Professional wrestler Terry Bollea, better known as Hulk Hogan, died on Thursday at the age of 71, according to World Wrestling Entertainment. The city of Clearwater, Florida, said in a statement that police and fire personnel were dispatched to Bollea's home after a report of an individual in cardiac arrest. Bollea was treated by fire and rescue crews when they arrived and was transported to Morton Plant Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Terry Gene Bollea, otherwise known as wrestling legend Hulk Hogan, has died at age 71, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) confirmed on Thursday morning. "WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away," said the organization on X. "One of pop culture's most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s."
The death of "The Hulkster" marks the end of an era in both professional wrestling and American pop culture. Hogan's passing comes just weeks after rumors circulated about his health following complications from recent neck fusion surgery, though his representatives had consistently denied reports that he was in critical condition.
Recent Health Struggles
Hogan had been dealing with longstanding neck and back injuries sustained over his decadeslong career. Since retirement, he's undergone numerous surgeries to correct them, and he'd been candid about the impact they had on his quality of life since retiring from the sport in 2013. "I've had, like, 25 surgeries in the last 10 years. Ten of them were back surgeries," Hogan revealed to Logan Paul during an episode of the Impaulsive podcast from September 2024.
His wife, Sky, had recently addressed rumors about his condition following rumors that Hogan may be in a coma. "No, he's definitely not in a coma!" she said in a response she posted on her Instagram Story. "His heart is strong, and there was never any lack of oxygen or brain damage. None of those rumors are true. He's been recovering from a major four-level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF), which is an intense surgery with a long and layered healing process."
The Birth of Hulkamania
Born Terry Gene Bollea on August 11, 1953, in Augusta, Georgia, and raised in Tampa, Florida, Hogan transformed professional wrestling from a regional attraction into a global entertainment phenomenon. With his boasts of possessing "24-inch pythons" for arms and his reminders to "say your prayers and eat your vitamins," Bollea was instrumental in wrestling's 1980s "golden era." Bollea's popularity and his rivalries with "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, André Rene Roussimoff – known as André the Giant, "Macho Man" Randy Savage and scores of others made professional wrestling a multi-billion-dollar industry in the 1980s and early 1990s.
Although Hogan's professional wrestling career began in the late 1970s, his true explosion on the scene didn't come until the mid-1980s, when he helped Vince McMahon turn the then-WWF from primarily a northeast-based wrestling territory into a national brand, and eventually a multi-billion-dollar company.
Hogan's most iconic moment came at WrestleMania III in 1987, when he body-slammed the 520-pound André the Giant before a record crowd of 93,173 at the Pontiac Silverdome. This match is widely regarded as the moment that cemented wrestling's place in mainstream American culture.
Career Reinvention and the NWO Era
After dominating the WWF throughout the 1980s, Hogan shocked the wrestling world in 1994 by jumping to rival promotion World Championship Wrestling (WCW). Once the top babyface in the business, Hogan would again transcend professional wrestling in 1996, turning heel for the first time in over a decade and forming the New World Order alongside Scott Hall and Kevin Nash at Bash at the Beach. The NWO storyline quickly became one of the hottest in not just professional wrestling, but pop culture at the time, propelling WCW to an 18-month run of beating McMahon's WWE in television ratings.
This "Hollywood Hogan" persona, complete with black and white attire and a dyed black beard, proved that even after a decade at the top, Hogan could reinvent himself and capture the public imagination once again.
Political Awakening and Trump Support
In recent years, Hogan became increasingly vocal about his conservative political views and strong support for President Donald Trump. Hogan didn't publicly endorse Trump until the convention, citing the assassination attempt against Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, as the reason for his announcement.
"As an entertainer, I try to stay out of politics," Hogan said. "But after everything that's happened to our country over the past four years, and everything that happened last weekend, I can no longer stay silent." "Let Trumpmania run wild, brother!" Hogan said. "Let Trumpmania rule again! Let Trumpmania make America great again!"
"When I saw him stand up with that fist in the air and the blood on his face — as a warrior, as a leader — I realized that's what America needs," Hogan said in an interview with Fox News in July 2024.
His speech at the 2024 Republican National Convention became one of the most memorable moments of the event, where he dramatically ripped off his shirt to reveal a Trump-Vance tank top underneath. "I've been in the ring with some of the biggest, some of the baddest dudes on the planet," Hogan said. "I know tough guys, but let me tell you something, brother, Donald Trump is the toughest of them all."
Beyond the Ring
Hogan's influence extended far beyond wrestling. He starred in several films, including "Rocky III," "No Holds Barred," "Suburban Commando," and "Mr. Nanny." His reality show "Hogan Knows Best" ran from 2005 to 2007, giving viewers an intimate look at his family life with then-wife Linda and children Brooke and Nick.
However, Hogan's later years were not without controversy. Controversy also followed Bollea, who was caught on tape making racial slurs in 2015, a moment that tarnished his legacy among scores of wrestling fans. He was also instrumental in the destruction of Gawker, after a prolonged lawsuit over the outlet's invasion of Bollea's privacy by publishing a sex tape. The $115 million judgment bankrupted the website and became a pivotal moment in media law.
Industry Tributes and Presidential Response
News of Hogan's death prompted an immediate outpouring of grief from the wrestling community and political world. President Trump wrote 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. He gave an absolutely electric speech at the Republican National Convention, that was one of the highlights of the entire week."
President Donald Trump (@realDonaldTrump) - Truth Social - July 24, 2025: "We lost a great friend today, the 'Hulkster.' Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way — Strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart. He gave an absolutely electric speech at the Republican National Convention, that was one of the highlights of the entire week."
Vice President JD Vance (@JDVance) - July 24, 2025: "Hulk Hogan was a great American icon. One of the first people I ever truly admired as a kid. The last time I saw him we promised we'd get beers together next time we saw each other. The next time will have to be on the other side, my friend! Rest in peace."
Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) - July 24, 2025: "R.I.P to a legend. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 HULK HOGAN"
Triple H (@TripleH) - July 24, 2025: "WWE would not be where it is today without the larger-than-life characters that compete in the ring ... and few, if any, loomed larger than Terry 'Hulk Hogan' Bollea."
Ric Flair (@RicFlairNatrBoy) - July 24, 2025: "I Am Absolutely Shocked To Hear About The Passing Of My Close Friend @HulkHogan! Hulk Has Been By My Side Since We Started In The Wrestling Business. An Incredible Athlete, Talent, Friend, And Father!"
Vice President JD Vance wrote in his post on X: "Hulk Hogan was a great American icon. One of the first people I ever truly admired as a kid. The last time I saw him we promised we'd get beers together next time we saw each other. The next time will have to be on the other side, my friend! Rest in peace."
WWE's current chief content officer, Triple H, posted a heartfelt tribute: "WWE would not be where it is today without the larger-than-life characters that compete in the ring ... and few, if any, loomed larger than Terry 'Hulk Hogan' Bollea."
Legacy of an American Icon
Hogan is survived by his third wife, Sky Daily, whom he married in 2023, and his two children from his first marriage to Linda Claridge: daughter Brooke, 36, and son Nick, 34. Brooke recently gave birth to twins in January 2025, making them Hogan's first grandchildren.
Hogan was a 12-time world champion, six times apiece in WWF and WCW. His WWF run helped catapult Vince McMahon's promotion from being a regional organization to an international conglomerate.
The man who taught America to say their prayers and eat their vitamins transformed professional wrestling from a niche entertainment into a cultural phenomenon that continues to influence popular culture today. His catchphrases, signature moves, and larger-than-life personality made him one of the most recognizable figures in entertainment history.
While his later years were marked by health struggles, legal battles, and controversy, Hogan's impact on American culture remains undeniable. He was instrumental in creating the template for sports entertainment that WWE still follows today, proving that with the right combination of charisma, showmanship, and timing, a wrestler could become a genuine mainstream superstar.
From his humble beginnings in Florida to becoming a global icon who helped shape both professional wrestling and reality television, Terry "Hulk Hogan" Bollea lived a life that was larger than fiction. As the wrestling world mourns the loss of one of its greatest ambassadors, his legacy as the man who brought wrestling to the masses will endure for generations to come.
Sources: WWE, TMZ, CNN, Fox News, ABC News, Variety, ESPN, Hollywood Reporter, NBC News
