On July 24, 2025, the world bid farewell to Terry Gene Bollea, better known as Hulk Hogan, who passed away at the age of 71. His departure marked the
On July 24, 2025, the world bid farewell to Terry Gene Bollea, better known as Hulk Hogan, who passed away at the age of 71. His departure marked the end of an era for professional wrestling, a sport he transformed from a regional pastime into a global cultural phenomenon. With his larger-than-life persona, signature blond mustache, and iconic red-and-yellow bandanas, Hogan became the heartbeat of wrestling’s golden age, leaving a legacy that is as complex as it is enduring.
Born on August 11, 1953, in Augusta, Georgia, Hogan’s journey to stardom was anything but ordinary. Standing at an imposing 6-foot-8 and nearly 300 pounds, he first chased a career in music, playing bass for a Tampa-based band called Ruckus. His pivot to wrestling began in 1977 under the tutelage of Hiro Matsuda, who tested Hogan’s grit by breaking his leg during training. Unfazed, he returned, debuting as Terry “The Hulk” Boulder, a nod to his massive frame compared to Lou Ferrigno’s Incredible Hulk. By 1979, Vincent J. McMahon, then-owner of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), renamed him Hulk Hogan, envisioning an Irish hero for New York’s wrestling fans. Hogan refused to dye his hair red, citing early hair loss, and instead embraced his blond, all-American image.
Hogan’s ascent aligned with wrestling’s transformation into a cultural juggernaut. After a role in Rocky III as Thunderlips, he joined the WWF in 1983 under Vince McMahon Jr., who saw him as the cornerstone of a national expansion. On January 23, 1984, Hogan defeated The Iron Sheik to claim the WWF World Heavyweight Championship, igniting Hulkamania. His patriotic persona, underscored by “Real American” entrance music and his mantra to “say your prayers and eat your vitamins,” resonated deeply with fans. Hogan headlined eight of the first nine WrestleManias, including the legendary 1987 match against Andre the Giant before 93,173 fans at the Pontiac Silverdome—a defining moment in wrestling history.
In 1994, Hogan joined World Championship Wrestling (WCW), reinventing himself as “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan, the villainous leader of the New World Order (nWo). This bold heel turn during the “Monday Night War” propelled WCW’s Monday Nitro to ratings dominance, showcasing his versatility. He secured six WCW World Heavyweight Championships, with the 1997 Starrcade event becoming WCW’s most profitable pay-per-view. Returning to WWF in 2002, Hogan captured his sixth WWE Championship, tying records. His WrestleMania X8 match against The Rock remains a fan favorite, blending old-school charisma with new-era spectacle.
Beyond the ring, Hogan’s influence permeated pop culture. He starred in films like No Holds Barred and Suburban Commando, hosted Saturday Night Live, and led the reality show Hogan Knows Best. His image adorned lunchboxes, action figures, and a 1985 CBS cartoon, Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling. As the most requested celebrity for the Make-a-Wish Foundation during his peak, Hogan’s impact was profound. His Wrestling Boot Band’s album, Hulk Rules, even charted on Billboard’s Top Kid Audio in 1995.
Yet, Hogan’s legacy is not without shadows. In 2015, WWE severed ties after leaked audio from a 2007 sex tape revealed him using racial slurs, sparking a scandal that led to a $140 million lawsuit against Gawker Media, backed by Peter Thiel. Hogan’s public apology and 2018 reinstatement to the WWE Hall of Fame did little to silence debates over accountability. Critics, including some wrestling fans, argued his showmanship outshone technical skill, earning him “most overrated” labels from Wrestling Observer. Still, his cultural footprint was undeniable, as seen in his 2024 Republican National Convention appearance, where he revealed a Trump/Vance tank top, proclaiming “Trumpamania.”
In his final years, Hogan launched Real American Beer and planned Real American Freestyle, a wrestling league with Eric Bischoff. His death from cardiac arrest in Clearwater, Florida, prompted tributes from WWE, Vince McMahon, and fans worldwide. Survived by his wife, Sky Daily, and children, Brooke and Nick, Hogan remains the “Immortal” Hulk Hogan—a hero to millions, a polarizing figure to others, but forever the trailblazer who reshaped wrestling and pop culture.
COMMENTS