CLEARWATER, USA — Hulk Hogan, the larger-than-life wrestling icon whose flamboyant persona helped catapult professional wrestling into the mainstream, died on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at the age of 71.
Authorities in Clearwater, Florida confirmed that Hogan, born Terry Bollea, was pronounced dead at a hospital following a cardiac arrest.
Police said there were no signs of foul play or suspicious activity.
Hogan’s signature handlebar moustache, red-and-yellow bandanas, and rip-away T-shirts became synonymous with the golden era of professional wrestling.
A fixture of the WWE (then WWF) from the 1980s through the early 2000s, he was widely considered one of the most influential figures in the sport’s history.
He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 after capturing six WWE championships and headlining the inaugural WrestleMania in 1985.
His matchups with legends such as Andre the Giant, Randy Savage, The Rock, and even WWE chairman Vince McMahon defined an era of wrestling that blended athletic performance with theatrical storytelling.
Hogan’s charisma extended far beyond the squared circle.
In the 1980s and ’90s, he became a pop culture staple, making appearances in films like Rocky III and starring in the VH1 reality show Hogan Knows Best.
Known for his booming voice and passionate promos, he often began interviews with the catchphrase: “Well, lemme tell ya something, Mean Gene!”
His crossover appeal drew millions of fans and helped transform the WWE into a global entertainment empire.
“Hulkamania,” the brand of energy he brought to the ring, was emblematic of wrestling’s boom period in the mid-to-late 1980s.
Hogan’s influence persisted into the 1990s when he reinvented himself as “Hollywood Hogan” in World Championship Wrestling (WCW), leading the villainous New World Order (nWo) during the famous “Monday Night Wars” between WCW and WWE.
He returned to WWE in 2002, culminating in a fan-favourite showdown with The Rock at WrestleMania X8.
More recently, Hogan had begun shifting his focus from scripted wrestling to what he called “unscripted” alternatives.
In April, he announced plans to serve as the first commissioner of the Real American Freestyle organisation, a promotion that bills itself as the world’s first unscripted professional wrestling league.
Its debut event is scheduled for 30 August at Cleveland State University.
In a 2024 appearance at the Republican National Convention, Hogan made headlines for theatrically endorsing Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.
“Let Trumpamania run wild brother! Let Trumpamania rule again! Let Trumpamania make America great again!” he shouted, tearing away a T-shirt to reveal a Trump-Vance campaign shirt as Trump applauded.
Following Hogan’s death, Trump paid tribute on Truth Social: “We lost a great friend today, the ‘Hulkster’.
Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way — Strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart.”
Hogan’s career was not without controversy.
In 2012, Gawker Media published a sex tape involving Hogan and the wife of his then-best friend.
Hogan successfully sued for invasion of privacy, winning $115 million in damages, plus an additional $25 million in punitive damages.
However, the video also captured Hogan using racial slurs, prompting WWE to sever ties with the wrestler for several years. Hogan later apologised, calling his words “unacceptable.”
Still, support from fans remained strong. During the legal proceedings, Hogan reflected: “Everywhere I show up, people treat me like I’m still the champ.”
Roots and Rise
Born in Augusta, Georgia, Hogan spent much of his life in the Tampa, Florida area. He credited early wrestling shows at the Sportatorium in Tampa for sparking his interest in the sport. After initially suffering a broken leg during a brutal early training session, Hogan returned months later with a renewed sense of determination.
“I had been running my mouth, telling everybody I’m going to be a wrestler, and in a small town, the word gets out,” he said in a 2021 interview. “So I went back four or five months later with a whole new attitude. The rest is history.”
And history, indeed, remembers Hogan as a cornerstone of an entertainment genre that blurred lines between sport and spectacle. Whether as a hero waving the American flag or a villain in dark sunglasses, Hulk Hogan remained a towering figure in the world of wrestling — and in the memories of generations who watched him rip shirts and raise eyebrows.
He is survived by his children and a legacy that reshaped the business of professional wrestling and left a lasting cultural imprint.
