A look back at Hulk Hogan's life in photos: From WrestleMania to reality TV and endorsing Trump at the RNC

Yahoo

25-07-2025

Hulk Hogan rips his shirt prior to the match against Ric Flair during his Hulkamania tour at the Burswood Dome on Nov. 24, 2009, in Perth, Australia. ()
Hulk Hogan, one of the most well-known breakout stars of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), died on Thursday at the age of 71, according to Florida police.
Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, began his professional wrestling career in 1977, and in 1983 he signed with what was then the World Wrestling Federation (it would be renamed the WWE in 2002), according to Yahoo Sports. His character portrayal of an all-American wrestler with a handlebar mustache and signature bandannas helped ignite the professional wrestling boom of the 1980s, the WWE noted in its response to Hogan's death. His most famous wrestling match, with Andre the Giant in The Main Event in February 1988, pulled in 33 million viewers, which is still the record for U.S. televised wrestling matches.
Hogan headlined the first eight of the still-popular WrestleMania events, starting in 1985, and won five of those events, which made him one of the longest-reigning WrestleMania champions to this day. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 by Sylvester Stallone and was inducted again in 2020 as a member of the New World Order wrestling group.
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Outside of the wrestling world, Hogan, his then wife Linda and their children, Brooke and Nick, starred in the VH1 reality show Hogan Knows Best, which ran for four seasons starting in 2005. In 2016, Hogan made headlines again when a Florida jury awarded him $140 million after he filed a lawsuit against Gawker Media for publishing a sex tape of him. Most recently, Hogan endorsed Donald Trump at the 2024 Republican National Convention.
Below, Yahoo has selected a number of images from the last four decades showcasing Hogan's career in the spotlight.
Hogan faces wrestler Andre the Giant at an International Wrestling Title event in August 1980. Pictured is Hogan about to deliver an 'elbow smash' to Andre the Giant's back. (The Stanley)
Sylvester Stallone and Hogan film a scene on the set of Rocky III in 1982. (Michael)
Hogan poses in the ring during a WWE match in 1985. (WWE/Getty Images)
Hogan interviews Andre the Giant backstage during Saturday Night's Main Event on Oct. 31, 1985, at the Hershey Park Arena in Hershey, Pa. (WWE/Getty Images)
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Donald Trump and Hogan shake hands in Atlantic City, N.J., on March 29, 1987. ()
Hogan poses with singer Dolly Parton in September 1987, after Parton wrote the song 'Headlock on My Heart.' Parton had read a psychic's prediction that she would meet a 300-pound wrestler and fall in love, which inspired the song. ()
Hogan, wrestler Mr. T and singer Cyndi Lauper attend the 27th Grammy Awards, held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles in February 1985. ()
Hogan poses with the world championship belt on July 22, 1994. (Raudies/Getty Images)
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Hogan and his then wife Linda Bollea on Nov. 8, 1992. ()
Hogan poses on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno on July 12, 1994. ()
Hogan wrestles Dwayne 'the Rock' Johnson at WrestleMania X8 on March 17, 2002. ()
Nick Hogan, Brooke Hogan, Linda Hogan and Hulk Hogan on Oct. 24, 2006. ()
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Hogan gestures to the audience during his Hulkamania tour in 2009 in Perth, Australia. ()
Hogan rips off his shirt as he speaks onstage on the fourth day of the 2024 Republican National Convention. ()