Hulk Hogan News: The wrestling icon, born Terry Gene Bollea and famed for his blond hair and signature handlebar moustache, passed away at his Florida home on Thursday, was an American professional wrestler.
Hogan’s manager, Chris Volo, said the wrestler suffered a cardiac arrest at his Clearwater, Florida, home and passed away with his family by his side.
Police officials stated on Thursday that emergency services responded to a medical call at 10:00 EST (15:00 BST) and found Hulk Hogan suffering from a severe medical condition.
They transported him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:17. Authorities added that while an investigation will be conducted, no suspicious circumstances surround his death.
In a statement, WWE said, “Saddened to learn that Terry Bollea, recognized globally as Legendary WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan, has passed away on July 24 at 71.”
WWE Career
Hogan began his wrestling career in 1977 and gained worldwide fame after he signed with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE).
Hulk Hogan gained fame in the 1980s by battling rival Andre the Giant, famously body-slamming him at WrestleMania III in a moment known as the “slam heard ‘round the world.” He defeated the Iron Sheik in 1984 to win the WWE Championship and sparked the global craze known as “Hulkamania.” A 12-time world champion—six titles each in WWE and WCW—Hogan also wrestled in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
Hogan left wrestling in 1993 to pursue a career in Hollywood. In 1994, Hulk Hogan shocked fans by joining rival promotion WCW. By 1996, he reinvented himself as “Hollywood Hulk Hogan” and embraced a villainous persona, boosting his popularity once again. He teamed up with Kevin Nash and Scott Hall to form the New World Order (nWo), under media mogul Ted Turner’s WCW banner, gaining massive fan support. In 1999, Hogan returned to his classic red and yellow look, leaving behind his darker “heel” character.
He rejoined WWE in 2002 during the later stage of his career and had a memorable rivalry with Randy Orton, ending with a victory at SummerSlam 2006—his final match. Hogan also made appearances in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. However, WWE suspended him in 2015 after a video surfaced of him using a racial slur. He returned to WWE programming in 2019 and made his last appearance on Monday Night Raw in January 2025.Hogan chronicled his wrestling journey in his 2002 autobiography, Hollywood Hulk Hogan.
Beyond wrestling
Hulk Hogan ventured into various business pursuits. In 1995, he launched Hulk Hogan’s Pastamania! at Minnesota’s Mall of America, though it shut down within a year. By 2006, he had introduced an energy drink called Hogan Energy and a frozen burger line named Hulkster Cheeseburgers.
Hogan once joked that he passed on endorsing the George Foreman Grill, opting instead for the Hulkamania Meatball Maker—a product he humorously described in 2011 as a blender powered by AA batteries that “farted and shut off,” missing out on Foreman’s $550 million success.
Recently, in June 2024, Hulk hogan launched beer (Real American Beer), a light lager now sold across 17 U.S. states, and officially partnered with the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod drag racing series.
Scandals:
In 2012, Hulk Hogan’s reputation suffered major blows when a sex tape featuring him and Heather Clem, the wife of radio host Bubba the Love Sponge, leaked online. Hogan sued for invasion of privacy, resulting in a settlement.
The situation worsened when Gawker published a clip of the tape later that year. In 2015, transcripts from the tape revealed Hogan making racist and homophobic remarks, including anti-Black slurs and a previously reported homophobic rant. WWE responded by terminating his contract, and several sponsors cut ties with him.
Hogan sued Gawker for defamation and won $140 million in 2016, with funding support from billionaire Peter Thiel. The verdict forced Gawker into bankruptcy and a later $31 million settlement with Hogan.
