Hulk Hogan, the towering figure who redefined professional wrestling and helped catapult it into the global spotlight, has died at age 71.
The former WWE champion, born Terry Gene Bollea, died Thursday morning at his home in Clearwater, Florida, after suffering a cardiac arrest. Emergency responders found him in distress shortly after 10:00 a.m. local time. Hulk Hogan was pronounced dead at 11:17 a.m. at a nearby hospital. Police confirmed there were no signs of foul play. Hogan had recently undergone neck surgery in May followed by heart surgery in June. He died surrounded by family, according to his longtime manager Chris Volo.
World Wrestling Entertainment issued a statement mourning the loss of a man it called “one of pop culture’s most recognizable figures.” The company credited Hogan with helping bring professional wrestling into the mainstream during the 1980s.
Hogan rose to national fame after joining the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE) in 1983. He quickly became the face of the brand with his handlebar mustache, bandana, and catchphrase “Whatcha gonna do when Hulkamania runs wild on you?”
He won six WWE championships, headlined eight WrestleMania events, and starred in the very first edition of the franchise in 1985, teaming up with Mr. T in a tag match against Paul Orndorff and Roddy Piper. His dramatic body slam of André the Giant at WrestleMania III remains one of the most iconic moments in wrestling history.
Hogan’s career extended far beyond the ring. He became the face of action films and Saturday morning cartoons. His credits included Rocky III, Mr. Nanny, Suburban Commando, and a CBS animated series, Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling. He starred in VH1’s reality show Hogan Knows Best alongside his first wife Linda and their two children, which aired between 2005 and 2007.
Hogan’s influence wasn’t without controversy. He was fired from WWE in 2015 after a leaked audio recording revealed him using racial slurs. He later issued a public apology. WWE reinstated him in 2018, stating he had earned a second chance.
Three years earlier, in 2012, gossip website Gawker published an adult themed tape featuring Hogan. He sued the site for invasion of privacy and won a $140 million judgment, which led to Gawker’s closure.
In recent years, Hogan became a vocal supporter of Donald Trump. In October 2024, he appeared at the Republican National Convention in New York City, where he ripped off his shirt to reveal a “Trump 2024” tank top.
Following Hogan’s death, Trump wrote on Truth Social, “I lost a great friend today. Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way Strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart.”
Hogan’s most recent WWE appearance came in January 2025 on Monday Night Raw, where he was promoting a new beer line. The crowd response was mixed, with some fans booing the former champion.
Ric Flair said he was “absolutely shocked” by the news. “He was always there for me even when I didn’t ask,” Flair wrote on X. The Undertaker added, “His contributions to our business are immeasurable.”
John Cena, The Rock, and others praised Hogan as a pioneer who helped build the WWE brand. Jake “The Snake” Roberts called him “a true legend,” and Dwayne Johnson shared his condolences privately with Hogan’s family, according to reports.
Carlos Silva, president of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, said, “Hogan’s name transcended wrestling. He was a cultural force.” Hulk Hogan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. Despite later being removed following the 2015 scandal, he was reinstated three years later.
Hulk Hogan’s physical decline was public. In a 2024 interview, Hogan told YouTuber Logan Paul, “I’ve had like 25 surgeries in the last 10 years, 10 back surgeries, both knees, both hips replaced, shoulders , everything.” Hogan was married three times and had two children.
Sylvester Stallone, who starred with Hogan in Rocky III, said the wrestler’s “amazing skill made Rocky III incredibly special.” Though controversy followed him in later years, Hogan’s place in wrestling history remains firm. He turned pro wrestling into a billion-dollar entertainment machine and inspired a generation of performers.
As the lights dim on a four-decade legacy, one thing is clear: Hulkamania changed the face of wrestling forever.
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