NAIROBI, Kenya — Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan, one of the most recognizable figures in sports entertainment, has died at the age of 71.
His representative, Linda Bose, confirmed the news, while TMZ reported that Hogan suffered a cardiac arrest at his Clearwater, Florida home.
Born Terry Bollea in 1953, Hogan wasn’t just a wrestler—he was wrestling. The man in the red and yellow, with a handlebar moustache and booming “Real American” entrance music, became the face of a global phenomenon throughout the 1980s and ’90s.
His towering presence helped transform professional wrestling from a niche sport into primetime entertainment.
Hogan’s journey began in 1977, but his legacy was truly cemented after rejoining the then-World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1983. With that return, everything changed. He didn’t just headline events—he was the event.
When WrestleMania launched in 1985, Hogan was front and center, teaming with Mr. T to electrify Madison Square Garden.
By the end of the decade, he had already won multiple world titles, but it was his ability to turn every match into a moment that made him a pop culture juggernaut.
From epic clashes with Randy Savage and the Ultimate Warrior to that unforgettable showdown with The Rock in 2002, Hogan made history every time he stepped into the ring.
In total, he became a 12-time world champion and headlined numerous pay-per-view blockbusters. His last WWE match came in 2006 at SummerSlam, where he defeated then-rising star Randy Orton.
But Hogan wasn’t just body slams and leg drops. Hollywood called. In Rocky III, he faced off with Sylvester Stallone. Later came roles in Mr. Nanny, Suburban Commando, and the reality TV hit Hogan Knows Best, which starred his family and ran from 2005 to 2007.
In 2005, WWE inducted him into its Hall of Fame. In 2020, he was inducted again—this time with the NWO, the rebellious wrestling faction that helped redefine the sport in the ’90s.
Still, the Hulkster’s story wasn’t all cheers and chants.
In 2015, his career took a massive hit. A leaked tape revealed him using racist language, prompting WWE to cut ties and remove him from the Hall of Fame.
Though he was reinstated in 2018, the damage lingered. Some wrestlers—including The New Day and Titus O’Neil—openly criticized his return, saying the hurtful words couldn’t simply be erased.
And fans didn’t forget. When Hogan returned to WWE Raw—now streaming on Netflix—in early 2025, the boos were louder than the theme music. His last appearance, promoting his own beer brand on Monday Night Raw, met a similarly frosty reception.
Off the screen, Hogan struggled with his health. In an interview with YouTuber and wrestler Logan Paul, he shared that he had undergone around 25 surgeries in just 10 years. “Ten back surgeries, both knees and hips replaced,” he said. “Shoulders—everything.” In May, reports surfaced that he had undergone neck surgery.
Despite the pain and the controversies, the tributes rolled in. Former U.S. President Donald Trump, a longtime friend, wrote on X: “R.I.P to a legend.” Vice President JD Vance added, “The next time will have to be on the other side, my friend. Rest in peace.”
Fellow wrestling icon Ric Flair expressed his shock: “No one will ever compare to you. Rest in peace, my friend.”
In a statement, WWE said it was “saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away,” adding that Hogan had played a major role in helping the company rise to global fame in the 1980s.
He leaves behind daughter Brooke and son Nick, whom he had with ex-wife Linda Hogan. The couple was married from 1983 until 2009. In 2023, Hogan married Sky Daily, becoming stepfather to her three children.
While his final years were marked by controversy and physical decline, Terry Bollea—known to the world as Hulk Hogan—will be remembered by millions of fans as the man who made them believe in the power of body slams, big dreams, and red-and-yellow heart.