Sports

Wrestling Champion Hulk Hogan Dies at 71

JUL 24 2025·Updated JUL 25 2025

Story

Above: Hulk Hogan during a campaign rally at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 27, 2024. Image credit: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

The Facts

Hulk Hogan, born Terry Gene Bollea, died Thursday at age 71 after suffering cardiac arrest at his home in Clearwater, Florida. Clearwater police and firefighters responded to a medical call at 9:51 a.m. and rushed him to Morton Plant Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:17 a.m.
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The WWE Hall of Famer helped transform professional wrestling into mainstream entertainment during the 1980s, kickstarting "Hulkamania" after defeating The Iron Sheik for the World Heavyweight Championship in 1984 and headlining the first WrestleMania in 1985.
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Hogan won six WWE championships during his career and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. He was inducted again in 2020 as a member of the New World Order faction he formed during his time with World Championship Wrestling in the 1990s.
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NBC
His entertainment career extended beyond wrestling to include film roles, such as Thunderlips in "Rocky III," as well as starring in movies like "No Holds Barred" and "Mr. Nanny," and appearing in the VH1 reality show "Hogan Knows Best" alongside his family.
Deadline
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TMZ
Hogan was removed from the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015 after he was heard using a racial slur in a leaked tape, but was reinstated in 2018 following public apologies. He faced other controversies throughout his career, including being involved in a sex-tape with a friend's then-wife and caught up in a steroid scandal.
BBC News
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ABC News
He is survived by his third wife, Sky Daily, whom he married in 2023, and his children, Nick and Brooke, from his first marriage to Linda Claridge. He had undergone approximately 25 surgeries in his final decade due to wrestling-related injuries.
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Sources Split

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The Spin

Narrative A

Hogan was an American icon who transformed wrestling into family entertainment and became a pop culture phenomenon. His "Hulkamania" craze brought wrestling to mainstream audiences, inspiring generations of fans with his patriotic persona. He deserves recognition for his contributions to entertainment and his support of American values.

Wrestling On Fannation

Foxnews

Narrative B

While Hogan achieved wrestling stardom, his legacy remains tainted by a history of racist remarks and controversial behavior that overshadowed his accomplishments. His racist tirade, caught on tape, revealed his true character, and his recent political endorsements further alienated fans who once looked up to him as a childhood hero.

The Sun