Hulk Hogan dies at 71

Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan has died.

Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, died on Thursday morning at the age of 71, according to a report from TMZ. Medical personnel were dispatched to Hogan’s home in Clearwater, Fla., for what was described as a cardiac arrest.

There was concern for Hogan last month when longtime radio personality Bubba The Love Sponge Clem, who was once friends with Hogan, claimed on his show that Hulk was in the hospital dealing with some sort of life-threatening condition. Clem claimed that Hulk’s family members had been called and told they should say their goodbyes.

A representative for Hogan said at the time that the reports about Hogan’s health were inaccurate and that he had been receiving medical treatment to address lingering back and neck issues.

Hogan was arguably the most famous professional wrestler of all time. His popularity in the 1980s led to the rapid growth of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), which is now known as World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).

Hogan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. He was removed in 2015 over a scandal but reinstated again several years later. Hogan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame a second time in 2020 as a member of the New World Order (NWO), which he joined in 1996 when he made a heel turn while wrestling in World Championship Wrestling (WCW).

A six-time WWE Champion, Hogan remained a brand ambassador for the organization up until his death.