Hulk Hogan, the world-famous wrestler known outside the ring as Terry Gene Bollea, died at age 71 after suffering a cardiac arrest, meaning his heart suddenly stopped beating.
Wrestling icon Hulk Hogan suffers fatal cardiac arrest
Emergency responders arrived at his Clearwater, Florida, home after a call came in around 09:51 local time (15:51 SAST). They performed chest compressions on him as he was taken to a nearby hospital, but he was pronounced dead at 11:17 (17:17 SAST), according to Clearwater police Major Nate Burnside.
In a brief news conference, Clearwater Police Major Burnside said there were “no signs of foul play or suspicious activity.” Paramedics from Clearwater Fire & Rescue initially provided CPR at the scene, and Hogan was rushed to hospital, where doctors confirmed his death. Authorities have not yet released his official cause of death pending further medical examination.
Just weeks ago, Hogan’s wife, Sky, denied claims that he was in a coma. She said his heart was “strong,” and he had been recovering from neck surgery performed in May. TMZ had previously reported rumours that he was on a “deathbed,” but clarified he was merely managing symptoms following the procedure.
Hulk Hogan’s rise to fame
Born Terry Gene Bollea on 11 August 1953, Hogan began wrestling professionally in 1977. He rose to global fame after joining the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE) in December 1983. Known for his large size, bandanas, and handlebar mustache, he became wrestling’s biggest star in the 1980s and held the WWF Championship five times. His reign from the first WrestleMania to WrestleMania IV remains one of the longest in WWF history.
Hogan headlined eight of the first nine WrestleMania events and twice won the Royal Rumble (1990 and 1991). His 1988 match against André the Giant still holds a record for viewership.
He later moved to World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in the 1990s and helped energize the industry with a villainous character known as “Hollywood” Hogan, winning the WCW World Heavyweight Championship six times. He returned to WWE in 2002 and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 and again in 2020 as part of the New World Order group.
Outside wrestling, Hogan appeared in movies like Rocky III, No Holds Barred, and TV shows such as Hogan Knows Best. He released a novelty music album and endorsed products like deodorant and action figures.
In 2015, Hogan made racist remarks that became public during a leaked video. He used a racial slur and made other offensive comments. After widespread backlash, Hogan apologised and called his words “offensive and inconsistent with [his] own beliefs.” Despite some wrestlers defending him, WWE removed his content and merchandising, and Mattel stopped making his action figures.
Hulk Hogan remains one of the most influential wrestlers of all time, credited with making professional wrestling a household entertainment spectacle. At the same time, his image was marred by past controversies.
His death marks the end of a life that shaped sports entertainment and sparked important discussions about accountability.