Farewell to a Legend: Hulk Hogan Dies at 71, Leaving Behind an Immortal Wrestling Legacy"

 Farewell to a Legend: Hulk Hogan Dies at 71, Leaving Behind an Immortal Wrestling Legacy"

Terry Gene Bollea, more popular to millions as Hulk Hogan, died on July 24, 2025, at the age of 71 after experiencing a cardiac arrest at his Clearwater, Florida residence. Emergency personnel reached around 9:51 a.m., performing CPR for more than 30 minutes before he was declared deceased at Morton Plant Hospital. 

WWE confirmed his death in a statement calling him “one of pop culture's most recognizable figures,” and acknowledged his role in propelling the company to global prominence during the 1980s. Clearwater Police Department's Major Nate Burnside affirmed no signs of foul play and termed the death investigation routine. The family issued a message expressing profound sadness and asking for privacy during this time .

The Final Hours and Health Battles

Although Hogan's wife, Sky Daily, recently quashed reports of grave illness—claiming his heart was still "strong" after neck surgery in May—his unexpected collapse caught fans and co-stars by surprise. Reports say the cardiac arrest followed a period of deteriorating health, during which he was said to be breathing supplemental oxygen, had lost a considerable amount of weight, and had suffered tracheal damage. 

Hogan had just had a four-level cervical spine fusion, one of several treatments for chronic neck problems. In spite of health problems, he was still out in public and working on projects up until his last breath. 

A Storied Career: From WrestleMania to Hollywood Hogan became a household name in the 1980s WWE (then WWF), and his first world title win over The Iron Sheik at Madison Square Garden in January 1984 was the dawn of "Hulkamania" .

Headlined the inaugural WrestleMania I (1985), joined by Mr. T, seen by more than a million on closed-circuit TV.

His legendary bout vs. Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III attracted close to 80,000 people to the Pontiac Silverdome and is one of wrestling's most iconic moments .

Following his heel turn in WCW in the 1990s, he co-founded the groundbreaking nWo stable, revolutionizing professional wrestling once and for all. 

Aside from wrestling, Hogan also had a strong screen presence—most notably as "Thunderlips" in Rocky III—and appeared on pop-culture projects such as Hogan Knows Best and his products Real American Beer and Real American Freestyle, the latter of which debuted in April 2025. 

Real American Freestyle: Hogan's Last Venture In April 2025, Hogan co-founded Real American Freestyle (RAF), a new freestyle wrestling promotion looking to compensate former collegiate and Olympic wrestlers. RAF would be backed by Left Lane Capital; Chad Bronstein, its CEO; and Eric Bischoff, its CMO. For its initial event—RAF 01—on August 30, 2025, at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, the organization will be broadcast live on Fox Nation. 

Hogan was commissioner until his untimely passing; RAF plans to hold monthly shows in top cities such as Chicago, New York, and Tampa. The promotion stood for Hogan's desire to bring amateur wrestling into mainstream entertainment.Outpouring of Tributes from Across Communities

 

 Powerful Public Recollections

Donald Trump, political and longtime friend, referred to Hogan as "MAGA all the way" and complimented his toughness, intelligence, and kindness. He noted Hogan's speech at the 2024 Republican National Convention as among the highlights of that week .

Ric Flair recalled Hogan as "always there" during personal emergencies, while Charlotte Flair recounted how Hogan had stood by their family in times of utmost importance. 

The Rock (Dwayne Johnson) posted the heartwarming recollection of returning Hogan his legendary "HULKSTER" headband and gave accolades for the emotional appeal of audiences responding to Hogan's performances—even repeating "thank you for the house" as a chant of respect .

Triple H referred to Hogan as a "Superstar archetype," attributing him to making the entire business better .

Vince McMahon referred to him as "the greatest WWE Superstar of ALL TIME". 

Entertainment and Sports Voices of Grief

Public personalities from beyond wrestling took to grieving:

Cinema and reality TV personalities such as Sylvester Stallone, Arjun Kapoor, Varun Dhawan, Brooke Shields, and Jake Paul shared personal sorrow and gratitude, bespeaking Hogan's widespread cultural influence .

Halt from sports icons, such as Troy Aikman, reported that working with Hogan was "a thrill and a privilege," further solidifying his cross‑industry impact. 

Other WWE legends including Kane, Brutus Beefcake, Kevin Nash, and The Undertaker offered emotional tributes, highlighting his enduring impact in and out of the ring .

Legacy, Controversy, and Public Redemption

Hogan's legacy was riveting but sometimes tainted by controversy:

In 2015, a leaked tape emerged of Hogan using the "n-word," prompting WWE to cancel his legends contract. A star-studded lawsuit against Gawker Media ensued—he received a $115 million judgment, helping to bankrupt the site .

WWE reinstated him as an ambassador in 2018 despite the controversy, and in 2020 he was reinducted into the Hall of Fame as a member of the nWo. 

Hogan's identity continued to be closely intertwined with national identity themes—his against‑the‑odds story secured a singular position for him both as a sporting icon and cultural icon.

Looking Ahead: Annual Memory and Influence WWE is set to have tribute segments and potential memorial shows as part of its billion-dollar programming initiative.

The upcoming RAF 01 continues to be scheduled for August 30, 2025, now set to debut without Hogan—essentially making his last vision a living legacy.

Hogan is survived by his wife Sky and his children Brooke and Nick. The family has asked that they be given privacy during the wave of global mourning. Video Spotlight on His Legacy This video from Cultaholic wrestling provides instant news of Hogan's death and contains archival footage of him as in-ring character and public figure.

Conclusion: A Colossus of Entertainment

Hulk Hogan redefined being a wrestling superstar. From sparking a cultural revolution with WrestleMania and Hulkamania to creating new enterprises such as Real American Freestyle, Hogan always pushed the limits of sports entertainment. While his later years were tainted by health issues and old scandals, his scale—both in and out of the ring—is still undeniable.