Home Forums Thread Like Summary - RIP Hulk Hogan

Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan has died at 71 years old, TMZ Sports has learned.

Medics were dispatched to the WWE icon's Clearwater, Florida home early Thursday morning ... with operators stating it was regarding a "cardiac arrest."



We broke the story last month -- there were rumblings Hogan was on his "deathbed" ... but we were told at the time he was just dealing with the symptoms of a neck procedure he underwent in May.

Hulk transformed professional wrestling into a family entertainment sport. Before Hulk, wrestling catered to a fairly narrow audience. Hulk's theatrics in the ring was magnetic for children and their parents, and it supercharged the sport.

Hogan kickstarted a pop culture phenomenon with "Hulkamania" after defeating the Iron Sheik for the World Heavyweight Championship in 1984 -- a craze that never went away.

In 1996, Hulk transformed himself from hero to villain ... by creating the NWO -- New World Order -- and became Hollywood Hulk Hogan. It propelled him and professional wresting to even more fame.




Hogan had countless iconic performances ... including a matchup against Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson at WrestleMania X8 in 2002 and a face-off with Andre the Giant at WM 3 -- and had memorable feuds with Ultimate Warrior and Randy Savage.

Hulk was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. He was removed in 2015 after a scandal erupted over racists comments while he was being secretly recorded during a sexual encounter. Gawker posted the clip and Hulk subsequently sued, winning the lawsuit.

Hulk was inducted a second time in the WWE in 2020 ... this time as a member of NWO.



Hulk was the star of the 2024 Republican National Convention, when he set the room ablaze with theatrics.

Hulk had an amazingly successful movie career, beginning in 1982, with "Rocky III," playing the iconic character Thunderlips. He also starred in "No Holds Barred," "Suburban Commando" and "Mr. Nanny."

And there's more ... Hogan starred in the hit VH1 reality show, "Hogan Knows Best," with his family ... Linda, Nick and Brooke.

What's amazing about Hulk ... he had scores of surgeries as a result of wrestling injuries. He told Harvey during a taping of "Object-ified" he had no original body parts left.



The last time we spoke with Hulk was back in May ... as he was launching Real American Freestyle ... an amateur wrestling league. The first event is August 30th on Fox Nation.

Story developing ...

RIP

I've been a wrestling fan since a little boy. Every Saturday night, it was the racing replay from Yonkers or the Meadowlands and at midnight eastern it was the WWF on Channel 9 out of NY.

To this day I still watch the WWE. I record it and fast forward through most of it or it's the same through Netflix.

I was fortunate to see the Hulkster wrestle live once at the Struthers Field House in Struthers, Ohio. I was probably somewhere between 13-15 years old. I can't quite remember.

The place was packed as packed could get and they thought for sure the fire marshalls were going to shut it all done. I have Polaroid pictures from that show and I'm certain I have the Hulkster in those pictures.

He was a giant amongst men due to his size and physique back then, Only Andre and perhaps Big John Stud were taller.

I really wasn't a over the top Hogan fan until he went to WCW and went heel in the NWO. Yes Hogan did a lot for the business in WWF back then from the early WM shows to get the WWF in the mainstream but to me at points it was overkill. Once in WCW he had what I felt more creative and while his contract allowed that, he took advantage of it. I've always loved the NWO and outside of the 4 Horsemen that had to be one of the greatest factions of all time.

Most people and history credit Cyndi Lauper with the Rock and Wrestling Connection as it helped MTV get to a new audience but it also fueled the WWF to a much bigger audience. The central characters involved Hulk Hogan and Mr T along with Roddy Piper and Cowboy Bob Orton. Hulkster once again helped McMahon get the company over.

He was great with kids and although he had some low lights - steroid trials, divorces, sex tape etc, his highs far outweighed the lows.

He will go down as the top performer in wrestling history and I don't think anyone will ever top what he did to help put wrestling on a national level but a world level as well.

Ask anyone who Hulk is and they say Hogan.

RIP Terry and thanks for your contributions to the sports entertainment business.