Wrestling legend and WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has died at the age of 71, his manager confirmed Thursday.
Hogan was a fixture with the WWE for decades, starting his career in wrestling career in 1977 before retiring in 2012.
He won six WWE championships and Sylvester Stallone inducted him into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.
WWE reacted to the news of the death of one of the organization’s biggest stars with a post on X, plus a tribute video for Hogan.
“WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away,” WWE wrote.
Other tributes poured in from the WWE world, including former on-screen friends and foes.
Triple H, Ric Flair, Charlotte Flair, John “Bradshaw” Layfielda and Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake all posted on X following Hogan’s death.
Hogan, whose given name is Terry Bollea, was the main draw for the first-ever WrestleMania in 1985 and he was a fixture for years in its signature event, facing everyone from Andre The Giant and Randy Savage to The Rock and even Vince McMahon.
The WWE said Hogan was “one of pop culture’s most recognizable figures” and he “helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s.”
“The Hulkster’s superhuman size and undeniable charisma set the standard for what a Superstar should be. A larger-than-life icon, he packed 93,173 WWE fans into the Pontiac Silverdome, won six WWE Championships, starred in movies, television shows and his own animated series and became an idol to a vast legion of fans he dubbed his Hulkamaniacs,” his bio on the WWE website says.
Hogan was a draw for wrestling fans of all ages and he was immortalized as an action figure that was popular with many young fans during his heyday.
WWE said Hogan returned to the organization in 2014, hosting WrestleMania 30 and celebrating his 61st birthday live on Raw. He last appeared on a WWE show on Jan. 6, 2025, making his final appearance on Monday Night Raw in Los Angeles.
Hogan died in Clearwater, Florida. Clearwater Fire and Rescue responded to his home at 9:51 a.m. Thursday for a reported cardiac arrest, according to a media release from the city. He was pronounced dead at the scene, the statement said.
