BREAKING: Hulk Hogan dead at 71

According to officials in Clearwater, Florida, Hogan was found unresponsive at his home early Thursday morning and later pronounced dead at a nearby medical facility. The cause of death is reported to be cardiac arrest.

“WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away. One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s,” the company said in a post on X. “WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans.”

Born Terry Bollea, Hogan gained international fame in the 1980s as the face of the World Wrestling Federation, known for his signature bandana, handlebar mustache, and booming charisma. He headlined multiple WrestleMania events and became a pop culture icon far beyond the wrestling ring.

In recent weeks, Hulk Hogan’s wife, Sky, dismissed speculation that the wrestling icon was in a coma, insisting his heart remained strong as he recovered from multiple surgeries, says TMZ.

Last month, concerns circulated that Hogan was gravely ill, but sources close to the situation said he was dealing with complications from a neck operation performed in May.

Hogan is widely credited with reshaping professional wrestling into mainstream family entertainment. Before his rise, the sport largely appealed to a niche audience. His charisma and over-the-top persona attracted a broader fanbase, drawing in both children and adults.

In 1996, Hogan turned from beloved hero to notorious heel by founding the New World Order (NWO) faction in WCW, rebranding himself as “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan.

He was first inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 but was removed in 2015 following the leak of a secretly recorded video containing racist remarks. Hogan later won a high-profile lawsuit over the release of that footage. WWE inducted him again in 2020 as part of the NWO.

Most recently, Hogan made headlines at the 2024 Republican National Convention.

Beyond the ring, Hogan became a household name through his appearances in film, television, and advertising.

He starred in several movies, including No Holds Barred (1989), Mr. Nanny (1993), and Suburban Commando (1991), and had his own reality show, Hogan Knows Best, which aired from 2005 to 2007 on VH1.

Hogan spoke openly in later years about his Christian faith, often crediting it with helping him navigate personal struggles and setbacks. Following a series of public controversies and a highly publicized legal battle, Hogan said he experienced a spiritual reawakening that brought him closer to God. He frequently referenced Bible verses in interviews and social media posts and stated that prayer and faith played a central role in his life.

“I accepted Christ as my savior at 14yrs old, and the training, prayers and vitamins kept me in the game but now that I am one with God,the main event theme of surrender,service and love makes me the Real Main Event that can slam any giant of any size through the power of my Lord and Savior and so it is, even now brother, AMEN!” Hogan said in one post from 2023.

Hogan was a vocal supporter of Donald Trump, publicly endorsing him during the 2016, 2020, and 2024 presidential campaigns.

Hogan frequently praised Trump’s leadership and appeared at the 2024 Republican National Convention, where he delivered a dramatic address that energized the crowd.

He had known Trump personally since the 1980s, when Trump hosted wrestling events at his Atlantic City casinos.

Hogan was not the only figure from the wrestling world to back Trump—Glenn Jacobs (better known as Kane), who now serves as the mayor of Knox County, Tennessee, also expressed strong support for Trump’s policies.

Mark Calaway, better known as The Undertaker, has similarly voiced admiration for Trump, stating in interviews that he supported the president’s approach to law enforcement and the military.

Trump's ties to wrestling date back decades, including his own induction into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013. Trump also appeared at Wrestlemania 23 in Detroit.

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