What's Inside?
- Hulk Hogan passed away at 71 from cardiac arrest, ending a monumental era in professional wrestling and global entertainment.
- Hogan revolutionized wrestling by turning it into mainstream family entertainment, launching Hulkamania and becoming WWE’s first true global superstar.
- Hogan remained a cultural force, returning to WWE and launching youth wrestling initiatives even in his final year.
Hulk Hogan, one of the most transformative and controversial figures in professional wrestling history, has died at the age of 71. Known offstage as Terry Bollea, Hogan passed away at his home in Clearwater, Florida. TMZ reports that medics were dispatched Thursday morning following a call citing “cardiac arrest.” While his health had sparked concern in recent weeks, the news has rocked the global wrestling community to its core.
The Legacy of Hulk Hogan’s Hulkamania
To understand Hulk Hogan’s place in history, it is essential to understand just how close professional wrestling once came to disappearing from mainstream American culture. In the late 1970s, the wrestling industry was fractured and fading. Promotions across the U.S. were collapsing, storylines were losing credibility, and audiences were tuning out.
Then enters Hogan. He was a towering, bleached-blonde figure with a voice that shook arenas. His 1982 role as Thunderlips in Rocky III launched him into pop culture, but it was Vince McMahon’s bold vision that turned Hogan into wrestling’s first true crossover megastar. In 1984, Hulk defeated The Iron Sheik in Madison Square Garden, and the phenomenon known as Hulkamania was born.
It wasn’t just wrestling fans who felt his impact. Children wore red-and-yellow bandanas. Grandmothers knew his name. He turned the WWE (then WWF) from a regional promotion into a global entertainment empire.
Yet, his journey wasn’t without turbulence. From steroid trials to his removal from the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015 after a scandal involving racist comments caught on tape, Hogan’s legacy has been deeply complicated. Still, his lawsuit victory against Gawker made headlines far beyond the wrestling world and reshaped digital privacy laws in America.
In the ring, Hogan kept evolving. In 1996, he flipped his heroic persona to form the NWO (New World Order) in WCW, redefining the anti-hero and fueling the Monday Night Wars that brought wrestling to unprecedented ratings. Even after WCW’s demise, Hogan returned to WWE in 2002, delivering one more nostalgic wave of Hulkamania.
Vince McMahon, Triple H, Donald Trump And Many Reacted To Hulk Higan’s Passing
Vince McMahon, the former Chairman & CEO of WWE took to X to share his tribute for Hogan.
“The world lost a treasure today. Hulk Hogan was the greatest WWE Superstar of ALL TIME, someone who was loved and admired around the world. He was a trailblazer, the first performer who transitioned from being a wrestling star into a global phenomenon,” McMahon wrote.
“His grit and unbridled thirst for success were unparalleled – and made him the consummate performer. He gave everything he had to the audience whom he appreciated, respected and loved. He leaves us with one of his favorite expressions, “Train, take your vitamins and say your prayers.” Today, we pray for him,” the former WWE boss added.
— Vince McMahon (@VinceMcMahon) July 24, 2025
Here’s a few notable reactions-
WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away.
One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s.
WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans.
— WWE (@WWE) 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.
He was the archetype of what it meant to be a “Superstar” – a global sensation that inspired millions to work… pic.twitter.com/wXpgFvAhHA
— Triple H (@TripleH) 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.
— JD Vance (@JDVance) July 24, 2025
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