Terry Bollea, the famous professional wrestler known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, has died at the age of 71 due to a reported cardiac arrest, over a year and a half after he and his wife were baptized.
The celebrity news outlet posted that medics rushed to the home of Hogan in Clearwater, Florida, early Thursday morning, responding to a “cardiac arrest.”
Hogan, who recently underwent neck surgery and reportedly experienced complications from the procedure, was pronounced dead by the time he reached the hospital.
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Hogan was a popular professional wrestler in the 1980s and 1990s, competing for what was then known as the World Wrestling Federation (now known as WWE), and held the world title multiple times. The passionate fan support for him was dubbed “Hulkamania.”
He was portrayed as a powerful and wholesome heroic character, often imploring children to “say your prayers and take your vitamins.” His entrance theme was the Rick Derringer hit song “Real American.”
Hogan also attained mainstream success, starring in several movies, commercials and television shows, including a short-lived action-adventure series titled “Thunder in Paradise.”
Due in part to the steroid abuse scandal that befell the WWF, Hogan left the company and later joined their rival World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 1994, fast becoming a main eventer.
While in WCW, Hogan changed his on-screen persona to a villainous role, serving as the leader of a faction known as the New World Order, which was formed in the summer of 1996.
While a major draw throughout his career, Hogan battled allegations from many within the industry that he held other talent back to remain a prominent figure, even after he had passed his athletic prime.
After the WWF purchased WCW in 2001, Hogan returned to the federation and wrestled for the company on and off for several years. He later returned in a non-wrestling capacity due to a series of injuries and overall wear and tear on his body.
Hogan has been open about his religious beliefs, telling Oprah in a 2013 interview that, amid personal trials, he “realized all that stuff — the peace, love, the joy, that still, small voice, the energy, that God presence — is part of who I’m meant to be.”
According to a tweet posted by Hogan in April, the wrestling star had originally accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior when he was a teenager.
“I accepted Christ as my savior at 14yrs old, and the training, prayers and vitamins kept me in the game but now that I am one with God, the main event theme of surrender, service and love makes me the Real Main Event that can slam any giant of any size through the power of my Lord and Savior and so it is, even now brother, AMEN!” he posted.
In 2015, Hogan garnered widespread outrage after a sex tape featuring him with the wife of another man, recorded three years earlier, was leaked to the press. The tape also showed him using racist language.
The controversy led WWE to temporarily cut ties with Hogan, terminating the contract they had with the former world champion and removing most on-air references to the former superstar.
“In the storm I release control, God and his Universe will sail me where he wants me to be, one love,” tweeted Hogan in 2015, responding to the backlash.
While Hogan would eventually return to WWE programming in a non-wrestling capacity, he was known to receive more negative reactions from live crowds, at times being heavily booed.
In December 2023, Hogan announced on social media that he, along with his third wife Sky Daily Hogan, had been baptized at a special ceremony held at Indian Rocks Baptist Church in Florida.
“Total surrender and dedication to Jesus is the greatest day of my life. No worries, no hate, no judgment … only love,” he tweeted at the time.
In July of last year, Hogan spoke at the main stage of the Republican National Convention, touting then presidential hopeful Donald Trump as “a real American hero.”
“As an entertainer, I tried to stay out of politics, 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,” Hogan told those gathered.
“I’m here tonight because I want the world to know that Donald Trump is a real American hero. And I’m proud to support my hero as the next president of this United States.”
