Hulk Hogan, the wrestling legend who propelled the sport from a popular pastime to a ubiquitous pop-culture phenomenon on a wave of “Hulkamania” before becoming a right-wing hero, has died at the age of 71.
Darren Prince, Hogan’s longtime agent, confirmed the wrestler’s death to Rolling Stone. Hogan died today in Clearwater, Florida, after paramedics responded to a “cardiac arrest” call at the wrestler’s home, CNN reports. Hogan was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. In recent weeks, though, he was reportedly on his “deathbed” following surgery earlier this month, though those close to him dispelled those rumors.
“WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away,” the company said in a statement. “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.”
The Georgia-born wrestler born Terry Bollea began wrestling professionally in the mid-1970s in Florida wrestling circuits under monikers like the Super Destroyer and Terry Boulder. In 1979, Bollea was introduced to then-World Wrestling Federation (WWF) owner Vince McMahon, who brought on Bollea and helped coin the name Hulk Hogan, named in part for to his hulking 6’7″ physique and its similarity to the “Incredible” comic book hero.
In the early 1980s, Hogan — then a villainous character —split his time between the WWF (where his battles with Andre the Giant helped boost the company’s popularity) and the New Japan Pro-Wrestling, competing for championships in both leagues. Following a two-year stint in the American Wrestling Association, Hogan rejoined the WWF, and “Hulkamania” was born.
The bandana-wearing, shirt-ripping Hogan soon became the WWF’s marquee star, renewing his rivalry with Andre the Giant, facing off against the likes of “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and “Macho Man” Randy Savage, and headlining the company’s first WrestleMania.
It’s hard to overstate the impact and popularity Hogan had on both the sport and popular culture writ large, becoming a hero to millions of fans, especially children. At his peak, Hogan could be seen on Saturday morning cartoons, in music, in commercials, and on workout tapes. Oversaturation didn’t exist, as “Say your prayers and eat your vitamins” became a national catchphrase and Hogan continually filled stadiums. “In blasé Manhattan, where the likes of Jackie O. and Mr. T have been observed walking the streets unhindered,” The New York Times noted in 1984, “Hulk Hogan cannot go 10 feet.”
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Hogan’s success in the ring led to opportunities on the big screen, including roles in films like Rocky III (as a wrestler named Thunderlips) and a memorable cameo in Gremlins 2: The New Batch. As leading man, Hogan starred in the 1989 wrestling drama No Holds Barred, the 1991 sci-fi action film Suburban Commando, and the family comedy Mr. Nanny.
Over the next two decades, Hogan bounced around the now-WWE and World Championship Wrestling, where he adopted a heel persona dubbed Hollywood Hogan. An inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame, Hogan remained in the wrestling orbit until his death, while also spinning off into music, merchandising, and reality television.
“I am absolutely shocked to hear about the passing of my close friend Hulk Hogan,” Ric Flair, who wrestled alongside and against Hogan, wrote today on social media. “Hulk has been by my side since we started in the wrestling business. An incredible athlete, talent, friend, and father! Our friendship has meant the world to me. He was always there for me even when I didn’t ask for him to be. He was one of the first to visit me when I was in the hospital with a 2% chance of living, and he prayed by my bedside…Hulkster, no one will ever compare to you! Rest in peace my friend!”
In the 2010s, Hogan found himself in the thick of a completely different, but no less sensational fight: a legal battle with the website Gawker, which had published part of a sex tape featuring Hogan and Heather Clem, the wife of Florida shock jock and former Hogan pal Bubba the Love Sponge. The encounter itself took place in 2006, and in 2011, Hogan discussed the tryst — which he said had taken place with Bubba’s knowledge and encouragement — on The Howard Stern Show.
Bubba had also recorded the encounter, burning the video to a DVD, writing “Hogan” on it, and reportedly stashing it in his desk. While no one was supposed to see the video, it eventually leaked, and in October 2012, Gawker published a one-minute-and-41 second excerpt from the 30-minute video. The accompanying post, written by A.J. Daulerio, was part commentary on internet-era celebrity voyeurism, part perfunctory play-by-play.
Hogan sued Gawker in Florida for invasion of privacy, infringement of personality rights, and intentional infliction of emotional address. While Gawker tried to argue it was protected by the First Amendment, and that Hogan himself had made his sex life a public matter by discussing the encounter with Clem on Howard Stern, the jury ultimately sided with the wrestler.
Hogan was initially awarded a staggering $140 million in punitive and compensatory damages. And while Gawker appealed, in 2016 the case was eventually settled for $31 million, with Gawker agreeing to remove the post. By that point, however, Gawker had filed for bankruptcy and sold itself to Univision.
It had also emerged in early 2016 that both Hogan’s legal battle and others against Gawker were being financed by the right-wing tech billionaire Peter Thiel. Thiel had told The New York Times that the site — and in particular its Silicon Valley-focused blog, Valleywag — had “ruined people’s lives for no reason.” (Valleywag had outed Thiel as gay in the mid-2000s.)
In the midst of the appeals process in the Gawker case, Hogan faced another major controversy in 2015 after another tape leaked, this one containing a racist diatribe that included complaints about his daughter dating a Black man and liberal use of the n-word. (The recording was reportedly taken from court-sealed tapes in the Gawker case.) Hogan apologized, but the WWE had already decided to terminate his contract and effectively wipe him from the sport, removing references to him from their website, pulling merchandise, and even yanking him from the WWE Hall of Fame.
But the punishment didn’t last long. In 2018, Hogan made his onscreen WWE return and was also reinstated into the Hall of Fame. He continued to make appearances on WWE programming through the 2020s, with his final spot taking place earlier this year when Raw made its Netflix debut.
During this final act of his career, Hogan also became more involved in conservative politics. He endorsed Donald Trump for president on numerous occasions, even telling TMZ in 2016 that he wanted to be Trump’s “running mate.” In 2024, Hogan even spoke at the Republican National Convention, where he called Trump “my hero” while doing his signature shirt rip.
“We lost a great friend today, the ‘Hulkster,’” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way — Strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart. … He entertained fans from all over the world, and the cultural impact he had was massive. … Hulk Hogan will be greatly missed!”
From Rolling Stone US
