Culture Professional wrestling icon Hulk Hogan dies at 71, WWE...

Professional wrestling icon Hulk Hogan dies at 71, WWE says

-

- Advertisment -
ADVERTISEMENT

Hulk Hogan, the headscarf-wearing icon of the world of professional wrestling, has died at the age of 71, Florida police and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) said on Thursday.

In Clearwater, Florida, authorities responded to a call on Thursday morning about a cardiac arrest. Hogan was pronounced dead at a hospital, police said in a statement on Facebook.

Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, was arguably the biggest start in WWE’s long history.

He was the main draw for the first WrestleMania in 1985 and was a fixture for years, facing everyone from Andre the Giant and Randy Savage to The Rock and even company chairman Vince McMahon — whom he later testified in favour of in court over alleged use of steroids in wrestling.

He won at least six WWE championships and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.

In recent years, Hogan added his celebrity to politics, most recently openly supporting Donald Trump. At the 2024 Republican National Convention, he merged classic wrestling manoeuvres with then-candidate rhetoric to passionately endorse him for president.

“Let Trumpamania run wild brother! Let Trumpamania rule again! Let Trumpamania make America great again,” Hogan shouted into the raucous crowd.

He ripped off a T-shirt emblazoned with a picture of himself on a motorcycle to reveal a bright red Trump-Vance campaign shirt underneath. Trump stood to applaud the move.

“We lost a great friend today, the ‘Hulkster,'” Trump said Thursday on Truth Social. “Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way — strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart.”

No stranger to controversy, Hogan was often accused of fabricating stories from his past, including that Elvis Presley was a fan of his and that Metallica wanted him to play bass in the band.

Hulk also invested in sometimes failed attempts at profiting from his superstar wrestler image, including a Pastamania restaurant at the Mall of America in Bloomington which closed in less than a year, and a blender called Hulk Hogan Thunder Mixer.

In 2024, he launched Real American Beer, which he was actively promoting at the time of his death.

In 2016, a Florida jury awarded Hogan $115 million (€97 million) in his sex tape lawsuit against Gawker Media and then added $25 million (€21 million) in punitive damages.

Hogan sued after Gawker in 2012 posted a video of him having sex with his former best friend’s wife. He contended the post violated his privacy.

There was other fallout. The litigation led to the discovery that Hogan had used racial slurs on the tape.

“It was unacceptable for me to have used that offensive language; there is no excuse for it; and I apologise for having done it,” Hogan said.

In a post on social media platform X, WWE said it was saddened to learn about Hogan’s death.

“One of pop culture’s most recognisable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans,” it said.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Latest news

Trump’s media war: White House takes aim at South Park and Colbert

ADVERTISEMENT A simmering political war between the White House and the media has grown more fiery in recent weeks, with satire and political commentary caught directly in the crosshairs. From the cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s Late Show to attacks on The View’s Joy Behar, and now the latest controversy over South Park’s explicit mockery of

Benfica’s Stadium of Light prepares for new revitalising design

ADVERTISEMENT There are many parallels to be made between regularly visiting a sports stadium and going to church as both activities demand faith, vision and hope. Familiarity with a place of worship can also provide succour so dealing with any radical redesign has to handled sensitively. These requirements appear to be at the centre of

Professional wrestling icon Hulk Hogan dies at 71, WWE says

ADVERTISEMENT Hulk Hogan, the headscarf-wearing icon of the world of professional wrestling, has died at the age of 71, Florida police and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) said on Thursday. In Clearwater, Florida, authorities responded to a call on Thursday morning about a cardiac arrest. Hogan was pronounced dead at a hospital, police said in a

Film of the Week: ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’

ADVERTISEMENT For cinema lovers, Marvel’s modern reign began with Iron Man, but for comic book lovers, it was always The Fantastic Four.  When released in 1961, Jack Kirby and Stan Lee’s series about a family of cosmic-powered astronauts marked the beginning of a bold new vision; one in which superheroes weren't just god-like figures, but
- Advertisement -

Irish rap band Kneecap banned from Hungary’s Sziget festival

ADVERTISEMENT The backlash over freedom of speech and controversial Irish rappers Kneecap has intensified following Hungary's decision to ban the group from taking part in the Sziget festival. Government spokesperson Zoltán Kovács explained in a post on the X platform that the the decision to ban Kneecap from entering the country and from participating in

Banksy’s Venice work ‘The Migrand Child’ removed for restoration

ADVERTISEMENT Art restorers have removed a deteriorating piece of graffiti by the street artist Banksy, titled 'The Migrant Child', from the side of a building overlooking a Venetian canal to preserve the work for future public display, officials said on Thursday. The removal from the wall of the 17th-century Palazzo San Pantalon was carried out

Must read

Trump’s media war: White House takes aim at South Park and Colbert

ADVERTISEMENT A simmering political war between the White House and the media has grown more fiery in recent weeks, with satire and political commentary caught directly in the crosshairs. From the cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s Late Show to attacks on The View’s Joy Behar, and now the latest controversy over South Park’s explicit mockery of

Benfica’s Stadium of Light prepares for new revitalising design

ADVERTISEMENT There are many parallels to be made between regularly visiting a sports stadium and going to church as both activities demand faith, vision and hope. Familiarity with a place of worship can also provide succour so dealing with any radical redesign has to handled sensitively. These requirements appear to be at the centre of
- Advertisement -

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you