Before reality TV was overflowing with Real Housewives, yacht crews, and SURvers, there was Hogan Knows Best — a VH1 series that gave viewers a front-row seat into the chaotic, over-the-top life of wrestling legend Hulk Hogan and his family. But while the show was meant to be about family values and the Hulkster’s softer, dad-mode side, it quickly turned into a masterclass in cringe.
From controlling parenting tactics to eyebrow-raising comments, Hulk’s time on the show was packed with moments that aged like milk. Whether he was trying to micromanage his daughter’s love life or inserting himself into her music career, Hulk’s attempt to be a reality TV dad icon instead made him one of the genre’s most controversial figures.
Let’s take a look back at the moments that had fans asking: “Does Hulk really know best?”
Hulk Hogan starred on reality TV show Hogan Knows Best and had some crazy moments
Premiering in 2005, Hogan Knows Best was part of the early wave of celebrity reality shows. It followed the Hulk (real name Terry Bollea), his then-wife Linda, their aspiring pop star daughter Brooke, and their teenage son Nick. The concept was simple: show the softer side of the wrestling giant as he attempted to balance fame, fatherhood, and family life in Florida. But things got weird. Fast.
What was framed as a wholesome peek into the Hogan household quickly became a parade of overbearing behavior, questionable parenting choices, and moments that made viewers wince. Even back then. Hulk’s need to control every aspect of his family’s life became a running theme, and while it made for good TV, it also sparked plenty of criticism.
Hulk agreed to the show to launch his daughter’s career
One of the primary reasons Hulk agreed to do Hogan Knows Best was to help launch Brooke’s music career. And he was not subtle about it. From the first episode, Hulk made it clear that the cameras were rolling to elevate Brooke’s pop star ambitions. He was her manager, her bodyguard, and — unfortunately — her biggest obstacle. He monitored her phone calls, interrogated her dates.
According to Hulk via Fox News, “I was offered lots of [reality] shows when I was making my career comeback against The Rock, but I kept saying no. But years later, it was my daughter’s career and son’s racing career that we were thinking about. We saw the Ashlee Simpson show and Jessica Simpson’s and Lindsay Lohan on the big screen, and we just didn’t [have] a vehicle to compete,” he said.
“But I considered it, because this time it was about the Hogan family rather than Hulk Hogan; they all wanted to do it and I tried to warn them about what they were in for.”
Hulk was an overprotective parent
If there was one recurring theme on Hogan Knows Best, it was Hulk’s intense need to monitor every step Brooke took. Especially when it came to her dating life, he had strict rules about who she could see, interrogated every guy who showed interest, and often showed up unannounced to check on her. Who could forget when he once installed a GPS tracker on her car to make sure she was safe?
In one particularly infamous episode, he and Linda went undercover—yes, in disguises-to watch Brooke perform at Universal Studios. It was supposed to be funny. It was not. The whole overprotective dad routine stopped being cute and started feeling suffocating.
Fans began to question whether Hulk’s behavior was genuinely rooted in concern. Or, was more about control and power. At one point, he embarrassed Brooke when she tried signing a record deal. In one episode, he asked Scott Storch, “Is this the real deal?” The pro wrestler even went as far as to hire an airplane banner that read, “YO STORCH, SIGN MY DAUGHTER ALREADY, SHE’S THE BOMB!” In another bizarre scene, he grilled one of her music producers about the lyrics of a love song, asking if it was appropriate for his daughter to sing.
Hulk raps along to a Jeezy song
One of the more bizarre moments, less controversial, more chaotic, came when Hulk decided to vibe out in the car while rapping along to Jeezy’s I Luv It. And yes, the cameras were rolling. It was Hulk’s attempt to bond with his son Nick. The visual of Hulk, in full dad mode, nodding along and mouthing lyrics to a hip-hop anthem was surreal. Fans soon decided this was a cute scene. The moment quickly became a go-to clip for anyone trying to explain the fever-dream energy of early 2000s reality TV. It was one of those scenes that made you pause and think what an easier time it was.
TELL US – DO YOU REMEMBER ANY CONTROVERSIAL HULK MOMENTS FROM HOGAN KNOWS BEST?
