Hulk Hogan dies at 71: Tributes pour in for WWE legend — follow live updates

Yahoo

4 days ago

The professional wrestling icon and entertainer died in Clearwater, Fla., on Thursday morning.
Hulk Hogan, the professional wrestling icon and entertainer, has died. He was 71.
Paramedics were dispatched to Hogan's Clearwater, Fla., home on Thursday morning following a call about a cardiac arrest, police wrote in a Facebook post.
The wrestling legend was treated before being brought to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Born Terry Gene Bollea, Hogan gained fame as a member of the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE) and was known for dramatically ripping off his shirt as he entered the ring.
Follow the blog below for the latest updates and reactions to Hogan's death.
Fellow professional wrestler Jake "the Snake" Roberts reacted to the news of Hogan's death on X, saying it was "hard to put into words what Terry 'Hulk Hogan' Bollea meant to professional wrestling and entertainment."
"He may be gone," Roberts wrote, "but his memory and legacy will live forever."
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson posted a tribute to Hogan on social media, recalling fond childhood memories of the wrestling star, to recently campaigning with him as a supporter of President Trump during his 2024 presidential run. "I always saw him as a giant in stature and in life," Johnson wrote. Lee Greenwood, singer-songwriter of "God Bless the USA" that has been played at Trump rallies, also paid tribute to the late wrestler.
Hulk Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, ventured outside the wrestling ring in the mid 2000s. The '80s wrestling star had a reality TV show with his family called Hogan Knows Best. The VH1 series debuted in 2005 and took viewers inside the Hogan home, capturing marital tension with his then-wife Lynda and teenage growing pains as a protective father to his son, Nick, and daughter, Brooke.
The series ran for four seasons until 2007.
Fellow WWE Hall of Famer Sgt. Slaughter reacted to the news on X, saying he was "saddened" to hear about Hogan's passing.
"I Guess God Needed An Incredible Angel," he wrote.
Fellow wrestling legend and longtime friend Ric Flair reacted in a post on X saying he was "absolutely shocked" to hear the news about Hogan's death.
"Hulk Has Been By My Side Since We Started In The Wrestling Business. An Incredible Athlete, Talent, Friend, And Father!" he wrote, adding that Hogan was among those who visited him in the hospital when he was ill. "No One Will Ever Compare To You!"
Hulk Hogan and his wife, Sky Daily Hogan, were baptized in December 2023. Hogan shared a post on Instagram that the pair were baptized during a ceremony at Indian Rocks Baptist Church in Florida. The wrestling icon, who was 70 years old at the time, wrote in the caption: "Total surrender and dedication to Jesus is the greatest day of my life. No worries, no hate, no judgment… only love!"
Days before Hulk Hogan's death, Jimmy Hart, his longtime manager, refuted reports of Hogan's declining health.
"Hulk is doing great, doing phenomenal!" Hart wrote in a post on X on July 22. "Last night at karaoke with Nick was absolutely fantastic, baby!!!"
Last month, radio host Bubba the Love Sponge said that he was told Hogan was near death.
'It's not good,' the host said on June 18. "There are phone calls being made to various family members about getting to town to come say your goodbyes."
Donald Trump Jr. and Republican Reps. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida and Elise Stefanik of New York paid tribute to Hogan by sharing photos from the Republican National Convention last year. Hogan spoke at the event, calling Donald Trump a "gladiator" and his "hero," and brought the theatrics of the wrestling ring to the convention stage when he shredded his shirt. "Let Trumpamania run wild, brother!" Hogan shouted.
The Clearwater, Fla., police department posted a statement to its Facebook page confirming Hulk Hogan's death.
"A 71-year-old resident, Terry Bollea, also known as Hulk Hogan, was treated by Clearwater Fire & Rescue crews before being taken by Sunstar to Morton Plant Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased," authorities wrote.
According to the Yahoo Sports combat website Uncrowned, Hogan died after suffering from cardiac arrest Thursday morning.
WWE posted a brief statement on X in response to the news of Hulk Hogan's death.
TMZ is reporting that Hulk Hogan was found unresponsive by paramedics who were dispatched to his Clearwater, Fla., home on Thursday morning for what was described as a "cardiac arrest."
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