The world of professional wrestling lost one of its biggest stars, as Hulk Hogan passed away at 71 due to a cardiac arrest. A 911 call was made from his residence in Clearwater, Florida, and the former WWE champion was treated by the Fire and Rescue personnel before being taken to the hospital, where he was ultimately pronounced dead. Hogan had recently gone through neck surgery, and many believed that his health had since been deteriorating, rumours that had been laid to rest by his wife, who stated that he was doing well and recovering.
The ‘True American’ was an icon in every sense of the word and was probably one of the first professional wrestlers to break the usual demographic restraints and cater to the entire family. Because of ‘Hulkamania,’ the wrestler became the literal definition of what it meant to be in sports entertainment. His bandana, moustache, and yellow shirt that he would rip after his entry into the ring became his calling card, and his style of interacting with the crowd while performing was something that has been imitated ever since.
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Hulk Hogan was a 12-time world champion and fought some of the biggest legends of the game, including Andre the Giant, Roddy Piper, Randy Savage, The Ultimate Warrior, and The Rock. He became Vince McMahon’s money maker, and Vince would keep bringing him back over the years to keep the crowd on their feet. His stint with the NWO was legendary, as he went toe-to-toe with that generation’s superstars and still held his own in the ring.
He got inducted twice into the WWE Hall of Fame, once in 2005 and again in 2020. He lost his place the first time after a scandal broke out regarding some of his comments, but Hogan won the case in court and was reinstated.
Hulk Hogan even appeared in several Hollywood movies, including Rocky 3, No Holds Barred, Suburban Commando, and Mr. Nanny.
