Hulk Hogan, one of the most popular professional wrestlers of all time, has died, according to WWE.
Hulk Hogan’s death
What we know:
According to the Clearwater Police Department, first responders were called to Hogan’s home in Clearwater, Florida, Thursday morning for a cardiac arrest incident. Hogan was treated on scene then taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
WWE also confirmed his death
What we don’t know:
Hogan’s cause of death has not been released. Hogan’s wife, Sky, denied rumors a few weeks ago that Hogan was in a coma. She said at the time that his heart was strong and he was recovering from surgeries.
Clearwater Police held a brief news conference Thursday afternoon to confirm Hogan’s death. They said foul play is not suspected, but no additional information will be released.
What they’re saying:
“One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans,” WWE said in a social media post.
Hulk Hogan’s life
The backstory:
Hogan gained fame in the 1980s with his “Hulkamania” character. He’s credited with helping to propel WWE (formerly WWF) into the wrestling powerhouse it is today. He was the main draw for the first WrestleMania in 1985 and was a fixture for years, facing everyone from Andre The Giant and Randy Savage to The Rock and even company chairman Vince McMahon. Hogan was also a celebrity outside the wrestling world, appearing in numerous movies and television shows, including a reality show about his life on VH1, “Hogan Knows Best.”
Hogan’s acting career began with a 1982 cameo role in Rocky III. He’s also starred in several films, including “No Holds Barred,” “Suburban Commando” and “Mr. Nanny.”
The WWE legend also starred in three television shows: “Hogan Knows Best,” “Thunder in Paradise,” and “China, IL,” as well as in Right Guard commercials and the video game, Hulk Hogan’s Main Event.
He won at least six WWE championships and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.
Hogan was born in Augusta, Georgia, in 1953 and had two children, Brooke and Nick, with his first wife, Linda. Hogan married Jennifer McDaniel in 2010, and then married his third wife, Sky Daily, in 2023.
Hogan was serving as commissioner of Real American Freestyle wrestling when he died. FOX Nation announced this week that it had obtained the broadcasting rights to Real American Freestyle, with the first matchup, “RAF01,” slated for Saturday, Aug. 30, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Hulk Hogan’s past controversies
In 2016, a Florida jury awarded Hogan $115 million in his sex tape lawsuit against Gawker Media and then added $25 million in punitive damages. Hogan sued after Gawker in 2012 posted a video of him having sex with his former best friend’s wife. He contended the post violated his privacy.
In 2015, The National Enquirer and RadarOnline.com reported that in the same 2007 sex tape, Hogan was caught saying he was “a racist, to a point,” then using an expletive and the “n-word.”
“Eight years ago I used offensive language during a conversation,” Hogan told People in 2015. “It was unacceptable for me to have used that offensive language; there is no excuse for it; and I apologize for having done it.”
WWE terminated Hogan’s contract after the remarks came to light and removed him from the WWE Hall of Fame. He was reinstated in 2018.
Hulk Hogan’s political views
Hogan, who once endorsed Barack Obama for president, made an unexpected appearance at the Republican National Convention in 2024, putting his full support behind Donald Trump, who he called his “hero.”
“You know something, I have some great tag teams in my time,” Hogan said in his speech. “But you know something, I see the greatest tag team of my life, standing together, getting ready to straighten this country up.”
In a move of showmanship, Hogan tore off his T-shirt to reveal a bright red “TRUMP VANCE 2024” tank top. The crowd erupted into some of the loudest applause of the convention as Trump grinned from his box. He then shifted his tone, introducing himself by his legal name, Terry Gene Bollea, noting that as an entertainer he tries “to stay out of politics.”
“I’m proud to support my hero as the next president of this United States,” he said. “He’s going to win in November and we’re all going to be champions when he wins.”
