The world has bid farewell to the legendary wrestling star and actor, Hulk Hogan, who passed away at the age of 71. His passing, following a cardiac arrest at his home in Clearwater, Florida, was confirmed by his manager, Chris Volo. Hogan, whose real name is Terry Gene Bollea, was surrounded by his family during his final moments.
There were murmurs about Hogan’s health condition over the past few weeks, especially after news broke about his hospitalization. However, just last week, his wife, Sky, assured fans that he was not in a coma, emphasizing that his heart remained “strong” despite several surgeries.
Known for his iconic blonde mustache and colorful bandannas, Hogan was a towering figure in the wrestling world during the 1980s. Standing 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighing 320 pounds at his peak, Hogan’s presence was both formidable and charismatic. He played a pivotal role in turning professional wrestling into a beloved form of home entertainment through his famous “Hulkamania” act and his association with Worldwide Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
WWE paid tribute to Hogan, acknowledging his significant contribution to the sport and expressing condolences to his family, friends, and fans. Hogan was one of the most recognizable figures in pop culture, helping WWE gain global recognition during the 1980s.
Hogan’s larger-than-life persona headlined WrestleMania, WWE’s flagship event, on eight occasions. A memorable highlight was his 1987 clash against his mentor, Andre the Giant, in front of a massive crowd of 93,173 at Michigan’s Pontiac Silverdome. During his illustrious career, Hogan claimed the WWE championship title six times.
In 1996, he embarked on a fresh chapter in his career by founding the New World Order (NWO) and adopting the moniker Hollywood Hulk Hogan. He was initially inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005, but his status was temporarily revoked following a scandal involving a leaked tape in which he made racist remarks. The controversy led to a lawsuit against the publisher, which Hogan eventually won, resulting in the publication’s shutdown.
Hogan was re-inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020, cementing his legacy as he aligned himself with Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” campaign. He even made a dramatic appearance at the 2024 Republican National Convention, revving up the crowd by revealing a Trump 2024 T-shirt under his iconic torn-off Hulkamania garment.
Hogan’s showmanship wasn’t limited to wrestling. He ventured into acting, landing roles in favorites like “Rocky III” as Thunderlips and movies including “No Holds Barred”, “Suburban Commando”, “Mr. Nanny”, and “Santa With Muscles”. He also starred in the syndicated TV series “Thunder in Paradise” in 1994. His celebrity status made him a popular name for the Make-a-Wish Foundation, and he frequently appeared as himself in films and TV shows such as “The A-Team”, “Baywatch”, “Gremlins 2”, “Spy Hard”, and “Muppets From Space”. Additionally, he lent his voice to animated series like “Robot Chicken” and “American Dad!”
Beyond the big screen, Hogan made a mark on television by co-hosting “Saturday Night Live” in 1985 alongside Mr. T. That same year, he took center stage in his animated series, “Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling” on CBS. Later on, he starred in VH1’s reality show “Hogan Knows Best” from 2005 to 2007 with his family.
In the emotional wake of his passing, tributes have poured in from across the world, especially from those aligned with the Maga political movement. Donald Trump expressed his sorrow on Truth Social, recalling Hogan’s spirited speech at the Republican National Convention and extending love to Hogan’s wife and family.
JD Vance shared his admiration for Hogan, recounting their bond and wishing for one last drink together in another life. Republican speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, reminisced fondly about Hogan’s impact both in sports and the political realm, sharing personal photos from their past encounters.
Heartfelt messages continued with Sylvester Stallone, Hogan’s co-star from “Rocky III”, mourning the loss on Instagram, and Ric Flair, a fellow wrestling legend, expressing deep grief on X. True to his legacy, John Cena, mirroring Hogan’s career path from wrestling to acting, paid his respects by posting an iconic photo from one of Hogan’s matches.
