One Iconic Hulk Hogan Wrestling Match Still Holds the All-Time TV Viewership Record

The iconic wrestler Hulk Hogan has died at 71, fans learned today. Naturally, many have started to reflect on Hogan's famed career in the WWF (now WWE) and World Championship Wrestling (as well as his more-bizarre acting career). He was a 12-time world championship wrestler with dozens of iconic matches, but there's one that still holds an important record: the highest television viewership of all time for a wrestling match.

Which Hulk Hogan match is the most-watched wrestling match of all time?

On February 5, 1988, Hulk Hogan was at the heigh of his career. He faced off against Andre the Giant in the WWF World Title match broadcast on NBC in prime time. It was considered a major gamble for the network and the sport at the time, and it paid off handsomely in the television ratings. It came after Wrestlemania III, when the longtime rivals had faced off in an event considered one of the sport's most iconic and where Hogan had bodyslammed Andre to win the title.

How many viewers did the wrestling match get?

The match drew a 15.2 Nielsen rating at 33 million viewers, making it the most-watched wrestling match in American history. It's a record that still stands today. For context, WWE Raw on July 14 drew about 2.5 million global viewers in its first seven days, according to Wrestlenomics. 

Amazing tidbit via @PrichardShow and @Deadspin: 1988 Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant match with the twin referees ending that aired on NBC had 33 million viewers. https://t.co/3aXKMSdaVK pic.twitter.com/j6sMCjNum8

— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) February 9, 2018

Who won, and why was the match controversial?

Andre the Giant ultimately came away as the victor, but as SportsKeeda notes, the match drew significant controversy. Despite Hogan breaking out of a hold after a two-count, one of the two referees assigned to the match declared it a three-count win for Andre. It was all part of an elaborate storyline to vacate the title and set up a new tournament at Wrestlemania VI to find a new winner. Andre and Hogan would eliminate each other in that tournament, with the title ultimately going to Randy Savage. 

Related: The Wildest Hulk Hogan TV Show Was a Baywatch Follow-Up You Can't Even Watch Today

In terms of its impact, the match was a watershed moment for wrestling's U.S. popularity that endures to this day.