The world of professional wrestling is mourning the loss of one of its most iconic figures, Terry Bollea, better known to fans across the globe as Hulk Hogan. The legendary wrestler died on Thursday at the age of 71, according to an official statement released by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
Hogan was not just a wrestling superstar, he was a cultural phenomenon. In the 1980s and 1990s, Bollea’s larger-than-life personality in and out of the ring made him a household name and a crossover mainstream star, appearing in movies, TV shows, commercials, and remaining one of the most recognized faces in pop culture for decades.
“WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away. One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s,” the company announced in a heartfelt post on X. “WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans.”
Authorities in Clearwater, Florida, confirmed that police and fire rescue units were dispatched to Bollea’s home after receiving a call about a cardiac arrest. Emergency crews treated him at the scene before transporting him to Morton Plant Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. TMZ was first to report the news.
Rising to fame during wrestling’s “golden era,” Hogan was best known for his signature charisma, unmatched bravado, and catchphrases like “say your prayers and eat your vitamins.” His claim of having “24-inch pythons” for arms only added to his mythos. During his prime, Hogan became the face of professional wrestling, engaging in legendary rivalries with stars like “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, André the Giant, and “Macho Man” Randy Savage. These showdowns turned wrestling into a global sensation and laid the foundation for the billion-dollar industry that WWE is today.
However, controversy also followed Bollea later in life. In 2015, he was caught on tape making racial slurs, a scandal that tarnished his legacy and led to his temporary erasure from WWE’s Hall of Fame and public image. His name also made legal history when he filed a lawsuit against media outlet Gawker, which had published a sex tape involving the wrestler. The court ruled in his favor with a staggering $115 million judgment, leading to Gawker’s bankruptcy and reshaping the boundaries of privacy law and journalism.
Despite the scandals, Hogan remained an enduring figure in wrestling, known to millions as the man who made “Hulkamania” a global phenomenon. His death marks the end of an era in professional wrestling, and fans around the world continue to reflect on the legacy both triumphant and turbulent of a man who defined a generation of sports entertainment.
