The wrestling world mourns the loss of Hulk Hogan, a figure who transcended the sport to become a cultural icon. The wrestler, who brought professional wrestling to national fame and became the biggest box office draw in the history of the industry, passed away on Thursday at the age of 71, according to Florida authorities and WWE.
Clearwater, Florida authorities responded to a call on Thursday morning due to cardiac arrest. Hogan was pronounced dead at a hospital, according to a police statement.
There were no signs of foul play or suspicious activity.
Maj. Nate Burnside
WWE also expressed its sadness upon learning of the passing 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,” the statement reads.
Hulk Hogan fue el evento principal de siete de los primeros ocho eventos de WrestleMania y revivió el interés de la lucha libre en la década de 1990 con su giro para crear el NWO.Hulk Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, had been dealing with several health problems in recent years, including a persistent and problematic back injury. Although he didn’t wrestle since 2012, he was recently in the news as the founder of the Real American Freestyle wrestling promotion and the owner of an upcoming bar in New York City, opposite Madison Square Garden, the site of many of his great matches.
In 1985, Hogan headlined the first WrestleMania, teaming with 1980s television star Mr. T, to face Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff. WrestleMania I, at MSG, drew an audience of around 1 million people on 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, breaking into the mainstream with numerous appearances on television talk shows, as well as 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 World 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 public 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 audiences 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 notable wrestling icons who reacted to Hogan’s death on social media.
Former President Donald Trump also reacted. Hogan gave a speech at the Republican National Convention last July to support Trump’s presidential campaign.
“We lost a great friend today, the ‘Hulkster.’ Hulk Hogan was MAGA to the end: 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,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “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!”
After his wrestling career concluded, Hogan found himself embroiled in some controversy. 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 brought him back 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.
