Hulk Hogan, the larger-than-life icon who helped catapult pro wrestling into mainstream entertainment, has died at 71 after suffering a cardiac arrest at his Florida home, TMZ Sports reported.
The news comes weeks after his wife dismissed rumors about his health, stating his heart was “strong” post-surgery.
Born Terry Eugene Bollea in 1953, Hogan became a household name in the 1980s with his signature yellow gear, handlebar mustache, and booming catchphrase: “Whatcha gonna do when Hulkamania runs wild on you?” He headlined eight of the first nine WrestleManias, won six WWE titles, and starred in films and commercials that made him a pop culture sensation.
In 1996, Hogan reinvented himself as “Hollywood Hogan” in WCW, forming the villainous New World Order (NWO), which changed the course of wrestling storytelling.
Inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005, he was later removed over a scandal involving racist comments but re-inducted in 2020 as part of the NWO.
Despite controversies and health setbacks, Hulk Hogan remained a towering figure in wrestling history, leaving behind a legacy that defined an era.