Terry Gene Bollea, known to millions around the world as Hulk Hogan, passed away peacefully at the age of 71. A towering figure in professional wrestling and a pop culture icon for over four decades, Hogan leaves behind a legacy unmatched in sports entertainment.
WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has d**d at the age of 71 after suffering cardiac arrest at his home in Clearwater, Florida early Thursday morning, Newsweek has confirmed.
His manager, Linda Bose, told the outlet she was “heartbroken” over the loss. According to the Clearwater Police Department, emergency crews responded to a 911 call at 9:51 a.m. for a cardiac a**est at Hogan’s home in Clearwater Beach.
He was transported to Morton Plant Hospital, where he was pronounced d**d.
According to Newsweek, Hogan’s wife, Sky, had recently denied rumors that he was in a coma and said his heart was “strong.” The wrestling legend had been recovering from neck surgery that took place in May.
For weeks, there had been growing speculation about his health, including rumors that he was on his deathbed.
Born on August 11, 1953, in Augusta, Georgia, Hogan rose to international fame in the 1980s as the face of the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE). With his signature handlebar mustache, bandana, and “24-inch pythons,” he became a household name, inspiring fans with his charisma, catchphrases like “Whatcha gonna do, brother?”, and unwavering commitment to “Hulkamania.”
Hogan’s influence helped propel wrestling into mainstream entertainment. He headlined multiple WrestleManias, including the legendary showdown with André the Giant at WrestleMania III. Outside the ring, Hogan starred in films like No Holds Barred, had his own cartoon, and became a reality TV figure with Hogan Knows Best.
Hogan headlined eight of the first nine WrestleManias, including legendary bouts against André the Giant, Randy Savage, and The Ultimate Warrior. The pinnacle of Hulkamania came at WrestleMania III in 1987, when Hogan famously body-slammed the 520-pound André the Giant in front of over 90,000 fans at the Pontiac Silverdome—a moment etched in wrestling history.
In the late ’90s, he reinvented himself in WCW as “Hollywood Hogan,” co-founding the villainous New World Order (nWo) and cementing his place as one of wrestling’s most enduring personas.
Despite his professional highs, Hogan’s personal life was marked by turbulence. He faced public scrutiny during his divorce from Linda Hogan and financial troubles stemming from lawsuits and business setbacks. A high-profile lawsuit against Gawker Media over a leaked sex tape and invasion of privacy ended with Hogan being awarded a $140 million judgment, a case that helped reshape media law and ultimately led to Gawker’s bankruptcy.
In his later years, Hogan made sporadic appearances in WWE, inducted into its Hall of Fame in 2005 and again in 2020 as a member of the nWo. His larger-than-life presence and unmistakable voice remained iconic even as he stepped away from the ring.
He is survived by his children, Brooke and Nick, and remembered fondly by legions of fans worldwide who grew up training, saying their prayers, and eating their vitamins.
The world of wrestling has lost one of its greatest heroes. Hulk Hogan’s spirit will forever live on in the hearts of Hulkamaniacs everywhere.
