name=WCW9501Book /><ref name="Reynolds2007" /> 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.<ref name=WCW9501Book /> Hogan also participated in a ''WCW Thunder'' battle royal for leadership of the nWo Hollywood faction.<ref name=WCW9501Book /> When the nWo Elite and B-Team began to dissolve in 1999, Horace began competing for the WCW Hardcore Championship.<ref name=WCW9501Book />
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.<ref name=WCW9501Book /> 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.<ref name=WCW9501Book /> 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.
=== Worldwide appearances (2000–2002) === After leaving WCW, Bollea began wrestling around the world, appearing with promotions including the X Wrestling Federation, the World Wrestling Council in Puerto Rico and Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling.
=== World Wrestling Entertainment (2002) === In 2002, Bollea was signed to a developmental contract by World Wrestling Entertainment.<ref name=oww /> He was assigned to the Ohio-based Heartland Wrestling Association development 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.<ref name=oww /> Following his release, Bollea wrestled briefly on the independent circuit before retiring from professional wrestling to work in the construction industry.<ref name=Nagel>{{cite web|url=https://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Torch_Flashbacks_19/article_19407.shtml#.Vy-bdIQrLIV|title=Interview Flashback (2003): Mike Awesome speaks out against WCW, ECW, Invasion angle, more|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch|work=PWTorch.com|access-date=May 8, 2016|date=February 19, 2007|author1=Nagel, Mike|author2=Meacham, Jeff}}</ref>
== Personal life == Bollea is the son of Martha Alfonso (1944–1978)<ref>{{cite web |title=Tony Alfonso Obituary (2009) - St. Petersburg, Florida |url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/tampabaytimes/name/tony-alfonso-obituary?id=10854019 |website=legacy.com}}</ref> and Allan Bollea (1947–1986), 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 1978,<ref>{{cite web |title=Martha murder article |url=https://tampabay.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune-martha-murder-article/84355669/ |website=tampabay.newspapers.com}}</ref> his mother, Martha Alfonso, was murdered by her boyfriend, and his father died of a drug overdose in 1986.<ref>{{cite web |last=Paul |first=Christopher |date=July 28, 2023 |url=https://www.essentiallysports.com/wwe-news-rare-occasion-sees-hulk-hogan-reflect-on-the-dark-tormenting-past-of-his-brothers-family/ |title="Rare Occasion Sees Hulk Hogan Reflect on the Dark Tormenting Past of His Brother's Family" |website=Essentially Sports |access-date=March 14, 2024}}</ref> Bollea has two sisters.<ref name="Hogan2010">{{cite book|author=Hulk Hogan|title=My Life Outside the Ring|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QjKP2DSlpiwC&pg=PT258|date=April 1, 2010|publisher=Hodder & Stoughton|isbn=978-1-84894-667-5|pages=257–288}}</ref><ref name="Hogan2002">{{cite book|author=Hulk Hogan|title=Hollywood Hulk Hogan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ctSR_k_960UC&pg=PA245|date=December 6, 2002|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=978-0-7434-7556-3|pages=244–245}}</ref><ref name="Reynolds2007">{{cite book|author=R. D. Reynolds|title=The Wrestlecrap Book of Lists!|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HFBTUhnc9DwC&pg=PA114|year=2007|publisher=ECW Press|isbn=978-1-55490-287-3|pages=114}}</ref>
Professional wrestler Mike Awesome was Bollea's cousin. The two were close as children, with Bollea encouraging Awesome to wrestle, and later helping him secure a job with World Championship Wrestling in the late 1990s.<ref name="Loverro2007">{{cite book|author=Thom Loverro|title=The Rise & Fall of ECW: Extreme Championship Wrestling|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JrGwTebNiUIC&pg=PA49|date=May 22, 2007|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=978-1-4165-6156-9|pages=49}}</ref><ref name="Williams2013">{{cite book|author=Scott E. Williams|title=Hardcore History: The Extremely Unauthorized Story of ECW|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4EQtAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT229|date=December 13, 2013|publisher=Skyhorse Publishing Company, Incorporated|isbn=978-1-61321-582-1|pages=229}}</ref>
Bollea has two daughters.<ref name=Nagel />
== Championships and accomplishments == *'''Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling''' **FMW Brass Knuckles Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Hisakatsu Oya<ref name=FNWBrassTag>{{cite book |author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will |title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications |chapter = Japan: FMW Brass Knuckles Tag Team Title |year= 2000 |isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}</ref> **WWA Martial Arts Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Sabu<ref name=WWAMartialTag>{{cite book |author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will |title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications |chapter = Japan: WWA Martial Arts Tag Team Title |year= 2000 |isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}</ref> *'''''Pro Wrestling Illustrated''''' **PWI ranked him No. 257 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1992<ref name=PWI500-1992>{{cite news|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated 500 – 1991: 256 Horace Boulder|work=Pro Wrestling Illustrated|publisher=Sports and Entertainment publications LLC|location=Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, United States|id=October 1992|page=51|date=September 24, 1992}}</ref> **PWI ranked him No. 497 of the 500 best wrestlers of the PWI Years in 2003<ref name=PWIYears500>{{cite news|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Top 500 of the PWI Years: 497 Horace Hogan|work=Pro Wrestling Illustrated|publisher=Sports and Entertainment publications LLC|location=Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, United States|id=June 2003|page=62|date=May 21, 2003}}</ref> *'''Other titles''' **PCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time) **SPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{IMDb name|id=1140874|name=Michael Bollea}} * {{Professional wrestling profiles}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hogan, Horace}} Category:1965 births Category:American male professional wrestlers Category:Sportspeople of Italian descent Category:Bollea family Category:Living people Category:New World Order (professional wrestling) members Category:American expatriate professional wrestlers in Japan Category:Professional wrestlers from Tampa, Florida Category:20th-century male professional wrestlers Category:20th-century American professional wrestlers Category:21st-century male professional wrestlers Category:21st-century American professional wrestlers Category:FMW Brass Knuckles Tag Team Champions