Hulk Hogan, known as 'the legend of professional wrestling' (real name Terry Bollea), passed away at the age of 71. Terry Bollea became a global star by leading the golden age of professional wrestling in the 1980s and 1990s under the name Hulk Hogan.
The Clearwater Police Department in west Florida said it responded to a report of a heart attack at Hogan's home at 9:51 a.m. local time on the 24th. Paramedics attempted to perform emergency treatment at the scene and transported him to a nearby hospital, but he ultimately died there.
U.S. President Donald Trump mourned Hogan in a post on Truth Social, saying, "He entertained fans around the world, and his cultural influence was immense," adding, "Hulk Hogan will be greatly missed."
House Speaker Mike Johnson also posted a photo with Hogan on Instagram, writing, "From my childhood in the 1980s to campaigning with him last year, I always viewed him as a giant," and expressed, "I pray for the soul of the deceased."
Hogan was never shy about political statements. In July last year, ahead of the U.S. presidential election, he took the stage at the Republican National Convention, proclaiming, "We will take America back with our leader and my hero the Gladiator," and shouted, "Let the Trump loyalists make America great again."
He gained attention for a performance where he tore apart a black t-shirt he was wearing, revealing a red t-shirt emblazoned with President Trump's name.
Hogan is considered the greatest star in the history of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), representing the American professional wrestling industry. He won the WWE Championship at least six times and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.
Hogan was credited as the main contributor to transforming professional wrestling into a family-friendly entertainment sport in the mid-1980s. The public was thrilled by his 'horseshoe-shaped mustache' and red and yellow outfits, as well as his '24-inch pythons,' as his muscular arms were called. It is evaluated that the fan base for wrestling was not very thick before he came on the scene.
Hogan captivated audiences, including children and families, with dramatic performances in the ring. By spreading a culture of matches that were close to entertainment, he led the golden age of professional wrestling.
Hogan also led the creation of the professional wrestling event 'WrestleMania' in 1985. He showcased many iconic matches that would be remembered in professional wrestling history, including those with Dwayne Johnson, known as 'The Rock', Andre the Giant, Ultimate Warrior, and Randy Savage.
Based on his widespread popularity, he engaged in various activities outside of wrestling. He appeared in numerous movies and TV programs, including the reality show 'Hogan Knows Best' that dealt with his daily life, and 'Rocky III'. The wrestling movie he starred in, 'The Secret', also gained worldwide popularity.
Hogan faced controversy in 2012 when several sex tape recordings with Heather Clem, the wife of his best friend and a famous radio DJ, were made public by the gossip outlet Gawker Media. He filed a lawsuit against the outlet for invasion of privacy and won, receiving a judgment for $115 million (approximately 157.8 billion won) in damages.
TMZ Sports, which first reported Hogan's passing, noted that rumors swirled weeks earlier that Hogan had fallen into a coma, but his wife denied it. The outlet had reported that Hogan's health significantly worsened as a result of complications from neck surgery he underwent in May.
CNN reported that he unexpectedly passed away just over a month before the first event of his newly established wrestling company, 'Real American Freestyle.' According to the report, the company was scheduled to hold its first event on August 30, with the goal of providing a type of traditional wrestling platform that could be seen in the Olympics.