Hulk Hogan Dies At 71

Professional wrestling icon Terry Bollea, famously known as *Hulk Hogan*, has died at the age of 71, according to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). The larger-than-life star passed away on Thursday after suffering cardiac arrest at his Clearwater, Florida, home. He was pronounced dead at Morton Plant Hospital. Police reported no signs of foul play, though an investigation is ongoing.

The Rise of the Immortal Hulk Hogan

Bollea was the face of wrestling’s golden era in the 1980s and ‘90s. With his trademark handlebar mustache, bandana, and larger-than-life charisma, Hogan transformed WWE from a regional attraction into a global entertainment powerhouse.

Whether boasting about his “24-inch pythons” or preaching to fans to “say your prayers and eat your vitamins,” Hogan became a symbol of American pop culture. His rivalries with legends like André the Giant, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, and Rowdy Roddy Piper helped establish wrestling as a billion-dollar industry.

“WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away,” the company said in a statement on X. “One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans.”

Jumping to WCW & Reinventing Himself

In the mid-1990s, Hogan made a bombshell move by leaving WWE for World Championship Wrestling (WCW). His infamous 1996 “heel turn”—when he reinvented himself as the villainous “Hollywood” Hogan—shocked fans and energized WCW, allowing the company to outperform WWE in TV ratings for 83 consecutive weeks.

As part of the villainous New World Order (NWO) with Kevin Nash and Scott Hall, Hogan ushered in wrestling’s edgiest era and changed the business forever. But by 1999, missteps like the infamous “Fingerpoke of Doom” exposed wrestling’s scripted nature and alienated fans, leading to WCW’s rapid decline. WWE would later purchase WCW, ending the Monday Night Wars.

Returns, Reality TV, and Fallout

Hogan returned to WWE in the 2000s, reigniting his popularity with a blockbuster match against Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson at WrestleMania X8. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 and launched the reality show *Hogan Knows Best* with his family, riding the wave of early 2000s reality TV fame.

However, his legacy took a massive hit in 2015 when a leaked sex tape featured Hogan using racial slurs. WWE immediately terminated its relationship with him, and he was largely erased from company history.

Hogan later apologized, calling his comments “offensive and inexcusable,” but many wrestlers and fans were not convinced. Though he eventually returned to WWE programming in 2019, his reception was often mixed, with some crowds booing the once-beloved icon.

Hulkamania Beyond the Ring

Bollea’s influence went far beyond the wrestling mat. He starred in movies, appeared on talk shows, inspired cartoons (*Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling*), and became a household name in action figures and merchandise.

His initial rise to fame included a cameo in *Rocky III*, but it was his partnership with WWE chairman Vince McMahon that made him “The Immortal” Hulk Hogan. Their collaboration created WrestleMania and launched pro wrestling into the mainstream.

Even as his popularity waned in later years, Hogan’s place in wrestling history remained secure. His legendary body slam of André the Giant at WrestleMania III remains one of the most iconic moments in sports entertainment.

A Final Venture and a Political Spotlight

Just weeks before his death, Hogan was preparing to launch *Real American Freestyle*, a new wrestling company focused on Olympic-style wrestling. The promotion’s first event was scheduled for August 30.

“Hulk Hogan believed wrestling was more than entertainment. He saw it as a brotherhood and a proving ground,” said Chad Bronstein, co-founder and CEO of the new company. “We lost our commissioner. We lost a friend. And the sport lost a champion, in and out of the ring.”

Hogan also made headlines in 2024 with a surprise appearance at the Republican National Convention. Ripping off his shirt one last time to reveal a red Trump-Vance tank top, he endorsed Donald Trump, calling him “my hero.”

Trump, a WWE Hall of Famer himself and longtime friend of Hogan, paid tribute on Truth Social:

> “We lost a great friend today, the ‘Hulkster.’ Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way — strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart… He entertained fans from all over the world, and the cultural impact he had was massive.”

Legacy of a Complicated Icon

Despite personal controversies and shifting public perception, Terry “Hulk Hogan” Bollea remains one of the most influential and recognizable figures in wrestling and pop culture history.

From headlining the first WrestleMania to being booed in his final appearances, Hogan’s journey was filled with highs, lows, reinventions, and redemption arcs that mirrored the drama of wrestling itself.

A symbol of an era, Hulk Hogan didn’t just wrestle—he defined wrestling.

Rest in peace, Hulkster. Hulkamania lives forever.