Entertainment Swindon

In a week where we have already seen the loss of heavy metal legend Ozzy Osborne, today we see the loss of another legend, this time from the world of WWE. Police said emergency first responders treated the WWE wrestling star at his home in Clearwater, Florida for cardiac arrest this morning, before he later died in hospital at the age of 71.

Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, was best known for his five decades in the ring as a wrestler, more recently in the WWE, but also with WWF, which of course changed its name to the WWE, and also the WCW. An icon of the wrestling world with his larger than life character, distinctive biker moustache and colourful bandanas, he was a true pop culture icon.

Hogans larger than life character and theatrics in the ring was a big reason professional wrestling to transformed into a family entertainment sport.

For many years, Hogan was the main man of what was the WWF, and the main draw in the first ever Wrestle Mania in 1985 which became the signature event for years. Hogan faced off with many of the big names of wrestling over the years from Jake The Snake Roberts, Randy Savage, Andre The Giant, The Undertaker and The Rock to name a few.

Claiming his first WWE world championship by defeating the Iron Sheik in 1984. Hogan went on to win five more world championships and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 by Sylvester Stallone.

WWE said in a post this evening: “WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away. One of pop culture’s most recognisable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans.”

Hogan’s friend and fellow former professional wrestler, Ric Flair, wrote on X: “I am absolutely shocked to hear about the passing of my close friend @HulkHogan! Hulk has been by my side since we started in the wrestling business.

“An incredible athlete, talent, friend, and father!”

Hogan and his ‘Hulkamania’ created a huge international fan base, making him a celebrity outside of the ring, appearing in movies such as Thunder Paradise, Mr Nanny and The Ultimate Weapon, and who can forget his iconic part as Thunder Lips in Rock III, where he takes on Rock in a charity exhibition fight, there was also the TV shows such as his reality show on VH1, “Hogan Knows Best”.

More recently, Hogan endorsed Donald Trump at the Republican National Convention in 2024 for President.

Hogan said he made the decision to support the Republican candidate after seeing his combative, fist-pumping reaction to an attempted assassination on the campaign trail.

In a reference to so-called “Hulkamania”, he ripped off his shirt to reveal a Trump tank top and bellowed to a cheering crowd: “Let Trumpamania run wild, brother… Let Trumpamania rule again!”

Hogan’s support of Trump did not go down well with all wrestling fans, but he also faced other controversies. The gossip website ‘Gawker’ posted a video in 2012 of him having sex with his former best friend’s wife. Hogan sued on privacy grounds and was awarded a $140m judgement in 2016, a year earlier he was suspended by the WWE after another secret recording revealed that Hogan had used a racial slur, though reinstated in 2018.

Born in the US state of Georgia in August 1953, before he found fame as a wrestler through the Florida wrestling scene in the 70s, Hogan played bass guitar in local bands.

Hulk Hogan will be sadly missed by generations of fans.