Hulk Hogan is no more. The news shook the world of sports entertainment this Thursday, July 24, 2025. At 71, the man known as the "Hulkster" succumbed to cardiac arrest at his home in Clearwater, Florida. Thus ended one of the most significant figures in American popular culture, twelve-time world champion, member of the WWE Hall of Fame, and a transgenerational icon.
The sudden announcement of a hero’s passing
The shock was immediate. American media, from TMZ Sports to NBC News, confirmed the death of Terry Bollea, Hulk Hogan’s real name. According to initial reports, emergency services were called shortly before 10 AM to his home. Despite a swift intervention and an emergency transfer to Morton Plant Hospital, the death was pronounced at 11:17 AM. However, rumors of a critical condition had been circulating for weeks, with the press even mentioning a possible coma. His wife had denied this, assuring that the "fighter’s" heart was holding strong.
An icon who transformed wrestling into a global spectacle
From the 1980s, Hulk Hogan became the face of American wrestling. However, he was not just an extraordinary athlete. He established himself as a character, recognizable by his bandana, blonde mustache, and torn yellow t-shirts in the ring. Thus, he made the discipline accessible to the whole family. The public then discovered a new form of entertainment that was both theatrical and intense. Moreover, drama and comedy harmoniously blend with physical prowess.
In 1984, he won his first heavyweight world championship title in a landmark match against the Iron Sheik. He became the first wrestler to break his opponent’s legendary submission hold. This fight marked the advent of "Hulkamania," a phenomenon that far exceeded the circle of insiders. From that moment, wrestling was no longer a curiosity: it invaded television, children’s toys, merchandise, and video games. Moreover, WWE (formerly WWF) became a global empire.
An unparalleled record and legendary matches
Hulk Hogan etched his name in the wrestling pantheon by accumulating records. He was a six-time WWF heavyweight world champion. Additionally, he won the WCW heavyweight world championship six times. Thus, he holds twelve major titles in the two largest American federations. His confrontation with André the Giant in 1988 remains etched in everyone’s memory. That night, the Main Event gathered over 33 million viewers, a record still unmatched today.
The younger generation discovered this phenomenon through the WrestleMania saga. Indeed, he headlined eight out of the first nine editions. His character as an American hero galvanized the crowd, who chanted his name at every entrance. His poses, his famous "leg drop," his way of feeding off the crowd’s energy… all contributed to writing the mythology of modern wrestling.
From a life in the spotlight to controversy
Glory also has its downsides. In the 1990s, Hulk Hogan admitted to using steroids like other wrestlers of his era. He testified in a high-profile trial on doping in wrestling. Indeed, he admitted to using these substances under medical prescription. This scandal tarnished his image as a family icon. Moreover, the revelation of a sex tape and racist remarks made in private led to his suspension from WWE in 2015. It took three years before the federation reinstated him. These incidents shook the Hulkster’s reputation, who nevertheless publicly apologized and eventually rejoined the Hall of Fame.
From Rocky to reality TV: Hogan’s foray into pop culture
From the early 1980s, Hulk Hogan crossed the boundaries of the ring. He played an oversized wrestler in Rocky 3 opposite Sylvester Stallone. This role paved the way for a prolific, albeit often mocked, acting career. He appeared in numerous films such as Suburban Commando, Mr. Nanny, Santa with Muscles, 3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain, and Gremlins 2. However, it was mainly on television that Hogan made a lasting impression. He appeared in cult series such as The A-Team, Walker, Texas Ranger, Baywatch, and even became the main hero of Thunder in Paradise and Shadow Warriors.
In the 2000s, he turned to reality TV. His own show, Hogan Knows Best, exposed his private life and family on screen. He also produced Hulk Hogan’s Celebrity Championship Wrestling, a game show dedicated to the discipline. His showman image, omnipresent, captivated advertisers and the general public.
Commitments, religion, and politics: the Hulkster’s last decade
In 2023, Hulk Hogan announced his conversion to evangelical Christianity. He was publicly baptized, displaying a desire for change. However, religion did not erase his thirst for spectacle. In 2024, he appeared at the Republican National Convention alongside Donald Trump, of whom he was a fervent supporter. The scene where he tore his shirt to reveal a pro-Trump t-shirt, amid the cheers of "MAGA" supporters, made headlines across the country. He then declared: “Donald Trump is a true American hero, a gladiator.”
Over the years, the bond between Hulk Hogan and Trump strengthened. The two men had met in the 1980s, during the Atlantic City casino era. Upon his death, President Trump paid tribute to a “great friend,” praising a man “strong, tough, smart but with a big heart.”
Tributes from the wrestling world and pop culture
Reactions were swift. The WWE expressed its “sadness” at the loss of one of its “pillars.” Several wrestling legends, like The Undertaker and Ric Flair, shared their emotions on social media. Flair wrote: “Hulk has been by my side since our beginnings in the wrestling world. No one will ever replace you!” The Undertaker hailed “a giant among men, a brother in arms, an inspiration.”
The world of film and television also paid tribute to the Hulkster’s memory. Clips from his movies, commercials, and TV appearances circulate online. The images of the blond giant, fist raised, bandana on his forehead, remain etched in the collective memory.
Fortune, legacy, and final moments
Beyond titles and fame, Hulk Hogan leaves behind a material and symbolic legacy. According to Celebrity Net Worth, his fortune amounts to nearly 25 million dollars, thanks to his wrestling contracts, image rights, and multiple licenses. He was still an ambassador for WWE and participated in events until 2025, despite fragile health.
His last years were marked by several surgeries, notably on his neck, but also by a renewed public engagement. Always ready to step into the ring to greet his fans, he seemed eager to pass the torch to a new generation of wrestlers and showmen.
Hulk Hogan, American hero, reflection of an era
The passing of Hulk Hogan marks the end of a chapter in American history. More than just an athlete, he embodied the rise of sports entertainment. Indeed, he symbolized the fusion of spectacle and sport, as well as the excess and energy of the 1980s. His character, sometimes contested, remains inseparable from the image of a conquering America. Indeed, there, strength always comes with a message, occasionally naive but often universal: believe in yourself, never give up, and stay true to your values.
Fans worldwide, from Paris to Tokyo, still remember the massive silhouette of the Hulkster. A giant who, until the end, fascinated, annoyed, inspired. A myth of flesh and gold, who, beyond the ring, managed to establish himself as a landmark. Indeed, he became a totem and a legend.
The world of entertainment loses one of its giants. But the legend of Hulk Hogan, it, will never truly disappear.