Wrestling Legend Hulk Hogan Dies at 71 After Cardiac Arrest
Hello, I’m Sage Matthews, here with a definitive report on Hulk Hogan’s passing.
Strap in, wrestling fans, because the legend has fallen.
Wrestling icon Hulk Hogan, born Terry Gene Bollea, died at 71 after suffering a cardiac arrest at his Clearwater, Florida home on Thursday morning. According to the Clearwater Police Department, medics from Clearwater Fire & Rescue arrived at the residence following a 911 call at 9:51 AM. Witnesses captured footage of paramedics performing chest compressions as Hogan was loaded into an ambulance, and he was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital at 11:17 AM. Major Nate Burnside assured the public there were no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances.
Just weeks before his untimely death, Hogan’s wife, Sky, whom he wed in September 2023, publicly dismissed rumors that he was in a coma. She insisted his heart remained “strong” as he recuperated from multiple surgeries. TMZ Sports had previously reported that Hogan was recovering from a neck procedure in May, and speculation that he was near death proved unfounded at the time.
Hogan revolutionized professional wrestling by transforming it into family-friendly entertainment. Before his rise, the audience for pro wrestling was relatively niche. After he defeated the Iron Sheik for the World Heavyweight Championship in 1984, he launched “Hulkamania,” a pop culture phenomenon that spanned generations. Fans donned his trademark bandana and attempted his signature poses for decades.
In 1996, Hogan shocked the industry by turning villainous and founding the New World Order (NWO) as Hollywood Hogan. That heel turn elevated both his career and World Championship Wrestling to unprecedented heights. Among his countless marquee moments were a WrestleMania X8 encounter with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in 2002 and his legendary bout against Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III. His epic feuds with the Ultimate Warrior and “Macho Man” Randy Savage remain etched in wrestling history.
Hogan was first inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 but was removed in 2015 after a Gawker-released recording captured him making racist remarks. He successfully sued Gawker and was reinstated into the Hall of Fame in 2020 as part of the NWO faction.
Beyond the ring, Hogan made waves at the 2024 Republican National Convention with his over-the-top theatrics. His Hollywood screen career began in 1982’s “Rocky III,” playing Thunderlips, and continued with films like “No Holds Barred,” “Suburban Commando,” and “Mr. Nanny.” He also fronted VH1’s hit reality series “Hogan Knows Best,” alongside his family: Linda, Nick, and Brooke.
Decades of in-ring punishment led Hogan to undergo dozens of surgeries. During a chat on “Object-ified,” he revealed he no longer had any original body parts left. The last time he spoke publicly was in May, when he announced Real American Freestyle, an amateur league set to debut on Fox Nation on August 30.
After a career defined by green and yellow leg drops, Hogan’s final bell has rung. And that’s the real deal.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ Sports, Clearwater Fire & Rescue, Clearwater Police Department, WWE, Gawker
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
