Professional wrestling legend Hulk Hogan (Terry Bollea) died aged 71 following a cardiac arrest at his Clearwater Beach, Florida residence, according to CBS News.
Clearwater Police Department responded to a medical emergency call at 09:50 a.m. local time on Thursday, with Major Nate Burnside confirming “no signs of foul play or suspicious activity” at the scene. Hogan was transported to Morton Plant Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
Hogan revolutionised sports entertainment as WWE’s foremost attraction, headlining the inaugural WrestleMania in 1985 and capturing six world championships. His “Hulkamania” –persona, characterised by signature red-and-yellow attire, handlebar moustache, and arms self-proclaimed “24-inch pythons” – propelled wrestling into mainstream consciousness.
WWE’s official statement acknowledged his global impact: “One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s.”
His career spanned defining rivalries with Andre the Giant, Randy “Macho Man” Savage, and The Rock, alongside pivotal roles in wrestling’s Monday Night Wars. Hogan’s 2002 WWE return culminated in a torch-passing match against The Rock at WrestleMania X8. Inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005, he remained active in the industry, announcing plans in April 2025 to commission Real American Freestyle billed as the world’s first unscripted wrestling league.
Beyond wrestling, Hogan became a cultural fixture through reality television (“Hogan Knows Best”) and political advocacy. His endorsement of Donald Trump at the 2024 Republican National Convention featured the declaration:
Let Trumpamania run wild brother! Let Trumpamania rule again! Let Trumpamania make America great again!
US President Trump memorialised Hogan on Truth Social, recalling the “absolutely electric” speech and noting that “the cultural impact he had was massive.”
Hogan’s later years included significant legal action against Gawker Media, resulting in a $140 million verdict in 2016 after the outlet published private footage.
His career bookended wrestling’s evolution from regional spectacle to global phenomenon. From body-slamming Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III to pioneering WCW’s New World Order faction, his theatrical promos with announcer “Mean” Gene Okerlund became cultural touchstones.
