- Hulk Hogan died on July 24 at the age of 71.
- His cause of death has been attributed to cardiac arrest after EMTs were dispatched to his Florida home on Thursday morning.
- Hogan became a professional wrestling icon in the ’80s and stayed a recognizable face in the world of sports, becoming the face of the World Wrestling Federation.
On July 24, Hulk Hogan, real name Terry Gene Bollea, died. He was 71 years old when he passed away. His cause of death has been attributed to cardiac arrest. Medics had been dispatched to the wrestler’s Clearwater, Florida, home on Thursday morning, joined by several police cars and EMTs, according to Vice.
Hulk Hogan was the most recognizable professional wrestler of the 1980s and beyond, transforming sports entertainment with his larger-than-life persona, unmatched charisma, and signature catchphrases. As the face of the World Wrestling Federation during its national explosion, Hogan headlined the first nine WrestleManias and helped turn wrestling into a global phenomenon. With his red-and-yellow gear, iconic mustache, and crowd-pumping energy, he captivated fans across generations and became a pop culture icon. His influence extended far beyond the ring, turning him into a household name through movies, television, endorsements, and a legacy that reshaped the world of professional wrestling.
The strong legacy of Hulk Hogan
Born in Augusta, Georgia, Hogan began his wrestling career in the late 1970s after being discovered while training at a local gym in Florida. Initially performing under various ring names, he gained early attention in regional circuits before making a splash in the World Wrestling Federation in the early 1980s.
His combination of size, charisma, and crowd appeal caught the eye of Vince McMahon, who rebranded him as Hulk Hogan and positioned him as the ultimate good guy. With his debut in 1984 and his dramatic victory over The Iron Sheik for the WWF Championship, Hogan’s rise to superstardom was immediate.
Shaping the world of wrestling
WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away.
One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s.
WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans.
— WWE (@WWE) July 24, 2025
Hogan’s career skyrocketed in 1984 when he won the WWF Championship from The Iron Sheik at Madison Square Garden, launching what became known as the “Hulkamania” era. He became the face of Vince McMahon’s national wrestling expansion, headlining WrestleMania in 1985 alongside Mr. T in a tag match that drew mainstream attention and helped cement the WWF as a cultural powerhouse. Over the next several years, Hogan would headline WrestleMania II through IX, facing major rivals like King Kong Bundy, André the Giant, Randy Savage, and The Ultimate Warrior. His match against André at WrestleMania III in 1987, promoted around Hogan body-slamming the 520-pound giant, became one of the most iconic moments in wrestling history and drew a reported 93,173 fans to the Pontiac Silverdome.
In the 1990s, Hogan’s popularity began to wane as wrestling fans craved fresher talent and edgier storytelling, but he reinvented himself in 1996 by turning heel and forming the New World Order (nWo) in WCW alongside Scott Hall and Kevin Nash. The nWo storyline revitalized both Hogan’s career and WCW, leading to a period where WCW regularly defeated WWF in TV ratings during the famed “Monday Night Wars.” Hogan held the WCW World Heavyweight Championship six times and remained a central figure in the promotion until its decline in the early 2000s. He returned to the renamed WWE in 2002 for a celebrated nostalgia run, winning his sixth WWE Championship and being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005, further cementing his status as one of the industry’s most enduring and influential figures.
I Am Absolutely Shocked To Hear About The Passing Of My Close Friend @HulkHogan! Hulk Has Been By My Side Since We Started In The Wrestling Business. An Incredible Athlete, Talent, Friend, And Father! Our Friendship Has Meant The World To Me. He Was Always There For Me Even When… pic.twitter.com/rOWLakMjr4
— Ric Flair® (@RicFlairNatrBoy) July 24, 2025