The former professional wrestler Hulk Hogan, whose larger-than-life persona and electric charisma turned professional wrestling into a must-watch spectacle, passed away. He was 71 years old.
Hogan later died peacefully in his house in Clearwater, Florida, on Thursday morning, his long-time manager Chris Volo said. In his last moments he was surrounded by family and loved ones.
Volo described it as a massive loss not only to wrestling but also to pop culture. Millions of people looked on Terry as a real-life superhero, and he loved his audiences just as they loved him.
A Birth of Superstar
Terry Bollea was born in 1953 in the city of Augusta, Georgia, and found his love in wrestling life in the late 1970s, after which he acquired the bigger-than-life character of Hulk Hogan, a musclebound, blonde-moustached muscle machine who ripped shirts, flexed muscles, and shouted to fans to say their prayers and take their vitamins.
However, it was during the 1980s and early 90s that Hogan really burst onto the scene to establish himself as the icon of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), today known as the WWE.
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A wrestler with an identifiable red-and-yellow outfit, a husky voice, and the role of a good guy, Hogan starred in numerous WrestleMania events and contributed to the popularization of professional wrestling in the houses of America.
At the height of his fame, Hogan was not just a wrestler but a pop-culture figure featured on lunchboxes, action figures, cartoons, and even ice cream bars.
His theme song, Real American, turned into a song not only in the arena but also with devotees of any age that recognized him to be a strong icon of perseverance and power.
Ring to the Big Screen
Hogan did not just make his influences in the squared circle. He appeared in a number of television and movies, his most iconic role was that of Thunderlips in Rocky III (1982) where he engaged in a charity fight with Rocky Balboa played by Sylvester Stallone. That instant is what established Hogan in pop-culture outside of wrestling.
He subsequently starred in No Holds Barred, Suburban Commando, and Mr. Nanny, which all cashed in on his combination of tough-guy toughness and comic personality.
In the mid-2000s, Hogan debuted in reality television on VH1 with Hogan Knows Best, which detailed the highs and lows of his then family life (comprising his then-wife, Linda Hogan, daughter Brooke, and son Nick).
The show provided viewers with a closer look at the man behind the legend.
Personal Lows and Rescues
Hogan was a strong man in society but in the real sense, he experienced some problems in his life.
In 2007, the family received a blow as son Nick got severely injured in a car accident that also severely injured a passenger and had legal repercussions. Later in the same year, Linda sought divorce following over twenty years of marriage.
Another point on which Hogan was controversial was the 2010s leaked tapes and off-color remarks about race that caused a temporary break with WWE. His reputation was damaged, but later, he publicly apologized and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2018.
All these failures notwithstanding, Hogan was still an idol to many fans who had grown up chanting his name and imitating his trademark ear-cup pose.
An Eternal Testament
Hulk Hogan took place in the history of professional wrestling as one of the most recognizable and influential faces during a 40-year career. A six-time WWE champion, a WCW World Heavyweight champion, and a mainstay of the infamous nWo (New World Order) in the 90s wrestling boom.
Hogan became the first exposure to wrestling to many a person and gave them a window to the wild and theatric world of wrestling and suplexes and body slams and plots that erased the boundaries of reality and entertainment.
After his death, a short statement was issued by WWE:
Hulk Hogan was not simply one more wrestler, he was a world wide phenomenon. WWE would like to feel sorry about the loss of the Bollea family and all the fans worldwide.”
Recalling the Hulkster
Actor and close friend Sylvester Stallone posted this statement on social media:
Terry was a champion in all aspects. In the ring, on the screen, and in life. By being what he was, he offered hope and strength to the people. I will never forget how we spent time together. Goodnight, brother.
Fans all over the world are starting to pay their respects, sharing videos of some of his greatest matches, most memorable promos, and moments that became part of their childhood.
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Scores of these fans have paid tribute to the man who used to ask the question, What are you going to do when Hulkamania runs wild on you? by flocking to their local wrestling gyms and arenas.
Now that the world has lost one of the most prominent icons of all time in wrestling, one question remains evident: Hulk Hogan is dead, but Hulkamania will never die.
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