A Larger-Than-Life Figure Who Transcended Wrestling
In the 1980s and 1990s, Bollea’s larger-than-life persona, both inside and outside the squared circle, made him a household name and a mainstream celebrity. His catchphrases, such as boasts of possessing “24-inch pythons” for arms and reminders to “say your prayers and eat your vitamins,” resonated with millions, turning him into a cultural icon. He leveraged his wrestling fame into a successful crossover career, starring in movies and gaining worldwide recognition.
"WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away. One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s,” the company stated in a post on X. “WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans.”
According to a statement from the city of Clearwater, Florida, emergency services were dispatched to Bollea’s home after a report of an individual in cardiac arrest. He received treatment from fire and rescue crews upon their arrival and was then transported to Morton Plant Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. TMZ was the first to report this development.
The Golden Era and a Shocking Shift
Bollea was instrumental in professional wrestling's "golden era" of the 1980s. His immense popularity and legendary rivalries with figures like “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, André the Giant (André Rene Roussimoff), and “Macho Man” Randy Savage were central to professional wrestling evolving into a multi-billion-dollar industry during this period.
His move from the then-World Wrestling Federation (WWF) to World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in the mid-1990s sent shockwaves throughout the wrestling world. This "heel turn"—the wrestling term for a hero transforming into a villain—in 1996 and his subsequent run as “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan remains one of the most memorable chapters in wrestling history. This bold character change was instrumental in WCW surpassing WWE in television ratings for 83 consecutive weeks, marking the last time WWE trailed another wrestling company in traditional popularity metrics.
However, Bollea’s tenure in WCW eventually soured, particularly with the infamous “Finger Poke of Doom.” This incident, where wrestler Kevin Nash intentionally fell after a light poke from Bollea, allowing Hollywood Hogan to win the WCW championship, inadvertently exposed the predetermined nature of professional wrestling in a way that profoundly alienated fans. This moment is often cited as a key factor that plunged WCW into a crisis, ultimately leading to its acquisition by WWE for a comparatively modest sum.
Bollea eventually made a full-time return to WWE in the early 2000s, highlighted by a celebrated match against Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson at WrestleMania X8. This iconic encounter between two of wrestling’s biggest-ever stars created an electric atmosphere at Toronto’s Rogers Centre (then the SkyDome).
After a few more years with WWE, "The Hulkster" once again moved to a rival promotion, signing with Total Nonstop Action (TNA) wrestling in 2010. However, his time with TNA did not achieve the same level of success; his prominence, along with other older wrestling stars, often came at the expense of younger talent, leading to disillusionment within the company. He departed TNA after three years, failing to replicate the impact of his early WCW run.
Bollea’s legacy was significantly tarnished in 2015 when a video surfaced showing him making racial slurs. The WWE Hall of Famer was caught on tape using offensive language, including the n-word, in reference to his daughter Brooke's dating life. In response, WWE terminated his contract and removed many mentions of him from their website.
Bollea publicly apologized for his comments, which he stated were recorded in an "unauthorized sex tape," as reported by the Enquirer. He acknowledged his wrongdoing, saying, “Eight years ago, I used offensive language during a conversation. It was unacceptable for me to have used that offensive language; there is no excuse for it; and I apologize for having done it.”
This very sex tape also played a central role in the downfall of Gawker, an online media outlet known for its acerbic commentary on pop culture and public figures. Gawker's publication of the tape led to a prolonged lawsuit over invasion of privacy, resulting in a $115 million judgment that bankrupted the website and became a landmark case in media law.
Despite Bollea reportedly apologizing to the WWE locker room, many wrestlers never fully forgave him. His subsequent appearances with the company—returning in an on-air capacity in 2019 and making sporadic appearances until his death—often received mixed reactions from crowds, sometimes even outright boos.
Bollea's passing comes just over a month before the inaugural event of his new wrestling venture, Real American Freestyle. This company aimed to provide a larger platform for traditional wrestling, akin to Olympic-style competition rather than WWE's sports entertainment format. The initial event was scheduled for August 30. As of early Thursday afternoon, the company has not issued a statement regarding Bollea's death.