The wrestling world mourns the loss of a legend. Hulk Hogan, an iconic figure who brought professional wrestling to national stardom, passed away this Thursday at the age of 71, according to Florida authorities and WWE.
Emergency services responded to a call for cardiac arrest in Clearwater, Florida, on Thursday morning. Hogan was pronounced dead at a hospital, authorities said.
There were no signs of foul play or suspicious activity.
Mayor Nate Burnside
WWE, through its social media, expressed its sadness over the death of the Hall of Fame member. “One of the most recognizable figures in pop culture, Hogan helped WWE achieve worldwide recognition in the 1980s. WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans,” they said.Hulk Hogan fue el evento principal de siete de los primeros ocho eventos de WrestleMania y revivió el interés por la lucha libre en la década de 1990 con su cambio para crear la NWO.Hulk Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, had faced several health problems in recent years, including a persistent back injury stemming from his days in the ring. Although he hadn’t wrestled since 2012, he remained in the public eye as the founder of the Real American Freestyle wrestling promotion and the owner of a bar in New York, near Madison Square Garden, the scene of many of his most important matches.
In 1985, Hogan starred in the first WrestleMania, teaming up with 1980s television star Mr. T to face Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff. WrestleMania I, held at MSG, attracted an audience of around 1 million people through closed-circuit television and is credited with bringing professional wrestling, specifically the then WWF (now WWE), to national awareness.
Hogan’s match with Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III took the wrestling business, and Hogan’s career, to new heights. Around 80,000 people filled the Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan for the match. The rematch, several months later on NBC, drew 33 million viewers.
Hogan headlined seven of the first eight WrestleMania events. He was the face and hero of the wrestling world, crossing over into the mainstream with numerous television appearances and starring roles in films, including the third “Rocky” film, where he faced the main character played by Sylvester Stallone, and television, including the syndicated show “Thunder in Paradise” in the 1990s. Hogan won the WWF Heavyweight Championship six times, including a reign of 1,474 days. Only Bruno Sammartino and Bob Backlund held the belt for more consecutive days.
In 1996, with interest in him as a hero waning, Hogan made the biggest heel turn in wrestling history as a second act. Working for WWE competitor World Championship Wrestling, Hogan became a villain, leading a group of invaders called the New World Order. The heel turn, 29 years ago this summer, captured the public’s interest in a way that wrestling hadn’t done since WrestleMania I. The NWO, with “Hollywood” Hogan as the vicious leader dressed in black and white instead of his signature red and yellow, gave new life to the wrestling industry during the counterculture of the 1990s, when the public demanded a darker, more adult product. Hogan rose to the challenge, helping WCW beat WWF in television ratings for 83 consecutive weeks starting in 1996.
Hogan returned to WWE in 2002 to face The Rock at WrestleMania 18 in Toronto. His character was the villainous version of the NWO, but the more than 68,000 attendees were not interested in booing Hogan. They cheered him over The Rock, then the biggest “good guy” in WWE, which forced Hogan to return to Florida that weekend to pick up his old red and yellow wrestling shirts and trunks.
He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.
Ric Flair and Triple H were among several wrestling icons who reacted to Hogan’s death on social media.
Former President Donald Trump also issued his reaction to the news. Hogan gave a speech at the Republican National Convention last July in support of Trump’s presidential campaign.
We lost a great friend today, the ‘Hulkster.’ Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way: strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart. He gave an absolutely electrifying speech at the Republican National Convention, which was one of the highlights of the whole week. He entertained fans all over the world, and the cultural impact he had was massive. To his wife, Sky, and his family, we send our best wishes and love. Hulk Hogan will be greatly missed!
Donald Trump
After his wrestling career concluded, Hogan found himself embroiled in some controversies. In 2015, video recordings were leaked in which he used the “N” word and referred to himself as “racist to a certain degree.” WWE terminated his legends contract at the time, although they reinstated him three years later as an ambassador with infrequent television appearances. Hogan appeared on WWE’s Netflix debut show in January to promote his new Real American beer, but was booed by fans in Los Angeles.
A sex tape featuring Hogan was leaked by the website Gawker in 2015, and Hogan subsequently sued for defamation, invasion of privacy, and emotional distress. Hogan won the case and received $115 million in damages.
