Credit: WWE.com
WWE is bringing back a cherished part of wrestling history by launching the classic 1980s animated series Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling on its WWE Vault YouTube channel. Beginning Saturday, September 6, 2025, WWE will roll out the entire cult cartoon series in batches of four episodes every Saturday morning, marking a nostalgic celebration for longtime wrestling fans.
Reliving the 1980s Wrestling Craze Through Animation
Originally airing from 1985 to 1986, Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling was a lively animated series that captured the larger-than-life personalities of the WWF’s (now WWE) biggest stars during the company’s national boom. The show featured Hulk Hogan himself alongside other fan-favorite “babyface” wrestlers, such as Junkyard Dog and Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka, facing off against villainous “heel” characters led by “Rowdy” Roddy Piper.
Fans will also recognize legendary wrestling figures like André the Giant, The Iron Sheik, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, and “Mean” Gene Okerlund, all animated into fun and quirky storylines filled with humor and wrestling antics.
Due to the stars’ packed wrestling travel schedules back then, none of the wrestlers provided their own voices for the characters. Instead, actor and comedian Brad Garrett famously provided the voice for Hulk Hogan. The show produced a total of 26 episodes over two seasons, making it a concise yet memorable chapter in wrestling’s pop culture crossover.
Release Details: How and When to Watch
WWE Vault, the burgeoning YouTube channel launched in June 2024, has become a go-to destination for wrestling fans by featuring unseen footage, classic matches, and archival content. Currently boasting nearly 3 million subscribers and averaging over 217 million monthly views, WWE Vault’s addition of Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling further enriches its extensive library.
Episodes will drop every Saturday starting September 6, with four new installments released every two hours at 6 a.m., 8 a.m., 10 a.m., and 12 p.m. Eastern Time. WWE plans to air all episodes in chronological order, ensuring viewers enjoy the original storytelling experience.
The first batch of episodes launching includes:
- Junkyard 500/Junkenstein
- The Four-Legged Pickpocket
- Clean Gene/Andre’s Giant Problem
- Gorilla My Dreams
Honoring Hulk Hogan’s Legacy
The timing of the series’ release is poignant, coming just over one month after the passing of Hulk Hogan (real name Terry Bollea) in July 2025 at age 71 in Clearwater, Florida. Hogan’s impact on wrestling and pop culture remains immense, and this release serves as a fitting tribute to the man who helped catapult professional wrestling into mainstream stardom during the 1980s.
A WWE insider commented on the release:
“Bringing back ‘Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling’ is not only a trip down memory lane but also a celebration of Hogan’s enduring legacy. This series encapsulates the fun, larger-than-life spirit that he brought to wrestling and the culture at large.”
This sentiment reflects WWE’s commitment to honoring its history and connecting past generations of fans with new audiences.
What to Expect From the Series
The cartoon is an entertaining blend of exaggerated wrestling storylines and Saturday morning-style antics. Episodes feature babyface wrestlers overcoming the scheming of “heel” characters in over-the-top scenarios that often blend wrestling with general comedy and adventure.
Despite being animated and targeted at kids and younger audiences, the show earned a cult following among adults due to its nostalgic value and clever writing. The use of real wrestling personalities, albeit played by voice actors, helped ground it in the WWF’s mythology during a formative period for professional wrestling.
The series also helped popularize wrestling beyond the ring by blending it with the mainstream entertainment format of Saturday morning cartoons, contributing to the rapid growth in wrestling’s fanbase through the late 1980s.
WWE Vault’s Growing Impact on the Wrestling Community
Since its June 2024 launch, the WWE Vault channel has become a popular platform for classic and hard-to-find content. Fans have praised its mix of historic matches, behind-the-scenes footage, and fan-selected programming, creating a vibrant digital archive that bridges wrestling’s past and present.
Adding Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling to this library strengthens WWE Vault’s role as the premier destination for wrestling history enthusiasts. Subscribers can revisit these animated gems for free, creating an accessible resource that celebrates the entertainment side of wrestling’s golden age.