Hulk Hogan, one of America’s most famous professional wrestling stars, has died at the age of 71. The wrestler, born Terry Gene Bollea, passed away on Thursday at his home in Florida. Known for his blond hair, handlebar mustache, and iconic character, Hogan had a career spanning several decades and made significant contributions to the wrestling industry. His career began in 1977, but it was his time with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), now known as World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), in 1983 that brought him widespread fame. He was a prominent figure during the rise of wrestling popularity and later starred in his reality show, Hogan Knows Best, which aired on VH1 from 2005 to 2007.
Hogan’s manager, Chris Volo, confirmed that the wrestler died of cardiac arrest at his home in Clearwater, Florida, and was surrounded by his family. Recently, Hogan had been a vocal supporter of former US President Donald Trump and appeared at the 2024 Republican National Convention, where he was seen wearing a Trump 2024 T-shirt. In a post on social media site Truth Social, Trump said he had “lost a great friend today,” calling Hogan “MAGA all the way – strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart.”
Hogan had several health issues in recent years, including neck surgery in May and heart surgery in June. His family said in an Instagram post, “We have lost a legend.” They added that Hogan touched the lives of millions of fans worldwide for over four decades and would be missed but never forgotten.
WWE issued a statement saying they were “saddened to learn” of Hogan’s death and described him as “one of pop culture’s most recognizable figures.” He won six WWE championships, headlined WrestleMania eight times, and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. WWE superstars paid tribute to Hogan, with retired star Kane calling him a “true legend.” Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts also remembered Hogan, saying that his memory and legacy would live forever.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyzyr4d2rzo
