The world of professional wrestling is mourning the loss of one of its most iconic figures, Hulk Hogan, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 71. The WWE confirmed the news, expressing their condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans. Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, was a key figure in the rise of WWE’s global popularity in the 1980s.
Emergency services were dispatched to Hogan’s home in Clearwater, Florida, following a call reporting a cardiac arrest. Hogan was then transported to a hospital. Prior to his death, Hogan had undergone a neck procedure in May and a significant heart procedure last month, according to reports.
Hogan’s wrestling career began in Florida in the 1970s, but it was in the 1980s that he became a household name. His All-American “Hulkamania” persona, complete with yellow tights, red kneepads, and bleach-blonde hair, helped catapult the WWE, then known as the WWF, into a national sensation.
Hogan’s charisma and larger-than-life personality were on full display during his wrestling promos. He was known for his catchphrase “What’cha gonna do when Hulkamania runs wild on you?!” and his references to his “24-inch python” biceps. Hogan was instrumental in the success of WrestleMania, the biggest annual wrestling event in the world, and his matches were often the main attraction.
Hogan’s wrestling career was not without controversy. In 1994, he testified in a steroid trial involving Vince McMahon, the owner of WWE. Hogan admitted to using steroids via a prescription but denied that McMahon had ever encouraged him to do so or supplied him with the drugs.
In the mid-1990s, Hogan moved to the rival wrestling promotion WCW, where he formed the New World Order (nWo) with fellow ex-WWE stars Scott Hall and Kevin Nash. The group was immensely popular and helped WCW outperform WWE in television ratings for over a year. Hogan returned to WWE in 2002 after it acquired WCW.
Beyond wrestling, Hogan also had a successful career in film and television. He appeared in “Rocky III,” “No Holds Barred,” and “Mr. Nanny,” and starred in the television show “Thunder in Paradise.” He also made guest appearances on “The A-Team” and “Baywatch,” and his family was the subject of the VH1 reality show “Hogan Knows Best.”
Hogan was born in Augusta, Georgia, in 1953. He had two children, Brooke and Nick, with his first wife, Linda. After his divorce from Linda in 2007, Hogan married Jennifer McDaniel in 2010, but they divorced in 2022. He then married Sky Daily in 2023. Hogan’s last public appearance was at the Republican National Convention in July 2024, where he showed his support for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.