Tragic news has rocked the world of sports entertainment as Hulk Hogan, the titan of professional wrestling, has left us at the age of 71.
According to Fox News, the iconic Terry Bollea, better known as Hulk Hogan, passed away on July 24, 2025, after a suspected cardiac event at his Clearwater, Florida, home, leaving behind a legacy that shaped wrestling and pop culture.
Reports indicate that emergency personnel rushed to Hogan’s residence on Clearwater Beach after a medical call came in at 9:51 a.m. that day. The Clearwater Fire Department and Police Department confirmed the nature of the call was for a cardiac arrest. Hogan was treated on-site by rescue crews before being transported to Morton Plant Hospital, where he was sadly pronounced deceased.
Long before the glitz of global fame, Hogan cut his teeth in the gritty rings of Championship Wrestling from Florida during the late 1970s. His raw power and charisma quickly caught attention, paving the way for a seismic career.
In 1979, Hogan joined the World Wrestling Federation, now WWE, where Vince McMahon saw him as the face of the organization after taking over from his father. This decision unleashed “Hulkamania,” a cultural phenomenon that gripped fans as Hogan played the heroic babyface, memorably rescuing Bob Backlund from an attack by the Wild Samoans.
Hogan’s career soared with epic rivalries against legends like Andre the Giant, Ric Flair, and Randy Savage. Who can forget WrestleMania III, when he bodyslammed the colossal 520-pound Andre, a moment etched in history as a feat of sheer will? It was a slam that echoed beyond the ring, symbolizing the triumph of grit over impossible odds.
Later, Hogan shook the wrestling world by joining World Championship Wrestling, where he flipped the script at Bash at the Beach in 1996. Turning heel by attacking Randy Savage, he formed the infamous New World Order faction with Kevin Nash and Scott Hall, a move that rewrote the industry’s playbook.
The NWO storyline wasn’t just drama; it was dominance, propelling WCW to crush ratings for 83 straight weeks. Hogan’s ability to reinvent himself showed wrestling could be more than muscle—it was storytelling at its rawest.
When WWE acquired WCW, Hogan returned to face off against The Rock in a dream match that had fans roaring. His stints with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and later sporadic WWE appearances proved his staying power, even as the years piled on.
Hogan’s trophy case speaks volumes: six WWE championships, six WCW world heavyweight titles, a New Japan Pro-Wrestling IWGP title, and two Royal Rumble victories. Add to that his 2005 WWE Hall of Fame induction as an individual, plus a 2020 nod for the NWO, and you’ve got a resume of pure legend.
Beyond the ring, Hogan’s larger-than-life persona touched other arenas, including political stages where he supported President Donald Trump at notable events like the Republican National Convention. While some may balk at mixing sports with politics, Hogan’s unapologetic stance reflected a man who lived by his convictions, not the latest cultural fads.
His latest venture, Real American Freestyle, alongside Eric Bischoff, aimed to boost freestyle wrestling, showing Hogan’s heart for the sport’s future. As Chad Bronstein, RAF’s CEO, put it, “Hulk was at the center of it.” That passion for building something bigger than himself is a lesson progressives might ponder instead of chasing fleeting trends.
WWE’s statement mourned, “Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s.” Fine words, but let’s be real—Hogan didn’t just help; he was the engine of an era when entertainment valued showmanship over sanitized narratives.
A statement on Hogan’s Instagram read, “May we all take solace in the wonderful memories he left behind.” It’s a fitting call to focus on his impact rather than the petty controversies the left often amplifies to tear down giants.
Survived by his children, Nick and Brooke, from his first marriage, and his wife, Sky Daily, Hogan leaves a personal legacy as enduring as his public one. Despite recent health scare rumors—denied by Sky as he recovered from surgeries—the end came too soon. Let’s honor the man who bodyslammed barriers by remembering his fight, not the noise of a culture too quick to judge.
