Latest news with #WWEHallofFame
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Hulk Hogan dies at 71: Tributes pour in for WWE legend — follow live updates
The professional wrestling icon and entertainer died in Clearwater, Fla., on Thursday morning. Hulk Hogan, the professional wrestling icon credited with helping turn pro-wrestling into a global phenomenon, has died after paramedics were dispatched to his home in Florida following reports of a cardiac arrest. He was 71. Police in Clearwater, Fla., said on Thursday that they were called to his home, where they found him unresponsive. 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. Tributes have been pouring in following Hogan's death. Referring to him as the "Hulkster," President Trump described Hogan as "a great friend" and "MAGA all the way." Vince McMahon, the co-founder and former CEO of WWE, called Hogan "the greatest WWE Superstar of ALL TIME." Follow the blog below for the latest updates and reactions to Hogan's death. In an Instagram post, actor Sylvester Stallone reflected on his time filming Rocky III with Hogan in 1982, when Hogan was 26 years old. "He was absolutely wonderful and his amazing skill made Rocky three incredibly special," Stallone wrote. "My heart breaks." Stallone would later induct Hogan into the WWE Hall of Fame, in 2005. Professional wrestler and Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle posted a heartfelt tribute to the "Hulkster" on X, thanking him for opening doors to many people in the wrestling business. "There would not be a Kurt Angle, without the American Made, Hulk Hogan," he wrote. "My heart and prayers go out to his family. We lost a real icon today." In the world of 1990s WWF rivalries, the Undertaker was positioned as a dark villain, contrasting Hulk Hogan's heroic, all-American character. The wrestler known as the Undertaker posted a tribute to Hogan on social media, writing, "The wrestling world has lost a true legend." WWE Hall of Famer and former commentator John Layfield said Hulk Hogan partly inspired his wrestling career. "There will never be another. Hulkamania never dies," he wrote in a post on social media. For many people, the last time they saw Hulk Hogan was last July during the 2024 Republican National Convention, where he praised Donald Trump as a 'gladiator' and his 'hero" before ripping his shirt off in signature fashion. 'Let Trumpamania run wild, brother!' shouted Hogan on the final night of the convention. 'Let Trumpamania rule again! Let Trumpamania make America great again!' President Trump posted a tribute on social media to Hulk Hogan, who endorsed him at the Republican National Convention ahead of the 2024 presidential election. 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. To his wife, Sky, and family, we give our warmest best wishes and love. Hulk Hogan will be greatly missed! Former WWF professional wrestler Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake said he was "devastated" by Hogan's death. "Through the good times and the bad, I always loved my brother Terry!" he wrote on X. "I am devastated by the loss of my friend, I only wish we had time to mend our broken friendship." Brutus, whose real name is Edward Leslie, added, "Until I see you Brother, in the big squared circle in the sky! I love you." Charlotte Flair, Ric Flair's daughter and a professional wrestler herself, paid tribute to Hogan in an X post. "When I nearly lost my dad 8 years ago, one of the few people who was there for all of it was Hulk Hogan," she wrote. Ric Flair expressed a similar sentiment in his own tribute post, saying Hogan was one of the first people to visit him "When I Was In The Hospital With A 2% Chance Of Living." Charlotte Flair said that her "heart breaks for Nick and Brooke," Hogan's children. "Rest in peace, brother," she added. Clearwater Police Major Nate Burnside made the following statement to reporters on Thursday afternoon: Just before 10 a.m. today, Clearwater Fire and Rescue, along with the Clearwater Police Department, responded to a house in the 1000 block of Eldorado Avenue for a medical-related call. It was discovered at that time Terry Bollea, also known as Hulk Hogan, was experiencing a serious medical-related issue. Personnel provided medical treatment at that time and transported Mr. Bollea to Morton Plant Hospital, where he died at 11:17 a.m. The Clearwater Police Department is conducting a death investigation, which is standard on these types of cases. There are no signs of foul play or suspicious activity related to this call for service at this time. 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." House Speaker Mike Johnson posted a tribute to Hogan on social media, recalling fond memories of the wrestling star, from his childhood to recently when campaigning with him as a supporter of President Trump during his 2024 White House run. "I always saw him as a giant in stature and in life," Johnson wrote. Lee Greenwood, singer-songwriter of "God Bless the USA," which 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 Linda 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.
News.com.au
23 minutes 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.
1News
37 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- 1News
Hulk Hogan, icon in professional wrestling, dies at age 71
Hulk Hogan, a moustachioed, headscarf-wearing icon in professional wrestling who turned the sport into a massive business and cultural touchstone, died Friday at 71, Florida police said. Hogan was pronounced dead at a hospital after authorities in Clearwater responded to a morning call about a cardiac arrest, police said. "There were no signs of foul play or suspicious activity," Major Nate Burnside told reporters. Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, was perhaps the biggest star in WWE's long history. He was the main draw for the first WrestleMania in 1985 and was a fixture for years, facing everyone from Andre The Giant and Randy Savage to The Rock and even company chairman Vince McMahon. Hulk Hogan rips his shirt before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at Madison Square Garden. (Source: Associated Press) ADVERTISEMENT He won at least six WWE championships and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. "One of pop culture's most recognisable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. WWE extends its condolences to Hogan's family, friends, and fans," WWE said. "Hulkamania," as the energy he created was called, started running wild in the mid-1980s and pushed professional wrestling into the mainstream. He was a flag-waving American hero with the horseshoe mustache, red and yellow gear and massive arms he called his "24-inch pythons". Hulk Hogan poses during the MTV Video Music Awards Forum at Radio City Music Hall in 2006. (Source: Associated Press) Hogan was also a celebrity outside the wrestling world, appearing in numerous movies and television shows, including a reality show about his life on VH1, Hogan Knows Best. In recent years, Hogan added his celebrity to politics. At the 2024 Republican National Convention, he merged classic WWE manoeuvres with then-candidate Donald Trump's rhetoric to passionately endorse him for president. "Let Trumpamania run wild brother! Let Trumpamania rule again! Let Trumpamania make America great again!" Hogan shouted into the raucous crowd. ADVERTISEMENT Hulk Hogan, whose given name is Terry Bollea, waits in the courtroom during a break in his trial against Gawker Media. (Source: Associated Press) He ripped off a T-shirt emblazoned with a picture of himself on a motorcycle to reveal a bright red Trump-Vance campaign shirt underneath. Trump stood to applaud the move. Hogan lately began to invest in alternatives to theatrical, professional wrestling, announcing plans in April to serve as the first commissioner for the Real American Freestyle organization, which describes itself as "the first unscripted pro wrestling" leagues in the world. The first event is August 30 at Cleveland State University. "The idea was so exciting that I get a chance to be involved with all these young people and help guide them in any way, especially to make them huge stars and create a future for them," Hogan said. "People might be surprised, but wrestling is wrestling, brother." Hogan first became champion in what was then the World Wrestling Federation in 1984, and pro wrestling took off from there. His popularity helped lead to the creation of the annual WrestleMania event in 1985, when he teamed up with Mr. T to beat 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper and 'Mr. Wonderful' Paul Orndorff in the main event. Hulk Hogan, whose given name is Terry Bollea, waits in the courtroom during a break in his trial against Gawker Media. (Source: Associated Press) He slammed and beat Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III in 1987, and the WWF gained momentum. His feud with the late "Macho Man" Randy Savage – perhaps his greatest rival -- carried pro wrestling even further. ADVERTISEMENT Hogan was a central figure in what is known as the Monday Night Wars. The WWE and World Championship Wrestling were battling for ratings supremacy in 1996. Hogan tilted things in WCW's favour with the birth of the Hollywood Hogan character and the formation of the New World Order, a villainous stable that put WCW ahead in the ratings. He returned to the WWE in 2002 and became a champion again. His match with The Rock at WrestleMania X8, a loss during which fans cheered for his "bad guy' character, was seen as a passing of the torch. Hogan was perhaps as well known for his larger-than-life personality as he was his in-ring exploits. He was beloved for his "promos" — hype sessions he used to draw fans into matches. He often would play off his interviewer, "Mean" Gene Okerlund, starting his interviews off with, "Well, lemme tell ya something, Mean Gene!" Hulk Hogan fires up the crowd between matches at WrestleMania 21 at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles in 2005. (Source: Associated Press) He crossed over into movies and television as well. He was Thunderlips in the movie Rocky III in 1982. In 2016, a Florida jury awarded Hogan US$115 million (NZ$190 million) in a lawsuit against Gawker Media and then added $25 million in punitive damages. Hogan sued after Gawker in 2012 posted a video of him having sex with his former best friend's wife. He contended the post violated his privacy. Hogan smiled and wore black throughout the three-week trial. ADVERTISEMENT "Everywhere I show up, people treat me like I'm still the champ," he said of the support from fans.
The National
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Evelyn Lau
Hulk Hogan, the two-time WWE Hall of Fame wrestler who has died aged 71, will be remembered by many as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time before his star faded. The American, who rose to prominence during the mid-1980s and resurrected his career a decade later, became a star after performing in the WWE, then the WWF, and WCW in the 1980s and 1990s with his skyrocketing popularity helping him crossover to television and films before scandal and controversy later marred his legacy. He is often remembered for his trademark blonde handlebar moustache and red bandana during his initial Hulkamania run in the mid-1980s, in which he was portrayed as the good guy (known in the industry as a face) as he came out to the theme song Real American. He later sported a darker black-and-white theme with his days in the villainous faction known as the nWo (New World Order) where he played a bad guy (called a heel) in WCW in the late 1990s. For his involvement in professional wrestling, Hogan was twice inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame — once in 2005 and again in 2020 as a founding member of the nWo. He was also a member of the International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame class of 2021. Born Terry Bollea on August 11, 1953, in Augusta, Georgia, he grew up with an interest in sports by playing baseball as a child. He drew interest from scouts before an injury ended his career. His first foray into wrestling began after he met Jack and Gerald Brisco, both wrestlers, at a gym in Florida. The brothers were impressed with Hogan's physique and asked Hiro Matsuda to train him in 1976. Training with Matsuda for more than a year, Hogan's first wrestling match took place against Brian Blair in the promotion Championship Wrestling from Florida in 1977. However, he took a hiatus afterwards, becoming the manager of the Anchor Club in Cocoa Beach, Florida. After a meeting with Ed Leslie (later known as wrestler Brutus Beefcake), Hogan was inspired to give wrestling another chance — this time convinced to work as a tag team with Leslie called The Boulder Brothers. They joined Continental Wrestling Association in Memphis. During an appearance on a local talk show, Hogan sat beside Lou Ferrigno, star of the television show The Incredible Hulk. Hogan actually looked bigger than Ferrigno, and he soon adopted 'The Hulk' into his wrestling persona, performing as Terry 'The Hulk' Boulder. After competing in various wrestling promotions, wrestler Terry Funk introduced Hogan to the World Wrestling Federation (now known as WWE) owner and promoter Vince McMahon Senior, who was impressed with Hogan. He wrestled his first match in the WWF by defeating Harry Valdez in Championship Wrestling in 1979 and appeared at Madison Square Garden, New York, against Ted DiBiase. He began in-ring feuds with Bob Backlund and Andre the Giant before competing in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where he earned the nickname 'Ichiban' (number one). After the WWF took new ownership under McMahon's son, also called Vince, who bought the company in 1982, Hogan returned and became the face of the company. He defeated the Iron Sheikh in 1984 to win his first WWF World Heavyweight Championship at Madison Square Garden, with ringside announcer Gorilla Monsoon proclaiming afterwards: 'Hulkamania is here!' Hogan would build on this as part of his character, referring to fans as 'Hulkamaniacs' during interviews and introducing his three demands: training, saying prayers and eating vitamins. The next year he competed in the main event of the first WrestleMania in 1985, teaming up with Mr T to defeat 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper and 'Mr Wonderful' Paul Orndorff, beginning a trend of where he headlined seven of the next eight WrestleManias. His star power rose throughout the 1980s; he was the most requested celebrity for the Make-A-Wish Foundation children's charity and featured on covers of Sports Illustrated, TV Guide and People magazines. He also had his own Saturday morning cartoon called Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling. In 1993, after a steroid scandal hit professional wrestling, Hogan left the promotion to take time off. He ventured into acting, starring in his own television show, Thunder in Paradise, which was cancelled after one season. He returned to New Japan Pro Wrestling before signing with World Championship Wrestling, also known as WCW, in the mid-1990s. In his debut match against Ric Flair, he won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. At Bash at the Beach in 1996, Hogan turned heel for the first time in his 15-year career as he sided with Scott Hall and Kevin Nash, forming the New World Order and going by "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan. The nWo maintained popularity throughout the late-1990s as the faction grew to include more wrestlers but also helped heat up the Monday night ratings war between WCW and WWF. After the WCW was bought by WWF in 2001, Hogan, Hall and Nash rejoined the WWF in 2002 at No Way Out. The trio soon shared a feud with The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin — leading to an anticipated 'Icon vs Icon' match between The Rock and Hogan at WrestleMania X8. While Hogan was supposed to be the heel, he was heavily cheered on by the crowd of more than 60,000 at the SkyDome in Toronto, Canada. Although he ultimately lost the match, his career resurged as he turned face and returned to his old signature red and yellow tights in the following weeks. Hogan would continue being involved with pro wrestling with stints in the WWE, Impact Wrestling, New Japan Pro Wrestling and Memphis Wrestling throughout the next decade. His last match took place during an Impact Wrestling show in London where he teamed up with Sting and Bully Ray to take on DOC, Devon and Mr Anderson in 2013. Outside the ring, Hogan had legal issues throughout the years. In 1994, he testified in the trial of McMahon Senior admitting to taking anabolic steroids but stating that McMahon had neither sold nor ordered him to take them. In 2012, he sued Gawker after a private tape was released, eventually settling for $31 million. However, one of the biggest backlashes he faced came in 2015 after the National Enquirer and Radar Online released a racist rant recorded on tape. The WWE immediately cut ties with him and Hogan apologised for his remarks. 'This is not who I am. I believe very strongly that every person in the world is important and should not be treated differently based on race, gender, orientation, religious beliefs or otherwise,' he said at the time announcing his departure from the WWE. Hogan later made a televised apology where he pleaded forgiveness for his comments. Afterwards, a number of black wrestlers later expressed their support including wrestlers Booker T, Mark Henry and Big E. In 2018, Hogan returned to the WWE appearing as the host of the inaugural Crown Jewel event in Riyadh. He's appeared in numerous events for the company since including co-hosting WrestleMania 37 in 2021 and appearing at WWE Raw is XXX that celebrated the 30th anniversary of Raw in 2023. Hogan's final WWE appearance came on January 6, during the company's Netflix debut of Monday Night Raw at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. Accompanied by longtime friend and former manager Jimmy Hart, Hogan was met with a chorus of heavy boos from the crowd — a sharp contrast to the adoration he once commanded during his 'Hulkamania' days. The hostile reception reflected growing backlash over his controversial social and political stances, particularly his outspoken support for US President Donald Trump, as well as the lingering shadow of his past racist remarks. Outside of wrestling, Hogan was also involved in television and film. He found success on the reality show Hogan Knows Best, released in 2005 and aired for four seasons. He also has credits in films such as Rocky III (1982), Mr Nanny (1993) and 3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain (1998). He is survived by his ex-wife Linda Claridge and their children, Brooke and Nick.
USA Today
an hour ago
- Politics
- USA Today
'MAGA all the way': Trump mourns death of 'great friend' Hulk Hogan
Trump has longstanding ties to professional wrestling and his relationship with Hogan goes back decades. President Donald Trump mourned the loss of his "great friend" Hulk Hogan, calling the professional wrestling icon "MAGA all the way" and reminiscing about his high-energy appearance at the 2024 Republican National Convention. Trump described Hogan, who death was announced July 24, as "Strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart." "He entertained fans from all over the World, and the cultural impact he had was massive," Trump said in a social media post. Trump has longstanding ties to professional wrestling and his relationship with Hogan goes back decades. He hosted the WWE's Wrestlemania in Atlantic City two years in a row in the 1980s when Hogan was at the peak of his popularity. He is in the WWE Hall of Fame, along with Hogan. Hogan's appearance at the Republican National Convention in 2024 to endorse Trump was one of the event's more memorable moments. Speaking on the last night of the convention, shortly before Trump took the stage, Hogan pointed to the viewing box where Trump sat and declared "at the end of the day, with our leader up there, my hero, that gladiator, we're going to bring America back together." Hogan, whose legal name is Terry Bollea, later ripped off his shirt to reveal a "Trump Vance Make America Great Again 2024" shirt underneath. The crowd went wild. Trump called it "one of the highlights of the entire week" in his social media post. Hogan said he was prompted to get involved in the campaign after Trump was shot in an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. "As an entertainer, I try to stay out of politics," Hogan said. "But after everything that's happened to our country over the past four years, and everything that happened last weekend, I can no longer stay silent."
