Hulk Hogan, the WWE icon and Trump ally who revolutionised wrestling
Hulk Hogan — the blond-mustached, bandanna-clad wrestling superstar whose charisma, flair, and sheer size turned professional wrestling into a global spectacle — died of cardiac arrest at age 71. Paramedics rushed to his Clearwater Beach home, but he was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital, according to police. He was surrounded by family.
The man who was born Terry Gene Bollea in Augusta, Georgia, became a symbol of American entertainment in the 1980s and 1990s. With his '24-inch pythons,' Hulk Hogan transformed professional wrestling from a niche spectacle into multibillion-dollar mainstream entertainment, dominating living rooms, pay-per-view events, action figures, and even Hollywood screens.
Hogan didn't just wrestle — he performed, igniting crowds with every dramatic pause and pre-ripped shirt. Fans of all ages mimicked his ear-cupping taunt, chanted 'Hulkamania,' and believed in his creed: 'Train, say your prayers, and eat your vitamins.'
His rise began in the 1980s with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) — now WWE — where his all-American persona battled foreign villains like The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff to Cold War cheers. Hogan's entrance to Rick Derringer's 'Real American' set the tone: patriotic, powerful, and larger than life.
But it was WrestleMania III in 1987 that cemented his legacy. Before a record-setting crowd at the Pontiac Silverdome, Hogan body-slammed Andre the Giant, a moment burned into wrestling history. The 7-foot, 500-pound Andre had reportedly not lost in 15 years. The spectacle was scripted — but no less iconic.
Outside the ring, Hogan's fame only grew. He appeared in Rocky III as 'Thunderlips' in 1982, facing off against Sylvester Stallone. He followed that with leading roles in 'No Holds Barred,' 'Mr. Nanny,' and 'Suburban Commando.'
In 2005, Hogan joined the wave of reality TV with 'Hogan Knows Best' on VH1, alongside his then-wife Linda and children, Brooke and Nick. The show introduced a new generation to the wrestling icon as a family man, though not without drama — including his son's high-profile car crash and the couple's eventual divorce.
Controversy would shadow Hogan in later years. In 2012, he sued Gawker after the site published a secretly recorded sex tape that also captured him using racist language. He won a landmark $140 million invasion of privacy case (later settled for $31 million), which ultimately bankrupted Gawker.
The racial slurs also led to Hogan's removal from the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015. He was reinstated in 2018 and re-inducted in 2020 as a member of the legendary NWO (New World Order) — the villainous wrestling faction he co-founded after turning heel in 1996 and reinventing himself as 'Hollywood Hogan.'
In recent years, Hogan leaned heavily into politics, aligning himself with Donald Trump and the MAGA movement. At the 2024 Republican National Convention, Hogan made headlines when he ripped off his shirt mid-speech to reveal a Trump/Vance campaign tee underneath — a move that mirrored his wrestling theatrics and reaffirmed his loyalty to the President.
HULK HOGAN GOES FULL WWE AT THE RNC
TEARS HIS SHIRT OFF, CROWD ERUPTS IN USA CHANTS 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ymwRvd5I7B
— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) July 19, 2024
Trump, a longtime wrestling fan and WWE Hall of Famer himself, often praised Hogan and featured him at campaign events. Their alliance blurred the lines between entertainment and politics — just as Hogan always had.
Hogan was born on August 11, 1953, to a construction foreman and a dance teacher. He dropped out of the University of South Florida to pursue wrestling, debuting professionally in 1977.
He adopted the name Hulk due to his resemblance to the Marvel Comics character, and 'Hogan' was added in the late '70s to give him an Irish-American hero flair. His early career was marked by rugged rivalries and backstage politicking, but his real superpower was connecting with fans — brother.
'I tried to keep it normal,' he said in a 2024 interview with The 700 Club. 'But the moment I walk out the front door, the world doesn't want Terry. They want Hulk.'
He is survived by his wife, Sky Daily Hogan; his daughter, Brooke Hogan; son, Nick Hogan; and two grandchildren.
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