The wrestling world mourns the loss of Hulk Hogan, an iconic figure who transcended the sport and became a cultural phenomenon. The wrestler, whose real name was Terry Bollea, passed away on Thursday at the age of 71, according to Florida authorities and WWE.
Clearwater, Florida police responded to a call on Thursday morning due to cardiac arrest. Officers confirmed Hogan’s death at a hospital, according to a statement posted on Facebook.
WWE’s statement on the X platform expressed its sadness at the death of the Hall of Fame member. “One of the most recognizable figures in pop culture, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans,” they added.Hulk Hogan was the main event wrestler in seven of the first eight WrestleMania events and revitalized interest in wrestling in the 1990s with his change to create the NWO.
Hogan, known for his health problems, including a persistent back injury, had not wrestled since 2012. Recently, he was involved in the launch of the Real American Freestyle wrestling promotion and owned a bar in New York.
In 1985, Hogan starred in the first WrestleMania, teaming with Mr. T against Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff. This event, held at Madison Square Garden, attracted an audience of approximately one million people and is considered key to the popularization of professional wrestling.
The match between Hogan and Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III elevated Hogan’s career to new heights. The event, held at the Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan, attracted nearly 80,000 spectators. The rematch, broadcast on NBC, was watched by 33 million people.
Hogan was the face and hero of the wrestling world, appearing on television shows and starring in movies, including “Rocky III”. He won the WWF World Heavyweight Championship six times, including a reign of 1,474 days.
In 1996, Hogan made an unexpected turn by becoming a villain and leading the New World Order (NWO) group in World Championship Wrestling (WCW), competing with WWE. This image change revitalized interest in wrestling. The NWO, with Hogan as leader, helped WCW surpass WWF in ratings for 83 consecutive weeks.
In 2002, Hogan returned to WWE to face The Rock at WrestleMania 18 in Toronto. Despite his NWO villain persona, the audience cheered him, forcing Hogan to return to his roots. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.
Ric Flair and Triple H, among others, reacted to Hogan’s death on social media.
Former President Donald Trump also commented on Hogan’s death. “We lost a great friend today, the ‘Hulkster.’ Hulk Hogan was MAGA to the core: 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 posted on Truth Social.
After his career, Hogan was involved in controversies. In 2015, recordings were leaked where he used racist language. WWE terminated his contract with him, although they readmitted him three years later as an ambassador. In January, Hogan appeared on WWE’s Netflix program, but he was booed by the fans in Los Angeles.
In 2015, a website leaked a sex tape of Hogan, which led to a defamation lawsuit, invasion of privacy, and emotional distress, which Hogan won, obtaining $115 million.
