Professional wrestling icon Hulk Hogan has died at the age of 71, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) confirmed on 24 Jul 2025.
Born Terry Gene Bollea in Georgia in 1953, Hogan suffered a cardiac arrest at his home in Clearwater, Florida, according to TMZ.
Paramedics were called to his residence, but Bollea was pronounced dead after being transported to the hospital.
Hulkamania Transforms Wrestling into Global Entertainment
Hogan rose to prominence during the 1980s wrestling boom, becoming the face of the then-World Wrestling Federation (WWF). His bleach-blond hair, handlebar moustache and muscular physique helped transform wrestling from a niche subculture into a billion-dollar entertainment business.
His breakthrough moment came at WrestleMania III in 1987. Hogan body-slammed Andre the Giant in front of a sold-out crowd at Michigan’s Pontiac Silverdome. The event has since become one of wrestling’s most iconic moments.
WWE described Hogan as “one of pop culture’s most recognisable figures” who “helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s”. He gained worldwide attention with his “Hulkamania” persona, a clean-cut hero preaching vitamins and hard work.
Hogan feuded with wrestling legends including Randy “The Machoman” Savage, Yokozuna and the Ultimate Warrior during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. His signature moves, including the “atomic leg drop,” made him a household name.
He later reinvented himself as “Hollywood Hogan”, the villainous leader of the New World Order in World Championship Wrestling (WCW). This character shift revitalised his popularity with older fans and saw another surge in his career.
Career Beyond Wrestling and Political Support
Outside the ring, Hogan appeared in films such as Rocky III and Santa With Muscles, though his acting career never rivalled his wrestling fame. He returned to the ring multiple times, often well into his 50s, drawing from his lasting fan appeal.
In 2002, he faced off against rising star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson at WrestleMania. Hogan told Reuters beforehand: “I’m in better shape than him.”
Hogan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame twice and often compared himself to Babe Ruth, calling himself the “Babe Ruth of wrestling”.
He was a vocal supporter of Donald Trump. In 2024, he appeared at the Republican National Convention and endorsed Trump’s re-election bid, ripping off his shirt to reveal a Trump tank top and shouting to the crowd: “Let Trumpamania run wild, brother!”
Before his death, Bollea was preparing to embark on another project with former WCW promoter Eric Bischoff called Real American Freestyle wrestling.
His career was not without controversy. In 2015, Hogan was suspended from WWE after a leaked recording revealed him using a racial slur. He was reinstated in 2018 after making “numerous apologies” and working with young people.
He also won a high-profile privacy lawsuit against gossip website Gawker after it published parts of a sex tape involving Hogan and a friend’s wife. The US$140 million (~SGD$189 million) judgment led to Gawker’s shutdown.
Hogan grew up in Florida and initially pursued music, playing bass in local rock bands before turning to wrestling in the 1970s. His stage name was partly inspired by the comic book character The Incredible Hulk, and his promoter added “Hogan” to appeal to Irish-American fans.
He was married three times and had two children, Nick and Brooke, who starred alongside him in the reality TV show Hogan Knows Best from 2005 to 2007. He is survived by his children.
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