Hulk Hogan, the towering figure who transformed professional wrestling into a global entertainment powerhouse, has died at the age of 71 following a cardiac arrest.
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) confirmed the news in a statement Thursday, saying it was “saddened to learn that WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away.” The company described Hogan as “one of pop culture’s most recognizable figures,” crediting him with helping WWE achieve worldwide prominence during the 1980s.
Police in Clearwater responded to a medical emergency at Hogan’s residence early Thursday morning. He was transported to Morton Plant Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Born Terry Gene Bollea, Hogan rose to fame with his unmistakable look—bleach-blond hair, bronzed skin, and a handlebar mustache—and his larger-than-life persona. His charisma and athleticism helped elevate wrestling from a niche sport to a mainstream spectacle. One of his most iconic moments came during WrestleMania III in 1987, when he famously lifted and body-slammed André the Giant before a sold-out crowd at the Pontiac Silverdome.
Though Hogan ventured into acting with roles in Rocky III and Santa With Muscles, his enduring legacy remained in the ring. He was a six-time WWE Champion and headlined numerous WrestleMania events, becoming synonymous with the golden age of wrestling.
In recent years, Hogan remained active in public life. In 2024, he appeared at the Republican National Convention to endorse Donald Trump, a longtime friend and former WrestleMania host. “He’s always told you exactly what he thought, and he still does, brother,” Hogan said at the event.
Tributes have poured in from across the wrestling world and beyond. WWE co-founder Vince McMahon called Hogan “the greatest WWE Superstar of all time,” while fellow legend Ric Flair wrote, “Hulkster, no one will ever compare to you.” Actor Sylvester Stallone, who starred alongside Hogan in Rocky III, said, “He was absolutely wonderful, and his amazing skill made Rocky III incredibly special”.
His passing marks the end of an era in sports entertainment, but his legacy as a cultural icon and wrestling pioneer will endure.
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