Hulk Hogan, the bombastic, bandana-clad face of professional wrestling during its 1980s boom, died Wednesday morning at his home in Clearwater, Florida. He was 71.
The cause of death was reported as cardiac arrest, according to a statement from WWE. The wrestling organization confirmed Hogan’s passing late Wednesday, calling him “one of the most recognizable and beloved figures in sports entertainment history.”
Hogan—born Terry Gene Bollea—was more than just a wrestler. He was a household name. Whether it was slamming André the Giant in front of 93,000 fans at WrestleMania III, flexing his 24-inch pythons, or rallying the crowd with his trademark, “Whatcha gonna do, brother?”, Hogan helped transform pro wrestling into mainstream spectacle.
“Without Hulk Hogan, there is no WWE as we know it today,” said WWE Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque, better known as Triple H. “He transcended the business and brought professional wrestling into living rooms around the world.”
From Bass Guitarist to Wrestling Immortality
Bollea was born August 11, 1953, in Augusta, Georgia, and raised in Tampa. A former bassist in a rock band, he was discovered by wrestling promoter Hiro Matsuda, who broke his leg in Hogan’s first day of training—a ritual Matsuda reportedly used to test commitment. Hogan returned weeks later, earning respect and an eventual debut in the ring.
But it wasn’t until his return to WWE (then WWF) in 1983 that he became the iconic Hulk Hogan. Clad in red and yellow, preaching vitamins, prayers, and the American way, he became the ultimate hero for a generation of fans.
His bouts with “Macho Man” Randy Savage, The Ultimate Warrior, and the villainous André cemented his status. By the late ‘80s, Hogan had become a pop culture juggernaut, starring in movies like No Holds Barred and appearing regularly on talk shows and cartoons.
A Complicated Legacy
While his wrestling achievements are undeniable—six-time WWE Champion, founding member of the nWo in WCW, Hall of Famer twice over—Hogan’s public life was marred by controversy.
In 2015, a leaked audio tape revealed him using racist language, leading WWE to cut all ties at the time. He apologized publicly and was reinstated to the Hall of Fame three years later. Even so, the incident cast a long shadow over his legacy.
Still, many fans and wrestlers separated the man from the moments.
“Say what you want about Hulk Hogan, but he inspired millions,” said Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in a social media post hours after Hogan’s death. “He made us believe. He made me believe.”
The Final Chapter
In recent years, Hogan had battled numerous health issues, including over a dozen back surgeries. He made sporadic appearances on WWE programming, often greeted with thunderous ovations.
Despite his controversies, Hogan’s cultural footprint remained vast. His red-and-yellow silhouette still adorns T-shirts sold across the globe. His charisma and larger-than-life persona made him more than a wrestler—he was a mythic figure in American entertainment.
He is survived by his children, Brooke and Nick Bollea, and his wife Sky Daily, whom he married in 2023.
No funeral details have been released yet, though fans have already begun gathering outside WWE headquarters and Hogan’s Tampa-area beach shop to pay tribute.
