Wrestling icon Terry Bollea, famously known as Hulk Hogan, a twelve-time professional wrestling world champion and two-time WWE Hall of Famer, has reportedly passed away at the age of 71. Sources indicate he suffered a cardiac arrest at his residence in Clearwater, Florida, on Thursday morning, prompting an emergency response.
Hogan`s ascent to global stardom began with his World Wrestling Federation (WWF) debut in 1979. His unique blend of charisma, imposing physique, distinctive handlebar mustache, and the captivating `Hulkamania` persona were instrumental in transforming the WWF into a worldwide phenomenon. A pivotal moment in his career, the epic body-slam of Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III, remains one of the most celebrated events in professional wrestling annals.
His legendary status extended beyond the ring into the video game world, where he was a prominent figure in numerous WWF titles, including WWF Wrestlemania and King of the Ring. Later, following his move to World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in the mid-1990s, he continued to be featured heavily in their popular games, notably WCW/NWO Revenge for Nintendo 64 and PlayStation.
Venturing into mainstream entertainment, Hogan made appearances in blockbuster films like Rocky III and popular television series such as Hogan Knows Best. In a recent development, April 2025 saw him co-found the Real American Freestyle wrestling promotion with Eric Bischoff, with plans for its inaugural event scheduled for later this summer in Cleveland.
Despite his monumental contributions and being considered one of professional wrestling`s Mount Rushmore figures, Hogan`s career was not without controversy. WWE notably distanced itself from him for several years following a 2015 scandal involving offensive racist remarks and subsequent allegations of infidelity.
He is survived by his wife, Sky, and his children from a previous marriage. From his foundational role in early WWE to his efforts in nurturing new wrestling talent, Hulk Hogan`s impact on the wrestling industry is truly immeasurable.