Hulk Hogan, WWE Legend and Pop Culture Icon, Passes Away at 71

This one hurts. Like so many of you, I grew up watching Hulk Hogan dominate the wrestling world. The man wasn’t just a wrestler, he was like a superhero come to life, larger than anything on TV. Today, I’m heartbroken to share that Hogan has passed away at the age of 71.

According to TMZ, the WWE icon was rushed from his Clearwater, Florida home early Thursday morning after suffering what was reported as “cardiac arrest.” Emergency crews and police were seen outside his home before he was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. At this time, the official cause of death hasn’t been confirmed.

Hogan’s health has been a topic of conversation for years, with rumors and speculation following him through recent decades. Just last month, a Florida radio host claimed Hogan had slipped into a coma, a story his reps quickly shut down, calling it completely false.

For many of us, Hogan wasn’t just a wrestler, he was the face of an era. He made wrestling cool, ushering in a golden age of sports entertainment. His charisma was electric, his presence undeniable, and those larger-than-life moments, ripping the shirt, the leg drop, the roar of “Whatcha gonna do, brother?”are burned into wrestling history.

Hogan wasn’t just about wrestling, though. He was a crossover superstar before it was common. After cementing himself as the biggest name in WWE, he leapt to Hollywood with his role as Thunderlips in Rocky III (1982), then starred in action flicks and family comedies throughout the ’80s and ’90s. He popped up in iconic TV series like The A-Team, Baywatch, and even Walker, Texas Ranger.

By the early 2000s, Hogan shifted into reality TV with Hogan Knows Best, giving fans a glimpse into his personal life and introducing his family to the spotlight. His daughter Brooke Hogan and son Nick would also pursue careers in entertainment, keeping the Hogan name alive for a new generation.

Of course, Hogan’s life wasn’t without controversy. He faced public scrutiny during the 1994 steroid scandal, admitting under oath to using anabolic steroids for years. Later, he fought legal battles over chronic injuries, suing a spinal surgery clinic in 2013 for botched treatments. Despite the setbacks, Hogan remained a household name, showing just how massive his impact was on wrestling and pop culture.

Hogan is survived by his children, Brooke and Nick, as well as his widow, Sky Daily. Details surrounding his passing are expected to come from Clearwater police later today.

I can’t tell you how sad I am to write this. Hogan was the guy when I was a kid, the reason I had a mountain of wrestling action figures, the reason I loved wrestling as a kid in the first place. Hulkamania wasn’t just a slogan. It was a movement. For those of us who grew up watching him, it;s the end of an era.

Rest in peace, Hulkster. You were one of a kind badass.