The wrestling world mourns the loss of one of its most iconic figures. Hulk Hogan, who brought this sport to national stardom and became an unprecedented box office draw, passed away on Thursday at the age of 71, according to Florida authorities and WWE.
Clearwater, Florida authorities responded to an emergency call on Thursday morning due to cardiac arrest. Hogan was pronounced dead at a hospital, according to a police statement posted on Facebook.
There were no signs of foul play or suspicious activity.
Mayor Nate Burnside
WWE, through its X account, expressed its sadness at the passing of this Hall of Fame member. The company highlighted Hogan’s global influence in the 1980s and extended its condolences to the wrestler’s family, friends, and fans.
Hulk Hogan fue el evento principal en siete de los primeros ocho eventos de WrestleMania y revivió el interés principal en la lucha libre en la década de 1990 con su cambio para crear la NWO.Terry Bollea, known worldwide as Hulk Hogan, had faced health problems in recent years, including a persistent back injury resulting from his wrestling career. Although he hadn’t wrestled since 2012, Hogan remained active in the scene, being the founder of the Real American Freestyle wrestling promotion and the owner of a bar in New York.
In 1985, Hogan starred in the first WrestleMania, teaming with Mr. T to face Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff. This event, held at Madison Square Garden, attracted an audience of around one million spectators and is considered key to the popularization of professional wrestling, specifically the then WWF (now WWE), nationwide.
The match between Hogan and Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III marked a turning point in the industry and in Hogan’s career. This event brought together nearly 80,000 people at the Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan. The rematch, broadcast months later on NBC, attracted 33 million viewers.
Hogan was the main event in seven of the first eight WrestleManias. He was the face and hero of the wrestling world, transcending to popular culture with multiple appearances on television shows and starring roles in movies and series. He won the WWF World Heavyweight Championship six times, including a reign of 1,474 days.
In 1996, in an unexpected turn, Hogan became the biggest villain in wrestling history, joining World Championship Wrestling and leading the group known as the New World Order. This change revitalized interest in wrestling, competing directly with the WWF and leading WCW to surpass WWE in ratings for 83 consecutive weeks starting in 1996.
In 2002, Hogan returned to WWE to face The Rock at WrestleMania 18 in Toronto. Despite his villainous persona, the audience cheered him, forcing him to return to his traditional colors.
He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.
Ric Flair and Triple H were some of the figures who reacted to the news on social media.
Former President Donald Trump also commented on Hogan’s passing.
After his retirement, Hogan was embroiled in controversies, including the leak of videos in 2015 and a defamation lawsuit. Despite this, his legacy as one of the most important figures in professional wrestling endures.
