Two-time WWE Hall of Famer and former world champion Hulk Hogan, whose real name was Terry Gene Bollea, died Thursday at the age of 71, according to Clearwater, Florida, police and World Wrestling Entertainment.
“WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away,” the company said. “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.”
Hogan began his professional wrestling career in 1977 and featured prominently in World Wrestling Federation (now known as WWE), World Championship Wrestling and Impact Wrestling but it his was run with the WWE in the 1980s that propelled him and the company to the cultural zeitgeist.
Terry “Hulk” Hogan enjoys Super Bowl XXXV between the Baltimore Ravens and the New York Giants at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.
Andy Lyons/Getty Images, FILE
Hogan is widely credited for helping to turn professional wrestling from a regional attraction to a mainstream phenomenon in the 1980s. In the squared circle, he was the larger-than-life Hulk Hogan, the classic good guy, known as a face in wrestling terminology, who encouraged children to eat their vegetables and say their prayers as he grappled the villains known as heels. He became champion on six different occasions with the WWE.
“Whatcha Gonna Do When Hulkamania Runs Wild On You!” was one of his more popular catchphrases and he, as “The Hulkster” would put a hand behind his ear to hear the roar of the crowds.
Hogan, including his signature leg drop and 24-inch pythons, were synonymous with WrestleMania, the annual extravaganza put on by WWE. “The Immortal One” as the character of Hogan was known as, headlined the first on March 31, 1985, alongside his tag team partner Mr. T and defeated “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff and “Rowdy” Roddy Piper.
The first WrestleMania led to an infamous confrontation in March 1985 between Bollea and actor Richard Belzer who was hosting “Hot Properties.” Bollea and Mr. T were promoting their upcoming bout and Bollea placed Belzer in a headlock to prove that wrestling wasn’t fake. Belzer momentarily passed out and was injured.
Belzer sued Hogan for injuries over the incident. The suit was settled in 1990.
Hogan would appear in 10 WrestleMania matches and featured in the main event eight times.
In this 1985, file photo, Hulk Hogan poses in ring during a match.
WWE via Getty Images, FILE
Hogan parlayed his wrestling appeal by becoming a cultural icon himself, appearing on TV shows such as “Saturday Night Live,” “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,” and the short-lived series “Thunder In Paradise,” which co-starred his longtime friend and manager “Mouth of the South” Jimmy Hart. He also starred in movies like “Rocky III” and “Mr. Nanny.”
Hogan left the WWE in the mid-90s and joined rival promotion WCW. However, the once adoring fans dubbed Hulkamaniacs began to boo his heroic persona.
Hogan changed the industry once again with his transformation to the evil “Hollywood Hogan” character. In 1996, for the first time in his illustrious career, the character of Hogan was now a villain, the leader of the faction New World Order in WCW.
Hogan returned to WWE in 2002 and faced off against Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson at WrestleMania X8, with the fans cheering him on once again.
Full-length image of American wrestler Hulk Hogan displaying his championship belt. Hogan wears a costume consisting of a yellow ‘HOGAN’ bandana, a yellow muscle top, a weightlifter’s belt, red spandex pants, and yellow cowboy boots. (Photo by Darlene Hammond/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Darlene Hammond/Getty Images
Hogan’s dip in popularity was not just limited to the arenas. His image took a battering in 1994 when the federal government accused WWE Executive Chairman Vince McMahon of illegally giving performers anabolic steroids. Hogan testified that he took steroids but denied doing so at McMahon’s direction. McMahon was ultimately acquitted.
Hogan was once again in the news in 2012 when Gawker published a sex tape involving Hogan and a friend’s then-wife. Hogan sued for invasion of privacy and won a $140 million judgment by a jury in June 2016. He settled with the company for $31 million.
Hogan was previously embroiled in another scandal when a 2007 recording of him making racist remarks and saying the N-word were made public in 2015. Bollea was fired from the WWE and temporarily removed from the WWE Hall of Fame.
Hogan apologized for his use of the slur, telling “Good Morning America” in 2015 that he wanted his fans’ forgiveness.
“I’m not a racist but I never should have said what I said. It was wrong. I’m embarrassed by it,” he said, but added: “People need to realize that you inherit things from your environment. And where I grew up was south Tampa, Port Tampa, and it was a really rough neighborhood, very low income. And all my friends, we greeted each other saying that word.”
Hulk Hogan, inductee (Photo by John Shearer/WireImage)
J. Shearer/WireImage
He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 for the first time as an individual performer and again in 2020 as a member of the NWO.
Despite his retirement, he continued his connection to the sport that made him famous. He was reinstated by the WWE in 2018 and hosted WrestleMania 37 alongside WWE Superstar Titus O’Neil in 2021.
Hogan announced his engagement to yoga instructor Sky Daily in July 2023 and the two married in September 2023.
He took the stage at the Republican National Convention in July 2024 to endorse President Donald Trump, a longtime friend. He ripped his shirt off in famous fashion and revealed a Trump-Vance 2024 T-shirt below.
“I’ve known that man for over 35 years, and he’s always been the biggest patriot, and he still is,” Hogan said. “He’s always told you exactly what he thought, and he still does, brother. No matter the odds, he always finds a way to win.”
In this July 18, 2024, file photo, professional entertainer and wrestler Hulk Hogan rips his shirt as he speaks on stage on the fourth day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images, FILE
Hogan was married three times, first to Linda Bollea from 1993 to 2009. The former couple had two children, Brooke and Nick.
Hogan married Jennifer McDaniel in 2010 but they filed for divorce in October 2011 after 11 years of marriage.
Hogan is survived by his two children and wife Sky Daily.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
