Wrestling icon Hulk Hogan dies at age 71

CLEARWATER, FLORIDA,— Hulk Hogan, the professional wrestling icon whose charisma and larger-than-life persona helped bring the sport into mainstream American culture, has died at age 71, according to World Wrestling Entertainment.

In a statement released Thursday, WWE confirmed the death of Hogan, saying, “WWE is saddened to learn that Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away.

A defining figure of the 1980s wrestling boom, Hogan was instrumental in turning WWE into a global entertainment brand.”

Local law enforcement in Clearwater, Florida, reported that emergency responders were called to Hogan’s home early Thursday for a cardiac arrest. He was transported to a nearby medical facility, where he was declared dead, officials said.

Born Terry Gene Bollea in Augusta, Georgia, on August 11, 1953, Hogan was raised in the Tampa Bay area. Before wrestling, he played bass guitar in local rock bands. But it was the Florida wrestling circuit of the 1970s that drew him into the ring.

Hogan’s initial training was notoriously grueling. Stories circulated of a broken leg in his early days — a tactic used by trainers to test resilience. He pressed forward, combining intense workouts and, by his own admission, performance-enhancing drugs, developing the physique that earned him the nickname “24-inch pythons.”

The “Hulk” name was inspired by comparisons to the comic book hero on television. Promoter Vincent J. McMahon added “Hogan” to lend an Irish identity, completing the brand that would go on to define a generation of wrestling fans.

Wrestling star Hulk Hogan, August 7, 2010. Photo: Creative Commons/Mike Kalasnik/flickr

Hogan’s breakthrough came after a 1982 role in “Rocky III” as the hulking Thunderlips. Soon after, he returned to the WWF and captured the heavyweight title in 1984 by defeating the Iron Sheik.

His reign would last four years and was marked by legendary matchups, including his iconic body slam of André the Giant at WrestleMania III before a packed Pontiac Silverdome.

Hogan’s image was everywhere in the ‘80s — from cereal boxes to action figures. He was the first wrestler to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated, and frequently teamed up with celebrities like Mr. T, blending wrestling with pop culture.

In the 1990s, he joined WCW and reinvented himself as “Hollywood Hogan,” a villainous character who led the New World Order.

He later returned to WWE and faced off with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson at WrestleMania 2002 — a passing-of-the-torch moment that captivated fans.

In 2024, Hogan made headlines for his endorsement of Donald Trump during the Republican National Convention, citing Trump’s reaction to a campaign trail shooting attempt.

“Let Trumpamania run wild!” he told a roaring audience, ripping his shirt to reveal a Trump-branded tank top.

Hogan’s legacy, however, was also marked by scandal. He won a high-profile invasion of privacy lawsuit against Gawker over a sex tape, securing a $140 million judgment.

In 2015, WWE suspended Hogan following the release of an audio recording containing racial slurs. He was reinstated in 2018.

Hogan, married three times, had two children. His family life was featured in the reality series “Hogan Knows Best,” which aired from 2005 to 2007.

(With files from Reuters)