Hulk Hogan, the star who took professional wrestling to the national mainstream and became the biggest money-making draw in the history of the industry, died Thursday at the age of 71, Florida police and the WWE said Thursday.
In Clearwater, Florida, authorities responded to a call Thursday morning about a cardiac arrest. Hogan was pronounced dead at a hospital, police said in a statement on Facebook.
“There were no signs of foul play or suspicious activity,” Maj. Nate Burnside told reporters.
WWE posted a note on X saying it was saddened to learn the WWE Hall of Famer has died.
“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,” it said.
Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, had been struggling with several health issues in recent years, including a problematic, lingering back injury from his wrestling days. Hogan had not wrestled since 2012 but had been in the news recently as a founder of the new Real American Freestyle wrestling promotion and the owner of an upcoming New York City bar opposite Madison Square Garden, the site of many of his big matches.
In 1985, Hogan headlined the first WrestleMania, teaming up with 1980s TV star Mr. T to take on Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff. WrestleMania I, at MSG, drew an audience of around 1 million on closed-circuit television and is credited with taking professional wrestling, specifically the then-WWF (now WWE), into the national zeitgeist.
Hogan’s grudge match with Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III took the wrestling business — and Hogan’s career — to new heights. Around 80,000 people filled the Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan for the match. The rematch, several months later, on free-to-air NBC, drew 33 million viewers.
Hogan was in the main event of seven of the first eight WrestleMania cards. He was the face and hero of the wrestling world, crossing over into the mainstream with tons of appearances on television talk shows, as well as starring roles in movies — including the third “Rocky” film, where he took on the title character played by Sylvester Stallone — and television, including the syndicated “Thunder in Paradise” in the 1990s. Hogan won the WWF World Heavyweight championship six different times, including a reign of 1,474 days. Only Bruno Sammartino and Bob Backlund had the belt for longer days consecutively.
In 1996, with interest in him as a hero waning, Hogan pulled off the biggest heel turn in wrestling history as a second act. Working for WWE competitor World Championship Wrestling (WCW), Hogan became a bad guy, leading a dastardly group of invaders called the New World Order (NWO). The heel turn, 29 years ago this summer, captured the zeitgeist in a way wrestling had not since WrestleMania I. The NWO, with “Hollywood” Hogan as the vicious frontman wearing black and white rather than his trademark red and yellow, breathed new life into the wrestling industry during the counterculture 1990s when the audience demanded a darker, more adult product. Hogan was up to the challenge, helping WCW beat the WWF in television ratings for 83 straight weeks beginning in 1996.
Hogan returned to WWE in 2002 to face The Rock at WrestleMania 18 in Toronto. His character was the NWO bad-guy version, but the more than 68,000 in attendance were not interested in booing Hogan. They cheered him over The Rock, then WWE’s biggest good guy, forcing Hogan to return home to Florida that weekend to pick up his old red-and-yellow shirts and wrestling trunks.
He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.
Ric Flair and Triple H were among several notable wrestling icons to react to Hogan’s death on social media.
President Donald Trump was among other notable figures to post reaction. Hogan gave a speech at the Republican National Convention last July to support Trump’s presidential campaign.
“We lost a great friend today, the ‘Hulkster.’ Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way — Strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart. He gave an absolutely electric speech at the Republican National Convention, that was one of the highlights of the entire week,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “He entertained fans from all over the World, and the cultural impact he had was massive. To his wife, Sky, and family, we give our warmest best wishes and love. Hulk Hogan will be greatly missed!”
After his wrestling career concluded, Hogan had been embroiled in some controversy. In 2015, video recordings of him using the N-word and referring to himself as “racist to a point” leaked. WWE terminated his legends contract at the time, though brought him back three years later as an ambassador with infrequent television appearances. Hogan appeared on WWE’s Netflix debut show in January to promote his new Real American Beer but was booed by the fans in Los Angeles.
A sex tape featuring Hogan was leaked by the website Gawker in 2015 and Hogan subsequently sued for defamation, loss of privacy and emotional pain. Hogan won the case and was awarded $115 million.
Pro Wrestling Legend Hulk Hogan’s Last Words at Age 71 Leave Fans Devastated
On July 24, 2025, the world of professional wrestling and pop culture lost an icon with the passing of Terry Gene Bollea, better known as Hulk Hogan, at the age of 71. The news, confirmed by WWE and Florida authorities, sent shockwaves through the global fanbase, as tributes poured in from wrestlers, celebrities, politicians, and millions of “Hulkamaniacs” worldwide. Hogan’s death, attributed to a cardiac arrest at his Clearwater, Florida home, marked the end of an era for an industry he helped transform into a mainstream phenomenon. Reports on X suggested that his final words were, “You got me, brother,” a poignant phrase that resonated deeply with fans, encapsulating the charisma and spirit of the man who defined professional wrestling in the 1980s and beyond.
A Larger-Than-Life Legacy
Born on August 11, 1953, in Augusta, Georgia, Terry Bollea rose from humble beginnings to become the most recognizable figure in professional wrestling. Standing at 6’7” and weighing over 300 pounds in his prime, Hogan’s imposing physique, paired with his signature blond horseshoe mustache, red-and-yellow gear, and bandana, made him an unmistakable presence. His catchphrase, “Whatcha gonna do when Hulkamania runs wild on you?” became a cultural touchstone, inspiring generations of fans to “train, say their prayers, and eat their vitamins.”
Hogan’s journey began in 1977, but it was his 1983 return to the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) that catapulted him to stardom. His victory over The Iron Sheik in 1984 for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship ignited “Hulkamania,” a phenomenon that turned wrestling into a global entertainment juggernaut. Hogan headlined eight of the first nine WrestleManias, with his 1987 match against Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III—where he famously body-slammed the 520-pound giant—remaining one of the most iconic moments in sports entertainment history.
Beyond the ring, Hogan’s charisma transcended wrestling. He starred in films like Rocky III (1982) as Thunderlips, appeared on TV shows such as The A-Team and Thunder in Paradise, and led his own reality series, Hogan Knows Best. His larger-than-life persona made him a pop culture icon, from guest-hosting Saturday Night Live to starring in a CBS cartoon, Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling. He was the most requested celebrity for the Make-a-Wish Foundation in the 1990s, reportedly visiting up to 20 sick children a week.
The Heel Turn and Reinvention
In 1996, Hogan reinvented himself in a move that reshaped wrestling history. Joining World Championship Wrestling (WCW), he turned heel, adopting the “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan persona and forming the New World Order (nWo) with Kevin Nash and Scott Hall. This villainous faction dominated the “Monday Night Wars,” helping WCW surpass WWE in ratings for 83 weeks. The nWo’s cultural impact was so significant that it inspired a 2025 book, Say Hello to the Bad Guys: How Pro Wrestling’s New World Order Changed America. Hogan’s ability to shift from hero to villain showcased his versatility and cemented his influence on the industry.
Hogan returned to WWE in 2002, delivering a memorable “Icon vs. Icon” match against Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson at WrestleMania X8. His career continued with stints in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) and periodic WWE appearances, including co-hosting WrestleMania 37 in 2021. Hogan was a two-time WWE Hall of Famer, inducted in 2005 as an individual and in 2020 as part of the nWo.
Controversies and Redemption
Hogan’s legacy was not without blemishes. In 1994, he admitted to using steroids for 13 years during the United States v. McMahon lawsuit, though he clarified that Vince McMahon never distributed them. In 2015, a leaked sex tape from 2007 revealed Hogan using racial slurs, leading to his temporary removal from the WWE Hall of Fame and significant public backlash. He apologized, stating, “I’m not a racist, but I never should have said what I said. It was wrong. I’m embarrassed by it,” attributing the remarks to his environment growing up in South Tampa. WWE reinstated him in 2018, and he gradually rebuilt his public image through ambassadorial roles and charity work.
Hogan’s 2016 lawsuit against Gawker, which published the sex tape, resulted in a $140 million award, bankrolled by billionaire Peter Thiel. The case, which led to Gawker’s bankruptcy, highlighted Hogan’s influence beyond wrestling, though it also underscored the complexities of his public persona.
Final Days and Last Words
In recent years, Hogan faced significant health challenges, including chronic back issues from years of wrestling. He underwent multiple spinal surgeries, with a 2010 fusion surgery and subsequent procedures at the Laser Spine Institute, which he later sued for ineffective treatments. In May and June 2025, Hogan had neck and heart surgeries, respectively. Despite rumors of declining health, his wife, Sky Daily, whom he married in 2023, insisted his heart was “strong.” His manager, Jimmy Hart, echoed this optimism days before his death.
On July 24, 2025, first responders were called to Hogan’s Clearwater Beach home at 9:51 a.m. following a cardiac arrest. Despite efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead at Morton Plant Hospital at 11:17 a.m. His family confirmed he was surrounded by loved ones, stating, “May we all take solace in the wonderful memories he left behind for the millions of fans worldwide whose lives he touched for more than four decades.”
The reported last words, “You got me, brother,” shared on X, struck a chord with fans. The phrase, evoking Hogan’s iconic in-ring catchphrases, symbolized his enduring connection to his audience and peers. While unverified, it encapsulated the larger-than-life spirit of a man who lived for the roar of the crowd.
Tributes from Around the World
The outpouring of grief was immediate and widespread. WWE issued a statement: “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.” Vince McMahon called him “the greatest WWE superstar of all time,” while Ric Flair, a longtime friend, wrote, “I am absolutely shocked to hear about the passing of my close friend… An incredible athlete, talent, friend, and father.”
Sylvester Stallone, who worked with Hogan in Rocky III, shared, “His amazing skill made Rocky III incredibly special. My heart breaks.” President Donald Trump, whom Hogan endorsed at the 2024 Republican National Convention, called him “MAGA all the way — strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart.” Other tributes came from wrestlers like Kevin Nash (“NWO 4 Life… and beyond”), Charlotte Flair, and The Undertaker, as well as political figures like Vice President JD Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson.
A Lasting Impact
Hogan’s influence extended beyond wrestling. His recent ventures included Real American Beer and the Real American Freestyle wrestling promotion with Eric Bischoff. His appearance at the 2024 RNC, where he ripped off his shirt to reveal a Trump-Vance campaign shirt, underscored his continued relevance in pop culture and politics.
Hulk Hogan’s death leaves a void in the wrestling world and beyond. His ability to captivate audiences, whether as a hero or villain, made him a trailblazer. As fans reflect on his legacy, his reported final words, “You got me, brother,” serve as a bittersweet reminder of the man who made Hulkamania immortal. He may be gone, but as Jake “The Snake” Roberts said, “His memory and legacy will live forever.”
