Wrestling Icon Hulk Hogan Dies at 71
Hulk Hogan — born Terry Gene Bollea — died early Thursday at the age of 71, according to WWE and Florida authorities. Paramedics were dispatched to his Clearwater residence after a reported cardiac arrest, and he was pronounced dead shortly thereafter. The Hall of Famer had recently undergone neck surgery but was said to be recovering; an official autopsy will determine the exact cause.
Across social media, wrestlers and fans flooded timelines with tributes to the man who headlined the first WrestleMania, lifted Andre the Giant before 93,000 at the Silverdome, and became a fixture of 1980s Americana with his trademark “Hulkamania” persona. WWE called him “one of pop culture’s most recognizable figures,” while longtime rival Ric Flair hailed him as “the superstar who made us all larger than life.”
Hogan’s legacy extends beyond the ring: a 12‑time world champion, reality‑TV personality and enduring merchandising machine, he helped transform WWE from regional spectacle to global entertainment juggernaut. His passing leaves a void in sports entertainment and ends an era defined by red‑and‑yellow bandanas, thunderous leg drops and the rallying cry, “Whatcha gonna do when Hulkamania runs wild on you?”
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