Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan, whose real name is Terry Gene Bollea, has died.

He was 71.

According to TMZ, medics were dispatched to the WWE icon’s Clearwater, Florida home early Thursday morning.

The report says he suffered “cardiac arrest.”

TMZ shared further details:

We’re told a slew of police cars and EMTs were parked outside Hogan’s home … and the icon was carried on a stretcher and into an ambulance.

Just a few weeks ago, Hogan’s wife, Sky, denied rumors he was in a coma … stating his heart was “strong” as he recovered from surgeries.

ADVERTISEMENT

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.

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 gave an energetic speech at the 2024 Republican National Convention, calling President Trump a “real American hero.”

Check it out:

The New York Times wrote last year:

Hulk Hogan, the theatrical former professional wrestler, teed up former President Donald J. Trump on Thursday at the Republican National Convention with a rousing speech in which he ripped off his suit jacket and shirt, revealing a red Trump-Vance tank top to raucous cheers.

Hogan, whose real name is Terry G. Bollea, called Mr. Trump his “hero” and said that the former president would bring “America back together, one real American at a time.”

“As an entertainer, I try to stay out of politics,” said Mr. Bollea, who wore a red bandanna and had a pair of dark sunglasses propped above his head. “But after everything that’s happened to our country over the past four years, and everything that happened last weekend, I can no longer stay silent.”

Just last month, he said that he had not yet decided whom he would support in this year’s election.

ADVERTISEMENT

“I just don’t know,” Mr. Bollea said in an interview with NewsNation. He added, “I just want the best man to win.”

That changed after the assassination attempt on Mr. Trump on Saturday.

“When I saw him stand up with that fist in the air and the blood on his face — as a warrior, as a leader — I realized that’s what America needs,” Mr. Bollea said on Fox News on Thursday night before his speech.

He was rewarded with a prime-time spot on the final night of the Republican convention, serving as one of the last handful of speakers before Mr. Trump.

And Mr. Bollea spared few indulgences in revving up the crowd, speaking in the style of a Monster Jam announcer, flexing his biceps and — as “U.S.A.” chants rained down at Fiserv Forum — cupping his hand to his ear as if he couldn’t hear the cheering delegates below.

“Let Trumpmania run wild, brother!” he exclaimed. “Let Trumpmania rule again! Let Trumpmania make America great again!”

As he left the stage, he clapped, beat his chest and flexed his muscles one final time.

His remarks electrified an already ebullient crowd, spurring attendees to scream and stand on their feet. Many waved red, white and blue signs with campaign slogans reading, “Bring Back Common Sense” and “Make America Great Again.”

Watch the full speech:

 

Join The Conversation. Leave a Comment.