July 24, (THEWILL) — Hulk Hogan, the man who defined professional wrestling for an entire generation, has died at the age of 71. Paramedics were called to his home in Clearwater, Florida early Thursday morning after a report of cardiac arrest. He was carried out on a stretcher and later confirmed dead. WWE officially announced his passing later in the day, calling him one of the most recognisable figures in sports entertainment history.
Born Terry Bollea in Augusta, Georgia in 1953, Hogan rose to national fame in the 1980s with his “Hulkamania” persona. His trademark bandana, handlebar moustache and catchphrases became synonymous with the WWF, helping turn wrestling into a mainstream entertainment product. Hogan headlined the very first WrestleMania in 1985 and would go on to lead some of the biggest events in the sport’s history, including his match against André the Giant at WrestleMania III, which drew a record-breaking crowd.
In recent months, Hogan had faced several health challenges. He underwent neck surgery in May and, according to US Weekly, had a serious heart procedure in June. Despite these setbacks, he continued to make public appearances, including a surprise showing at the Republican National Convention in 2024 where he backed Donald Trump’s presidential bid. His final appearance on WWE television came in January 2025 during the launch of Raw on Netflix.
Outside the ring, Hogan’s personal life was often in the spotlight. He had two children, Brooke and Nick, with his first wife Linda, whom he divorced in 2007. He later married Jennifer McDaniel in 2010, but they separated in 2022. He married Sky Daily the following year. Though controversies occasionally followed him, his influence on wrestling and pop culture remained intact throughout his career.
Hogan’s death marks the end of a singular career that spanned more than four decades. From his early days in the ring to his reign as a global entertainment icon, his impact on the WWE brand and the industry at large is impossible to overstate.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
