Hulk Hogan, perhaps the most famous professional wrestler to ever live, has died at the age of 71.
TMZ Sports was the first to have the news about Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea.
Hulk Hogan Dies After Cardiac Issue at Home in Florida
According to the TMZ Sports report, Hogan died after a cardiac arrect event at his home. Emergency personnel rushed to his home in Clearwater, Fla., and he was transported to a local hospital. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.
This comes shortly after rumors he was in a coma. His wife, Sky, denied rumors of a coma and insisted his heart was “strong” after previous surgeries.
Hogan Lived Accomplished but Controversial Life
Hogan became a worldwide celebrity after rising to superstardom with the WWE (then WWF) in the 1980s and 1990s. He was a six-time WWF champion who was the face of the promotion during arguably its most successful run. Hogan main-evented multiple WrestleManias, an annual event that was largely built around him and has evolved to become the biggest professional wrestling event of the year for WWE — or any other promotion.
Hogan eventually left WWF to join the rival promotion, WCW. He won six more titles there, but his biggest contribution to the business at that time might have been his heel turn. Hogan, heralded and loved for his “say your prayers, eat your vitamins” mantra as the ultimate babyface (good guy) in WWF, eventually turned heel and became a bad guy for WCW. It was probably the biggest moment in that promotion’s history and it led to the beginning of the nWo, one of if not the most popular, notable factions in wrestling history.
He parlayed all that success into many non-wrestling ventures. Hogan starred in multiple movies, and a reality show featuring him and his family was a popular VH1 show.
Hogan’s life was not without controversy, though. He was a key figure in the steroid trial surrounding former WWF/WWE owner and chairman Vince McMahon. Hogan admitted under oath during that trial he used anabolic steroids.
Hogan’s worst moment came in 2015 when a sex tape with him was released. That video was for more damaging for what Hogan said than what he did, as he was quoted making racist remarks in the video. Hogan was eventually awarded more than $100 million in damages for lawsuits over the release of the tape, but the damage was done.
“It was probably the worst day of my life when I said that,” Hogan admitted in a 2015 interview. “I bottomed out. I was having some problems … I said what I said, never should have said. I apologized for it over and over, truly sorry for it.
The WWE removed Hogan from its Hall of Fame and distanced themselves from the star. Eventually, though, the company brought Hogan back for various on-screen appearances to mixed reactions. In addition, Hogan became increasingly political in his later years, including an appearance at the Republican National Convention in 2024 to advocate for President Donald Trump.
In what would be his last on-screen appearance for WWE, Hogan was loudly booed in Los Angeles as he made an appearance on the first episode of “Monday Night Raw” on Netflix.
Hulk Hogan Death: Pro Wrestling Legend Dies At Age 71