Wrestling icon Hulk Hogan has died at the age of 71. Emergency services were called to the WWE Hall of Famer’s home in Clearwater, Florida, in the early hours of Thursday morning following reports of a cardiac arrest.
Born Terry Gene Bollea, Hogan became a global sensation in the 1980s and 90s as the face of professional wrestling. With his trademark bandana, handlebar moustache, and signature catchphrase “Whatcha gonna do when Hulkamania runs wild on you?”, he transcended the world of sport to become a pop culture icon.
A cornerstone of Vince McMahon’s WWF (now WWE), Hogan headlined the first nine editions of WrestleMania and helped usher professional wrestling into mainstream popularity. His feuds with the likes of Andre the Giant, Randy “Macho Man” Savage, and The Ultimate Warrior became legendary, while his switch to WCW in the mid-1990s and the formation of the villainous nWo (New World Order) revitalised his career and reinvented his image.
Over the course of his illustrious career, Hogan became a 12-time world champion and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame twice — once in 2005 as an individual and again in 2020 as part of the nWo.
Beyond wrestling, Hogan found success in television, film, and reality shows, further cementing his place in popular culture.
As of Thursday afternoon, WWE and Hogan’s family have yet to release an official statement.
Fans and fellow wrestlers have already begun paying tribute to the man widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in wrestling history.