By Rocky Swift (Reuters)
The legendary Hulk Hogan, a major figure in American sports and entertainment who brought pro wrestling to a global audience, has passed away at the age of 71. WWE announced this unfortunate news on Thursday.
“WWE mourns the loss of Hulk Hogan, a cherished Hall of Famer, and one of the most recognized faces in pop culture. His contributions helped elevate WWE’s status in the 1980s,” the organization stated on X, without providing details on the cause of death.
Often seen with his distinct bleach-blond hair and tanned skin, Hogan became synonymous with professional wrestling during the 1980s. He played a pivotal role in transforming wrestling from a niche spectacle into a lucrative family entertainment spectacle.
A defining moment in Hogan’s career occurred at WrestleMania III in 1987 when he triumphantly body-slammed the enormous André the Giant in front of a massive sold-out crowd at the Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan.
While Hogan tried his hand at acting in Hollywood with films like ‘Rocky III’ and ‘Santa With Muscles’, he frequently returned to the wrestling ring until his body could no longer keep up with the demands of the sport.
In 2024, he publicly supported Donald Trump’s presidential campaign at the Republican National Convention, making the announcement amidst cheers from the audience. Hogan claimed that he was moved to back Trump after witnessing his passionate response to an assassination attempt during the campaign.
“Let Trumpamania run wild, brother!” Hogan exclaimed, tearing off his shirt to show off a Trump tank top. “Let Trumpamania rule again!”
THE RISE OF ‘HULK’
Originally named Terry Gene Bollea and born in Augusta, Georgia, on August 11, 1953, Hogan’s family later moved to Tampa, Florida. After finishing high school, he played bass guitar but ultimately felt drawn to the booming wrestling scene in Florida during the 1970s.
Many aspects of his wrestling persona were exaggerated like a Hollywood script, signaling the blurry line between reality and performance in this sport.
A significant anecdote from his past states that his first trainer broke his leg to deter him from pursuing wrestling, yet Hogan’s passion for the sport remained unshaken as he dedicated himself to rigorous training, involving notable use of anabolic steroids. His famous biceps were d the “24-inch pythons.”
The nickname “Hulk” emerged due to comparisons to a contemporary comic book hero, with Hogan ultimately paying royalties to Marvel Comics for years. The surname “Hogan” was the brainchild of wrestling mogul Vince McMahon, who sought to enhance his roster’s diversity.
His breakout role as wrestler Thunderlips in “Rocky III”, where he towered over leading man Sylvester Stallone, catapulted him into mainstream stardom. Returning to the WWF, now overseen by Vince McMahon’s son, he won the world championship from the Iron Sheik in 1984, holding the title for an impressive four years.
As Hulk transitioned into a household name, he was featured on Sports Illustrated and mingled with other cultural icons like Mr. T. The WWF, under Hogan’s influence, established itself as the primary force in wrestling, predominantly with its annual WrestleMania events.
GOING AGAINST ‘THE ROCK’
Eventually, Hogan ventured to the rival World Championship Wrestling where he swapped his traditional yellow for black, adopting the role of the villain “Hollywood” Hogan and leading the notorious New World Order faction. This shift revitalized his career.
He made his way back to WWE to face Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson at WrestleMania 2002. “I can take him on; I’m in better shape!” he told Reuters back then, just five months from turning 50. Nevertheless, The Rock won the match.
Hogan enjoyed getting inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on two occasions, proudly dubbing himself the “Babe Ruth of wrestling,” in a nod to the famous baseball legend.
That said, his political leanings towards Trump in 2024 were met with backlash from various wrestling fans and other controversies. Hogan gained attention after winning a $140 million lawsuit against Gawker for publishing part of a personal video; additionally, he faced a WWE suspension in 2015 after recordings surfaced showing him using a racial slur, but he was reinstated in 2018.
Hogan was married three times and had two children who starred alongside him and his first wife Linda in a reality TV series, “Hogan Knows Best,” which aired from 2005 to 2007.
(Reporting by Rocky Swift in Tokyo, additional reporting by Bhargav Acharya and Ryan Patrick Jones in Toronto, Editing by Rosalba O’Brien and Olivier Holmey)
