Terry Bollea, better known worldwide as Hulk Hogan, passed away on Thursday at the age of 71, according to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). The professional wrestling legend suffered cardiac arrest at his home in Clearwater, Florida, and was later pronounced dead at Morton Plant Hospital. Authorities have ruled out foul play, though investigations continue.
Hogan was the face of professional wrestling for decades, helping transform WWE into a global powerhouse in the 1980s and 1990s. With his signature look, booming voice, and catchphrases like “Whatcha gonna do when Hulkamania runs wild on you?”, he became a pop culture phenomenon, headlining WrestleMania events and starring in films.
His shocking 1996 “heel turn” as “Hollywood Hogan” revitalized his career and helped propel rival WCW past WWE in ratings for an unprecedented 83 weeks. However, his later years were marked by controversy, including a damaging scandal in 2015 involving racist language in a leaked private tape, which led to a temporary severance from WWE.
In recent years, Hogan attempted to re-enter the wrestling scene as a commissioner of the new promotion Real American Freestyle, which was scheduled to debut next month.
“We lost our commissioner. We lost a friend. And the sport of wrestling lost one of its greatest champions,” said Chad Bronstein, CEO of the promotion.
Despite personal and professional ups and downs, Hulk Hogan’s impact on wrestling is undeniable. He was a WWE Hall of Famer, a cultural icon, and a larger-than-life figure whose influence helped shape modern sports entertainment.
