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 cardiac arrest call on Thursday morning. Hogan was pronounced dead at a hospital, according to an official statement.
There were no signs of foul play or suspicious activity.
Mayor Nate Burnside
WWE expressed its sadness at the passing of the Hall of Fame member through its social media.
Hulk Hogan was one of the most recognizable figures in popular culture, helping WWE achieve worldwide recognition in the 1980s. WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans.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.Hogan, who had been dealing with health problems in recent years, including a persistent back injury, had not wrestled since 2012, but remained in the public eye as the founder of the Real American Freestyle wrestling promotion and the owner of a bar in New York City.
In 1985, Hogan headlined the first WrestleMania, teaming with Mr. T to face Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff. WrestleMania I drew an audience of around 1 million people and is credited with bringing professional wrestling to national consciousness.
His match with Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III took wrestling and Hogan’s career to new heights. The event brought together about 80,000 people at the Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan. The rematch, months later, attracted 33 million viewers on NBC.
Hogan headlined seven of the first eight WrestleMania events. He was the face and hero of the wrestling world, with appearances on television shows and roles in films. He won the WWF World Heavyweight Championship six times, including a reign of 1,474 days.
In 1996, Hogan reinvented himself as a villain, leading a group called the New World Order (NWO) in WCW. This change captured the public’s interest in a way that wrestling hadn’t seen since WrestleMania I. The NWO revitalized the wrestling industry during the 1990s.
Hogan returned to WWE in 2002 to face The Rock at WrestleMania 18 in Toronto. Despite his villainous persona, the fans welcomed him with enthusiasm, forcing him to return to his traditional image.
He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.
Ric Flair and Triple H were some of the prominent wrestling figures who reacted to Hogan’s death on social media.
I Am Absolutely Shocked To Hear About The Passing Of My Close Friend @HulkHogan! Hulk Has Been By My Side Since We Started In The Wrestling Business. An Incredible Athlete, Talent, Friend, And Father! Our Friendship Has Meant The World To Me. He Was Always There For Me Even When… pic.twitter.com/rOWLakMjr4
WWE would not be where it is today without the larger-than-life characters that compete in the ring … and few, if any, loomed larger than Terry “Hulk Hogan” Bollea.
He was the archetype of what it meant to be a “Superstar” – a global sensation that inspired millions to work… pic.twitter.com/wXpgFvAhHA
Former President Donald Trump also reacted to the news. Hogan had given 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 in every sense: 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, Hogan was involved in controversies. In 2015, video recordings were leaked in which he used the term “N-word” and referred to himself as “racist to a certain extent.” WWE terminated his legends contract at the time, although they reinstated him three years later as an ambassador.
In 2015, a website leaked a sex tape of Hogan, and the wrestler sued for defamation, loss of privacy, and emotional distress. Hogan won the case and received compensation of $115 million.
