Professional wrestling legend Hulk Hogan, who helped to continue World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in a global phenomenon, died at the age of 71.
Hogan, whose real name was Terry Gene Bollea, is generally credited for transforming the struggle scene into an entertainment spectacle.
He was pronounced dead in Florida on Thursday morning, after the authorities responded to a phone call about a cardiac arrest.
In a post on X, the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) stated that it was “sad to learn to WWE Hall from Famer Hulk Hogan”.
“One of the most recognizable figures of pop culture, Hogan helped WWE to achieve recognition worldwide in the 1980s,” said the wrestling organization.
“WWE is expanding his condolences to Hogan’s family, friends and fans.“
Hulk Hogan, seen here with Mr T, was the main drawing of the very first WWE Wrestlemania in 1985. ((AP: Corey Struller))
Hogan played in the first WWE Wrestlemania in 1985 and helped launch the competition in the mainstream.
He then won at least six WWE championships and was admitted to the Hall of Fame in 2005.
‘Incredible athlete’
Perhaps his most famous moment during the Wrestlemania III Extravaganza was in 1987, when Hogan fellow wrestler André de Reus attached to a sold-out Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan for a thunderous body lamb of the Frenchman.
He also played in various films, including Rocky III and Santa Claus with muscles.
Colleague wrestle and 16-way world champion Ric Flair also placed that he was “absolutely shocked” to hear about the death of Hogan.
Hulk Hogan, to be seen here in 1994, transformed professionally struggling into a family sport. ((Reuters: Delores Delvin/USA Today))
“He was always there for me, even when I didn’t ask him to be,” he wrote on X, and added that Hogan had been “an incredible athlete, talent, friend and father”.
Hogan was known for its towering two meters of physique, bandana and distinctive blond steering wheel.
In recent years he also emerged as a political figure and threw his support behind the US President Donald Trump’s election campaign of 2024.
“Let Trumpamania run wild, brother!” Hogan roared to a cheering crowd in the Republican National Convention last year.
Hulk Hogan has sued an American news organization after it published a sex tape of him in 2012. ((AP: Steve Nesius))
Wrestling took physical toll
One of the first to pay tribute after the news broke about his death was Mr. Trump’s Minister of Defense Pete Hegseeth, who posted a photo on X from Hogan waving with an American flag in a boxing ring with the caption: “Rip.”
Hogan’s time in the spotlight was never far from controversy.
In 2016, a jury in Florida Hogan US $ 115 million ($ 174 million) awarded in its sex tape right against Gawker Media and then added US $ 25 million ($ 37 million) to punitive compensation.
Hogan complained after Gawker in 2012 a video of him for sex with the wife of his former best friend. He claimed that the post had violated his privacy.
He was also suspended from the WWE after he had been admitted with the help of a racial blemish, but was later restored to the organization.
Hogan suffered countless health problems in later years, as a result of the years of abuse that his body took into the ring.
He was married three times and had two children who played next to him and the first wife Linda in a reality TV show of 2005-2007, Hogan knows the best.
ABC/Reuters/AFP
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