Latest news with #IncredibleHulk
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Pro wrestling legend Hulk Hogan dead at 71
Hulk Hogan, the 1980s icon of professional wrestling who helped propel the low-budget spectacle into the global spotlight and parlayed his prowess in the ring into pop culture stardom, died Thursday. He was 71. Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, was pronounced dead at a Florida hospital after emergency personnel responded to a cardiac arrest call at his home in Clearwater, police said. The Hall of Fame talent -- known for his towering 6'7" (two-meter) physique, bandana and blond handlebar mustache -- was ubiquitous during his heyday, acting in film and television, appearing in video games and promoting a range of products. He also courted his share of controversy, first when a sex tape featuring him leaked, and again when a recording of him using racist language, including a slur referring to Black Americans, resurfaced in 2015. In recent years, Hogan became an avid supporter of US President Donald Trump. "One of pop culture's most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s," World Wrestling Entertainment said on social media. "WWE extends its condolences to Hogan's family, friends, and fans." Hogan's wrestling skills and magnetic personality as a heroic all-American in the ring transformed the sport into mainstream family entertainment, attracting millions of viewers and turning the league into a multi-billion-dollar empire. "Hulk Has Been By My Side Since We Started In The Wrestling Business. An Incredible Athlete, Talent, Friend, And Father!" retired wrestler Ric Flair said on social media. - From local gym to Hall of Fame - Hogan was born on August 11, 1953 in the southern US state of Georgia to a construction worker father and a dance teacher mother. The family moved to Florida when he was a toddler. After dropping out of university, Hogan was spotted at his gym by local wrestlers and was quickly swept into competitions. His nickname came about in part because of comparisons to the Marvel superhero The Incredible Hulk, featured at the time in a television series. He first competed in 1979 in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now known as WWE) but became a mainstay and fan favorite in the mid-1980s alongside others like Andre the Giant and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. At age 48 in 2002, in the waning days of his competitive career, he even battled Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. His brand of "Hulkamania" transferred to the small and big screen, with roles in films such as "Rocky III," "No Holds Barred" and TV's "Baywatch." He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. But the scandal over his use of racial slurs led to his firing from WWE in 2015. He later apologized for his actions and was reinstated to the WWE Hall of Fame. When the tape emerged of Hogan having sex with a woman who was not his wife in 2012, Hogan filed suit against Gawker Media and won a $140 million judgment for invasion of privacy. He eventually accepted a settlement of $31 million, but the case divided media and press freedom advocates after it was revealed that Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel had funded Hogan's case as part of an effort to drive Gawker out of business. Gawker shut its site down months after the verdict. - 'Great friend' - Hogan memorably appeared at the 2024 Republican National Convention that would seal Trump's nomination -- tearing his shirt off to reveal a Trump-Vance tank top. "With our leader up there, my hero, that gladiator, we're gonna bring America back together," Hogan said on stage in July 2024. Trump paid tribute on social media Thursday, saying: "We lost a great friend today, the 'Hulkster.' Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way -- Strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart." "He gave an absolutely electric speech at the Republican National Convention, that was one of the highlights of the entire week. He entertained fans from all over the World, and the cultural impact he had was massive," he said. Hogan suffered numerous health problems in later years, stemming from the years of abuse his body took in the ring. He was married three times, and had two children with his first wife Linda.
Int'l Business Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Int'l Business Times
Pro Wrestling Legend Hulk Hogan Dead At 71
Hulk Hogan, the 1980s icon of professional wrestling who helped propel the low-budget spectacle into the global spotlight and parlayed his prowess in the ring into pop culture stardom, died Thursday. He was 71. Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, was pronounced dead at a Florida hospital after emergency personnel responded to a cardiac arrest call at his home in Clearwater, police said. The Hall of Fame talent -- known for his towering 6'7" (two-meter) physique, bandana and blond handlebar mustache -- was ubiquitous during his heyday, acting in film and television, appearing in video games and promoting a range of products. He also courted his share of controversy, first when a sex tape featuring him leaked, and again when a recording of him using racist language, including a slur referring to Black Americans, resurfaced in 2015. In recent years, Hogan became an avid supporter of US President Donald Trump. "One of pop culture's most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s," World Wrestling Entertainment said on social media. "WWE extends its condolences to Hogan's family, friends, and fans." Hogan's wrestling skills and magnetic personality as a heroic all-American in the ring transformed the sport into mainstream family entertainment, attracting millions of viewers and turning the league into a multi-billion-dollar empire. "Hulk Has Been By My Side Since We Started In The Wrestling Business. An Incredible Athlete, Talent, Friend, And Father!" retired wrestler Ric Flair said on social media. Hogan was born on August 11, 1953 in the southern US state of Georgia to a construction worker father and a dance teacher mother. The family moved to Florida when he was a toddler. After dropping out of university, Hogan was spotted at his gym by local wrestlers and was quickly swept into competitions. His nickname came about in part because of comparisons to the Marvel superhero The Incredible Hulk, featured at the time in a television series. He first competed in 1979 in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now known as WWE) but became a mainstay and fan favorite in the mid-1980s alongside others like Andre the Giant and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. At age 48 in 2002, in the waning days of his competitive career, he even battled Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. His brand of "Hulkamania" transferred to the small and big screen, with roles in films such as "Rocky III," "No Holds Barred" and TV's "Baywatch." He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. But the scandal over his use of racial slurs led to his firing from WWE in 2015. He later apologized for his actions and was reinstated to the WWE Hall of Fame. When the tape emerged of Hogan having sex with a woman who was not his wife in 2012, Hogan filed suit against Gawker Media and won a $140 million judgment for invasion of privacy. He eventually accepted a settlement of $31 million, but the case divided media and press freedom advocates after it was revealed that Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel had funded Hogan's case as part of an effort to drive Gawker out of business. Gawker shut its site down months after the verdict. Hogan memorably appeared at the 2024 Republican National Convention that would seal Trump's nomination -- tearing his shirt off to reveal a Trump-Vance tank top. "With our leader up there, my hero, that gladiator, we're gonna bring America back together," Hogan said on stage in July 2024. Trump paid tribute on social media Thursday, saying: "We lost a great friend today, the 'Hulkster.' Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way -- Strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart." "He gave an absolutely electric speech at the Republican National Convention, that was one of the highlights of the entire week. He entertained fans from all over the World, and the cultural impact he had was massive," he said. Hogan suffered numerous health problems in later years, stemming from the years of abuse his body took in the ring. He was married three times, and had two children with his first wife Linda. Hulk Hogan (R) inspired a new generation of professtional wrestlers including John Cena (L) -- the pair are seen at an awards show in 2005 AFP Hulk Hogan ripped his shirt off to reveal a Trump-Vance campaign shirt during the last day of the 2024 Republican National Convention AFP
Metro
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Hulk Hogan leaves behind legacy as controversial but undeniable WWE icon
Hulk Hogan has died aged 71 leaving behind a life and career of highs and lows. The WWE Hall of Famer, whose real name was Terry Bollea, defined a generation of professional wrestling and took sports entertainment to new heights from the 1980s onwards, ushering in the era of WrestleMania. Away from the ring, Hogan was not without controversary, as his 2015 racism storm hung over him for the last decade of his life. His death was even announced on July 24, exactly 10 years to the day since WWE cut ties with him over the scandal. The so-called Hulkster made his debut for WWE (then the WWF) in 1979, when McMahon gave him the Hulk Hogan name and laying the foundation for what was to come. After a short well with New Japan Pro-Wrestling and the American Wrestling Association, the decorated star returned to WWE in 1983 and Hulkamania was born. Known for his '24 inch pythons', trademark handlebar moustache and undeniable charisma, Hogan was quickly cemented as a fan favourite by the time he won his first WWE World Championship in January 1984. He gave children hope in following his footsteps if they trained, said their prayers and ate their vitamins. To say he changed the business would be an understatement, as he went beyond wrestling to influence pop culture as a whole. He appeared in the likes of Rocky III and The A-Team, while his reality show Hogan Knows Best built on the foundations laid by the late Ozzy Osbourne and his family. From 'Hulking up' in the ring and ripping off his shirt to his trademark red and yellow colours, he truly transcended the business. His rise even caught the eye of Marvel, who owned the Incredible Hulk – Hogan was banned from using 'incredible' at all, or just by his first name, while they would receive money for his matches over the next 20 years. In one of his most iconic WWE moments, Hogan bodyslammed Andre The Giant in front of a huge crowd at WrestleMania III, in a moment still remembered by fans around the world, while his feud with The Iron Sheik is the stuff of legend. By the mid-90s, he made the jump to rivals World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and again altered wrestling history, turning heel in 1996 as the mysterious 'third man' with Scott Hall and Kevin Nash. The trio formed the New World Order (nWo) as wrestling's first true 'cool heel' faction, with the model still imitated to this day He returned to WWE again a couple of times between 2002 and 2007, which included a legendary clash with The Rock at WrestleMania X-8, when fans flipped the script as they cheered for the villainous Hogan. He also went onto capture the tag titles with Edge, and even had a shortlived stint as the masked Mr. America in a comedian storyline with Vince McMahon, which led to a bloody bout between the two. After leaving WWE again, he went on a retirement tour, and joined TNA Wrestling, where he and Eric Bischoff had a heavy impact the company's creative direction. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video In 2015, Hogan was rocked by a major scandal when a transcript of a recording from his leaked sex tape was published showing him using the N-word. On July 24 – exactly 10 years to the day before he died – WWE cut ties with Hogan, and removed him from all areas of their website, including their online store, and their WWE Network streaming platform. It would take three years for him to brought back into the fold, but he had his critics who argued he never fully took responsibility for his actions. During this time, there were even plans for a biopic with Chris Hemsworth playing Hogan himself, but the project faded before a script was ever completed. His final on-screen appearance for WWE came during the January 6 launch of Raw on Netflix, when he was met with a chorus of boos as he tried to promote his Real American Beer. Critics still pointed to the racism scandal which fans never forgot, while Hogan himself suggested his vocal support for Donald Trump contributed to the backlash. More Trending Over the last few months, he and Bischoff and been planning a resurgence of sorts with the Real American Freestyle league, which was due to hold its first events this summer. In the weeks leading up to his death, there had been several hoaxes and conflicting reports. View More » Even towards the end, the complicated myth and legend of Hogan continued to live on. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: 'Best crime thriller of 2025' tops Netflix charts with nearly 25,000,000 views MORE: Surfer 'pulled Malcolm-Jamal Warner's daughter to safety' as star drowned MORE: Coronation Street and Emmerdale star Tony Peers dies aged 78
Spectator
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Spectator
Captain Britain was an embarrassing superhero
The news that the latest Superman picture has been an enormous hit in the United States, but has been received rather more tepidly here, has been taken in many quarters to mean that there is an anti-American mood at large. Maybe this is dictated by America's choice of president and administration, which means other countries are no longer as enamoured of that quintessentially all-American superhero. Alternatively, it could of course mean, as this magazine's critic Deborah Ross has suggested, that the film simply isn't very good and that we should all stick to the 1978 Christopher Reeve picture instead. Whatever the reason, the USA is Superhero Central, and no other English-speaking country has ever had much luck creating its own comic book superstars – perhaps because we don't have the same traditions of uplift and go-getting optimism that they do in America. There does, however, remain one little-heralded exception to this, and that is none other than Marvel's character Captain Britain. Captain Britain was introduced in 1976 as part of the company's attempt to branch out into the British market via their operation Marvel UK. Looked at today, the character seems somewhat misguided, to say the least. He was created by the Anglo-American writer Chris Claremont and Incredible Hulk artist Herb Trippe, and his non-heroic alter ego was Brian Braddock – a Fettes-educated aristocratic layabout who is recruited by Merlin and his daughter Roma to save Britain (or Avalon, as it is quaintly known) from the evil ministrations of Morgana Le Fay. Throw in the Captain Britain Corps, Braddock's twin sister Betsy (who eventually took on the mantle of Captain Britain), and you have something that baffled comic book readers when it was launched. It never recovered, and swiftly spluttered to an end after 39 issues. Marvel have not been known for their willingness to abandon characters, however, and Captain Britain was occasionally resurrected over the following years, with some big names involved in the process. Watchmen and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen supremo Alan Moore briefly came up with some storylines in the early 1980s – only to depart when his invoices weren't paid, a decidedly un-heroic end to his time with the company – and none other than Pet Shop Boy Neil Tennant served as the character's original editor when he worked at Marvel between 1975 and 1977. He helped to anglicise dialogue and attempted to point out where characters needed to have additional clothing drawn onto them, for reasons of decency. Although Tennant had suggested the idea of a British hero, his initial concept had been closer to an indomitable second world war fighter (somewhat like Captain America) than the rather strange concept of a man who dons a Union Jack leotard, likes to hang around the lions at Trafalgar Square, and has an oddly flirtatious relationship with his twin sister. As Tennant remarked to the New Statesman last year, the character was doomed. 'It wasn't my idea – and it was a mistake. I called up New York and said, now, it's 1976 and the National Front are huge. You've got the Stars and Stripes: the United States is a very diverse country, and there's an ideology behind your flag. Ours, there isn't. What it means to a lot of people is 'Nazi'.' Perhaps he's right. Squeamishness about the flag is a peculiarity of the British bourgeoisie. Urban middle-class parents simply weren't – and still aren't – interested in soft nationalism. Tennant and his fellow Pet Shop Boy Chris Lowe later jokingly alluded to the character in their 2009 song 'Building a Wall', which features Lowe sarcastically joshing 'Who do you think you are, Captain Britain?' A decade and a half later, it remains clear that, while British actors such as Andrew Garfield, Christian Bale and the previous Superman Henry Cavill might excel at playing superheroes on screen, there is something embarrassing, even tawdry, about the idea of anyone seeking to create a Captain Britain. The reason why American superheroes succeed is that they can unblushingly – and unironically – cite truth, justice and the American way as their motivation. The British equivalent would probably blush and say something self-deprecating about wanting to make a difference when it counted, which is not quite the stuff of super-heroism. Personally, what I'd like to see if ever there had to be a very English comic-book character is a tea-drinking type who, when he or she isn't fixing potholes and trying to calm traffic round the North Circular, is taking part in neighbourhood disputes and preventing Tube fare dodgers from bursting through the barriers. I'm not quite sure, though, whether the world is ready for Jenrick-Man – or whatever this character would end up being called. Still, at least they couldn't be any more of an embarrassment than the ignoble, failed Captain Britain.
Buzz Feed
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
37 Unique Father's Day Gifts That Go Beyond Ties And Bourbon
A spiral cactus he'll assume you paid top dollar for at an expensive plant boutique. Bonus: Spin the pot around in his face to hypnotize him into admitting you're the favorite child. 🌀🌀🌀 I've Venn Thinking — a creative card game that lets players compete to find the funniest similarities between an unlikely pairing, like the Incredible Hulk and TSA agents (not a fan of shoes). A miniature Stanley tape measurer keychain so he no longer has to wonder how tall something is and try to guesstimate with his hands. This would come in clutch when furniture shopping or measuring his latest fishing catch. A tin of emergency googly eyes sure to help out your dad whenever he's in a pinch during a prank war. The pack comes with three different sizes, so get ready for everything in your home to suddenly start staring back at you. A 3-in-1 portable charger that opens up to charge his iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch all at the same time. When they're done, it folds into a little dollop of a device that's easy to throw in a bag for later. Fights over the outlet and tangled cords are just not something we have to worry about these days. An ice cream maker so he can enjoy ice cream at home. Folks: ice cream. At home. This particular machine is easy to use, fast (ice cream and sorbet in 20 minutes!) and makes up to 1.5 quarts of frozen goodness. The transparent lid even has a spout, so he can add ingredients while the machine works. My favorite TikTok account uses this ice cream maker! See it in action review: "I ABSOLUTELY LOVE this ice cream maker. I never purchase store-bought ice cream anymore. I make non-dairy ice cream. My children, husband, and everyone who tastes it can't believe I made it." —SaidaGet it from Amazon for $54.99. A a pair of nostalgic baseball hat ice cream bowls sure to start an impromptu "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" singalong. These are sturdier than their plastic forebears, meaning they can become heirlooms. A tabletop s'mores firepit so he can roast some marshmallows at a moment's notice — no campfire needed. He can use ethyl alcohol (which you can pick up for him at the hardware store), and it burns for up to an hour so everyone can get their sugar fix. Murdle: Volume 1 — a book featuring 100 logic puzzles from the popular daily puzzle site, Murdle. Armchair detectives can work to crack the case and find out who did it, where, and with what. There are four levels of difficulty, ranging from elementary to impossible, so he can stay challenged as he goes. A birdfeeder with a built-in camera so he can spy on his feathered friends and take notes on the avian goings-on. The camera has an AI system that can identify over 6,000 bird species, so he'll never have to argue whether the bird that visited was a goldfinch or an Eastern meadowlark. An Ember temperature-control smart mug to help extra-particular drinkers keep their coffee or tea at the exact right temperature. Your dad can control the vessel through an app to ensure that his cuppa is consistently hot from the first sip to the last. There are even presets for specific drinks. A tube of chocolate tennis balls that are surprisingly realistic. They have a marshmallow center that I think he's going ;) Weird Medieval Guys, a silly coffee table book from my favorite Twitter account featuring quizzes, how-to guides, diagrams, and flow charts that give him a goofy peek at what his life as a peasant might have looked like. A ticket stub diary to help him organize his loose theater, museum, concert, and sporting event tickets so he can fondly look back on all his favorite memories. Remember when you two caught a ball at Yankee Stadium? Thanks to this book, he'll know the exact date. Yuzu kosho chili paste he can use to top oysters, season meat, mix with mayo for a sandwich topping, make salad dressing, jazz up soup — I could go on for a while, but you get the picture. It's citrusy, spicy, and briny, the trifecta of delicious condiment flavors. A fancy book filled with lots of unusual knowledge so he can come prepared with interesting trivia the next time conversation falls flat. He can impress people with facts about Hollywood urban legends, presidential pets, strange sporting events, and more. No need to fall back on dad jokes all the time. Or! If your dad's corny joke arsenal is getting old, a copy of The Very Embarrassing Book of Dad Jokes to arm him with some new groan-worthy zingers. A whiskey glass that looks like it was on the receiving end of a really intense dice throw. The design is a nat20 in my book. :) A wind-up toy shaped like a cat riding a robot vacuum. We've all the seen the videos — it's time to recreate it at home. A high-end bottle of Takesan Kishibori soy sauce if you want to show your dad what he's been missing by sticking with grocery store brands. No offense to Kikkoman, but this elevated sauce from Shodoshima, Japan offers a richer, more complex flavor that has happy reviewers pledging their allegiance. A — get this — CUSTOM BOBBLEHEAD! Whether he's a hardcore sports collector or has Dwight Shrute-like taste, he's gonna be nodding and smiling (just like his gift!) when he sees this. A stargazing book and Stellarscope for the dad who's always encouraging you to look up. The portable star lens can help your pop identify over 1,500 stars that can be seen from the continental United States, along with most of Alaska, Canada and south of the Arctic Circle. The accompanying book offers some extra context and science trivia your dad is sure to regale you with every clear-skied evening. A box of fried chicken...*drum roll*...ICE CREAM!!! He'll get nine pieces of waffle ice cream filled with chocolate "bones," covered in white chocolate and crushed cornflakes, and packaged in a KFC-like bucket. A 10-year diary for the journaling experts who are ready to graduate from the famous 5-year journal. Your pa gets five lines per day to jot down his experiences, plus a prologue and epilogue. Already a cute gift idea, but it's made even better by the gold foil details and delicate illustrations! A USB-C charging cube that looks like Susan Kare's smiling macintosh that yep, lights up when it's plugged in. He probably already has a charger, but is it this cute??? A glowing mini bowling set if your old man wishes he could be at the bowling alley instead of work. It even plays music! A Japanese hori hori gardening knife sure to become the MVP of his gardening toolbox. The lightweight tool has a serrated side and straight edge, so he can dig, weed, slice roots, cut sod, and break up perennials. Deep-rooted dandelions and other summer weeds will see themselves out. A set of LED lightsaber chopsticks to make fights over the last dumpling extra dramatic. They can change colors (red, blue, yellow, purple, and multicolor) so he can either make them match or change to red and blue to recreate the Duel on Cloud City. A set of lights with flexible goosenecks so he can grill late into the night without having to grope around blindly for his tools. The battery-operated lights are magnetic — he can just pop them onto the hood of his grill. A candy specimen display for the fatherly candy scientist. If you've seen him perform a gummy bear head transplant, you know he's gonna love this. A jerky bouquet because flowers are so overdone and, honestly, not as tasty. Meat bouquets are the way of the future. A handheld bookshelf filled with tiny books (based on real publications!) he can shake in fury whenever someone messes with the thermostat. Once the tiny earthquake has subsided, he can let off some steam by meditatively putting all the tiny tomes back. Or, similar vibe here: a DIY miniature museum kit for the dad who's still thinking about how funny Night at the Museum was. Now listen, Lunch Box! This light-up 3D puzzle comes with 1,074 pieces and takes about 10 hours to complete, so you better not disturb the process. A challenging, circular puzzle that will finally give your jigsaw-loving dad a challenge. Try not to be too jealous when you get a pic of the finished product. Salteez drink strips for the dad who loves to turn his beers into tasty concoctions. The strips stick to bottles, cans, and glasses, and are basically a salt lick for humans. 🦌 A set of vinyl coasters offering a retro (and super cute) way to protect his furniture from condensation. Guests who actually want to use a coaster? How the turntables. GoSports BattleChip, a blend of golf and cornhole, which has almost certainly been created in a lab to be the perfect gift for dads. While definitely on *my* dad's wishlist (even if he doesn't know it yet), this portable outdoor game is fun for just about anyone old enough to hold a golf club (not included).
