Professional wrestling lost one of its most iconic figures Thursday when Terry Bollea, known worldwide as Hulk Hogan, died following a cardiac arrest at his Florida home.
The 71-year-old wrestling superstar was pronounced dead at Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater, marking the end of an era for sports entertainment.
The Birth of a Wrestling Dynasty
Hogan's journey to superstardom began in 1977 when he entered professional wrestling.However, his transformation into a global phenomenon occurred after joining what was then the World Wrestling Federation in 1983.
Hogan became arguably the biggest star in WWE history and served as the main attraction for the inaugural WrestleMania in 1985.
The wrestler's distinctive persona featured a patriotic American hero character complete with his trademark horseshoe mustache, vibrant red and yellow attire, and muscular arms he famously dubbed his "24-inch pythons.”
This larger-than-life character sparked what became known as "Hulkamania," a cultural movement that took off in the mid-1980s and helped lift professional wrestling into the mainstream.
Hogan's championship credentials were impressive throughout his career. During his initial WWE run, he captured the WWF Championship five times, with his first reign ranking as the second-longest in the title's history. Beyond one-on-one matches, he became the first wrestler to achieve consecutive Royal Rumble victories in 1990 and 1991.
The Monday Night Wars and Character Evolution
The wrestling landscape shifted dramatically in 1993 when Hogan departed WWE for rival organization World Championship Wrestling. He won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship six times and holds the record for the longest reign in that title's history.
Return to WWE and Entertainment Career
Hogan's career came full circle in 2002 when he returned to WWE following the company's acquisition of WCW. He won the Undisputed WWF Championship for a sixth time before departing in 2003. His return featured memorable moments, including his match with The Rock at WrestleMania X8.Recognition for his contributions came through multiple Hall of Fame inductions. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 and received a second induction in 2020 as a member of the New World Order.
Recent Political Involvement and Legal Victory
In recent years, Hogan expanded his public presence into political arenas. At the 2024 Republican National Convention, Hogan delivered an enthusiastic endorsement of his longtime acquaintance then-candidate Donald Trump.During his appearance, he energetically declared support for Trump using wrestling-inspired language, proclaiming his desire for "Trumpamania" to run wild and rule again while suggesting that it would help make America great again.
Hogan also made headlines through a major legal victory after a Florida jury awarded him $115 million in his lawsuit against Gawker Media in 2016, with an additional $25 million in punitive damages, after the media company published private video content in 2012.