Wrestling Icon Hulk Hogan Passes Away at 71
(MENAFN) Professional wrestling icon Hulk Hogan, whose real name was Terry Gene Bollea, passed away Thursday at the age of 71 in Florida, according to local officials.
The Clearwater Police Department confirmed that emergency responders, including both police and fire units, were dispatched to a medical situation involving Hogan early in the day. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
While no official cause of death has been released, media, a prominent American entertainment outlet, reported that Hogan died from cardiac arrest.
In a statement on X, WWE expressed its condolences. "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," the post read.
U.S. President Donald Trump also paid tribute to the late wrestler, calling him a "great friend" and highlighting his political alignment. "Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way — Strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Hogan made a surprise appearance at Trump’s rally in Madison Square Garden last October, entering to his iconic “Real American” theme song while waving the American flag. He concluded the moment by tearing off his shirt—revealing a Trump T-shirt underneath.
A Career That Transcended the Ring
Hogan became a household name during the 1980s, propelling WWE into the international spotlight through the "Hulkamania" movement. He held the WWE Championship six times, including an unprecedented 1,474-day reign—one of the longest in the company’s history.
Among his most iconic moments were body-slamming Andre the Giant at WrestleMania 3 and his dramatic 1996 heel turn when he joined the New World Order (nWo) in WCW. His 1988 rematch with Andre the Giant drew 33 million viewers and earned a 15.2 Nielsen rating—a record that still stands for American televised wrestling.
Throughout his career, Hogan headlined WrestleMania on eight occasions, claimed victory in two Royal Rumble matches, and held multiple World Heavyweight Championship titles.
He was enshrined in the WWE Hall of Fame twice—first as a solo inductee in 2005, and again in 2020 as part of the nWo faction.
Outside the ring, Hogan also found success in Hollywood, appearing in films such as Rocky III and No Holds Barred.
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