Terry Bollea, known to the world as the legendary professional wrestler Hulk Hogan, has passed away at the age of 71. According to a report from TMZ Sports, medics were dispatched to the WWE Hall of Famer’s home in Clearwater, Florida, on Thursday morning for a cardiac arrest.
The report states that police and EMTs were on the scene, and the wrestling icon was carried out on a stretcher and transported in an ambulance. The news comes just weeks after rumors about Hogan’s declining health had been circulating. Last month, there were reports that Hogan was on his “deathbed,” though at the time, sources indicated he was recovering from a neck procedure he underwent in May. His wife, Sky, had also recently denied rumors that he was in a coma. News broke on Reddit earlier this morning about a medical situation at Hogan’s home.
The Man Who Created Hulkamania
Hulk Hogan is inarguably one of the most important and influential figures in the history of professional wrestling and a global pop culture icon. He rose to superstardom in the 1980s as the face of Vince McMahon’s national expansion of the World Wrestling Federation. With his “say your prayers and eat your vitamins” mantra, his signature red and yellow attire, and his undeniable charisma, “Hulkamania” was born.
Hogan became a real-life superhero to a generation of fans. He was a multi-time WWF Champion and headlined seven of the first eight WrestleMania events, including the legendary main event against André the Giant at WrestleMania III in front of a reported 93,173 fans at the Pontiac Silverdome. His immense popularity during this time, known as the “Rock ‘n’ Wrestling Connection,” propelled professional wrestling from the carnival circuit into the mainstream of American entertainment.
Hollywood Hogan and The nWo
After a brief retirement, Hogan shocked the world in 1996 when he made a surprise return to rival promotion World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and turned his back on the fans. Shedding his red and yellow for black and white, he was revealed as the third member of the New World Order (nWo) alongside Kevin Nash and Scott Hall. As the villainous “Hollywood” Hogan, he led the most dominant and influential faction in wrestling history.
The nWo storyline was a ratings juggernaut for WCW’s flagship show, Monday Nitro, leading to 83 consecutive weeks of ratings victories over the WWF’s Monday Night Raw in what became known as the “Monday Night Wars.” This period is widely considered the most successful and popular era in the history of the wrestling business.
A Pop Culture Icon
Beyond the wrestling ring, Hogan was a massive crossover star. He starred in several films, including No Holds Barred, Suburban Commando, and Mr. Nanny, and made numerous television appearances. In the 2000s, he was introduced to a new generation of fans through the hit VH1 reality show, Hogan Knows Best, which chronicled the daily life of his family.
Hogan’s impact on professional wrestling is immeasurable. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame twice, once as a singles competitor in 2005 and again as a member of the nWo in 2020. More than just a wrestler, Hulk Hogan was a cultural phenomenon who transcended the business and became one of the most recognizable people on the planet.
