Legendary WWE wrestler Hulk Hogan dies at 71: Report
Medical professionals were reportedly sent to Hogan's home in Clearwater, Florida, early on Thursday morning, with operators saying that the emergency call was regarding a "cardiac arrest", TMZ Sports reported.
Several police cars and EMTs were parked outside Hogan's home, and the WWE icon was reportedly carried out on a stretcher into an ambulance.
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) took to X to express the grief over Hogan's passing. "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," it posted.
Hulk Hogan had undergone a major heart operation in June, US Weekly reported.
His passing comes just weeks after Hogan's wife, Sky, rubbished rumours of the icon being in a coma. She had said that her husband's heart was "strong" as he recovered from surgeries.
Just earlier this year, speculations were rife that the wrestling icon was on his deathbed. However, sources close to Hogan reportedly assured that he was doing fine.
Rumours had started spreading as the star was hospitalised for some neck and back problems that he had been enduring for a long time. His representative had asserted that Hogan was not in a life-threatening condition.
Who was Hulk Hogan?
Born in August 1953, in Augusta, Georgia, Terry Gene Bollea (Hogan's real name), grew up in Florida's Port Tampa. Having grown interest in wrestling as a teenager, he professionally entered the sports in August 1977, earning the 'Hulk' title for himself.
Hulk Hogan, clad in his trademark yellow and red outfit, is one of the most famous names from the 1980's WWE era. The larger-than-life icon won six WWE championships, jam-packed the Pontiac Silverdome with 93,173 fans, starred in movies, television shows, and his animated series.
'The Real American' first established his rock-solid patriotism when he toppled The Iron Sheik to win the WWE Championship in 1984. Soon, he became a household name across the world. He headlined the inaugural WrestleMania on MTV and featured on "Saturday Night Live".
Hulk Hogan's greatest rivals, including "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, King Kong Bundy, and Ultimate Warrior, all became notable parts of WWE history when they faced The Immortal One.
In 2005, Hogan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame and then again in 2020, as a member of the New World Order wrestling group.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Indian Express
WWE superstars pay tribute to Hulk Hogan on Monday Night Raw; legendary wrestler's son Nick attends event. Watch
The wrestling and entertainment world was left in shock on July 24, when WWE legend Terry Gene Bollea, better known as Hulk Hogan, passed away due to cardiac arrest. He was rushed to the hospital after a 911 call was made from his residence in Clearwater, Florida, but was declared dead on arrival. WWE recently paid tribute to Hogan during an episode of Monday Night Raw. Wrestlers, ring announcers, and members of the front office gathered in front of the audience as CCO Triple-H started the proceedings with a short speech. He said, 'Ladies and gentlemen, we lost one of the biggest and most globally recognised icons in the world. A man I grew up watching, was fortunate enough to share the ring with, and like so many of us, was honoured to call a friend. The truth is, he captivated millions of people and inspired them around the globe. We would not be standing here if it were not for him. So please help us honour him now, as we give a 10-bell salute to Terry Bollea, the one and only, the immortal Hulk Hogan.' ALSO READ: When people believed that Hulk Hogan came to Chandigarh and wrestled Sangram Singh Wrestlers stood with their heads down and hands tied as the bell from ringside was rung 10 times, and the entire arena was filled with fans holding placards honouring the legendary wrestler. Hulk Hogan's son Nick Hogan stood there with the wrestlers as well, as a heart-wrenching video of 'The Real American's' career played on the big screen. The video had clips from Hogan's legendary matches, pictures from his childhood, his NWO days, and his several championship reigns. Nick had previously posted a message for his father on Instagram, which described his relationship with him, while thanking all the fans for their support. A post shared by Nick Hogan (@nickhogan) He wrote, 'Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me and comforted me over the last few days. It truly means a lot. I'm sorry to everyone I have not responded to yet. This has been overwhelming and extremely difficult. My dad was the most incredible person I've ever known and will always be my hero. He was the kindest, most loving, and most amazing father anybody could ask for. I feel so blessed to have had the greatest dad in the world. He was not only the best dad but also my mentor and my best friend. He has always been my best friend, and I love him and miss him more than I could ever explain.' Hulk Hogan is often credited for taking wrestling from a small-time attraction to a global sport; as with every championship, every gimmick, and every segment, his legend grew to unimaginable heights, and the wrestling entertainment business grew with it.
News18
3 hours ago
- News18
Booker Prize winner Kiran Desai up for the award again with long-awaited novel
London, Jul 29 (AP) Indian author Kiran Desai, who won the Booker Prize and then didn't publish a novel for almost two decades, is up for the award again with her long-awaited follow-up. 'The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny," the 677-page tale of two young Indians making their way in the United States, is one of 13 books announced Tuesday as semifinalists for the prestigious 50,000-pound ($67,000) prize. The contenders include authors from nine countries on four continents. It's Desai's first novel since 'The Inheritance of Loss," which won the Booker in 2006. Two previous finalists are up for the prize again: UK writer Andrew Miller, for 'The Land in Winter," and Hungarian-British writer David Szalay for 'Flesh". Tash Aw, who has been a semifinalist twice before, will be the first Malaysian winner if he takes the prize for 'The South". Five of the contenders are from Britain: Miller, Szalay, Natasha Brown ('Universality"), Jonathan Buckley ('One Boat") and Benjamin Wood ('Seascraper"). Books by US writers in the running include Susan Choi's 'Flashlight," Katie Kitamura's 'Audition" and Ben Markovits' 'The Rest of Our Lives." Also on the list are 'Misinterpretation" by Albanian-American Ledia Xhoga, 'Love Forms" by Trinidad's Claire Adam, and 'Endling," a debut novel by Canadian-Ukrainian opera librettist Maria Reva. 'The 13 longlisted novels bring the reader to Hungary, Albania, the north of England, Malaysia, Ukraine, Korea, London, New York, Trinidad and Greece, India and the West Country," said Irish novelist Roddy Doyle, chair of a five-member judging panel that includes actor Sarah Jessica Parker. 'All, somehow, examine identity, individual or national, and all, I think, are gripping and excellent," he said. Founded in 1969, the Booker Prize has a reputation for transforming writers' careers and is open to novels from any country published in the UK and Ireland. Last year's winner was 'Orbital," by British writer Samantha Harvey. A list of six finalists will be announced Sept 23, and this year's winner will be crowned on Nov 10 at a ceremony in London. (AP) SCY SCY view comments First Published: July 29, 2025, 19:45 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
4 hours ago
- News18
Ciara among first descendants of enslaved people granted citizenship by Benin
Dakar (Senegal), Jul 29 (AP) US singer Ciara is one of the first public figures to become a citizen of Benin under a recent law by the small West African country granting citizenship to descendants of enslaved people. The Grammy-winning performer's acquisition of citizenship at a ceremony Saturday in the city of Cotonou is part of a broader initiative by Benin to attract the Black diaspora, acknowledge the country's role in the transatlantic slave trade, and promote tourism focused on slavery-related sites of remembrance. 'By legally recognising these children of Africa, Benin is healing a historical wound. It is an act of justice, but also one of belonging and hope," Justice Minister Yvon Détchénou said at the ceremony. Here's what to know about Benin's efforts to welcome descendants of enslaved people: Benin's Afro-descendant citizenship law In September, Benin passed a law granting citizenship to those who can trace their lineage to the slave trade. It is open to anyone above 18 who doesn't already hold other African citizenship and can provide proof that an ancestor was deported via the slave trade from anywhere in sub-Saharan Africa. Beninese authorities accept DNA tests, authenticated testimonies and family records. Last week, the government launched My Afro Origins, the digital platform that processes applications. A national reckoning with its role in the slave trade European merchants deported an estimated 1.5 million enslaved people from the Bight of Benin — a region that includes present-day Benin, Togo and parts of Nigeria — to the Americas. Beninese kings actively participated in capturing and selling enslaved people to Portuguese, French and British merchants. The former kingdoms and the communities they raided still exist today as tribal networks. Benin has long been working to reconcile with its legacy of complicity. It has openly acknowledged its role in the slave trade, a stance not shared by many other African nations that participated. In the 1990s, it hosted an international conference to examine how and where enslaved people were sold. In 1999, then-President Mathieu Kerekou apologised to African Americans during a visit to a church in Baltimore. Memorial tourism Alongside this national reckoning, 'memorial tourism" around the legacy of the slave trade has become a key approach of Benin's government to attract Afro-descendants. Memorial sites are mostly in Ouidah, one of Africa's most active slave-trading ports in the 18th and 19th centuries. They include the Slave Route, which was the path marking enslaved people's final journey to ships, and the Door of No Return, a haunting doorway that opens to the Atlantic Ocean where they left Africa, and their families, for the last time. Sinde Chekete, the head of Benin's state-run tourism agency, said these sites give Afro-descendants the opportunity to learn about and honour the struggles and resilience of their ancestors. 'It may inspire some people to say 'I want to return to Africa and choose Benin to understand this history'," Chekete said. Following her citizenship ceremony, Ciara toured the historic city, where she walked the Slave Route to the Door of No Return. 'Between emotion, reflection and heritage, I experienced a profound return to what truly matters," she said. Ciara is best known for chart-topping hits like 'Goodies" and 'Level Up," her dynamic choreography, and her work in fashion and philanthropy. (AP) SKS SCY SCY (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: July 29, 2025, 18:00 IST News agency-feeds Ciara among first descendants of enslaved people granted citizenship by Benin Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
