Hulk Hogan, Wrestling Legend and Pop Culture Icon, Dies at 71 – Cause Revealed

Hulk Hogan, one of the most famous wrestlers in history, has died at the age of 71. TMZ reported that Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, had a heart attack at his home in Clearwater, Florida, on Thursday. He was taken to the hospital but didn’t survive.

Hogan was more than just a wrestling star, he was a global icon. He became the face of wrestling in the 1980s, when “Hulkamania” took over TV screens and helped launch the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE) into the mainstream. He was loud, flashy, and larger than life, and fans couldn’t get enough.

His career in the ring lasted from 1977 to 2012. In his early days with WWE, he was the ultimate good guy. He won the heavyweight championship six times and had some of the most memorable moments in wrestling history. One of them was when he picked up and slammed Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III — a moment fans still talk about. Another one of their matches, aired in 1988, still holds the record for most-watched wrestling match on U.S. television, with 33 million viewers.

Later, in 1994, Hogan made a big move to WCW and shocked fans by turning into a villain. He called himself “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan and led the New World Order, one of the most popular wrestling groups ever. He won six more world titles there and helped WCW beat WWE in TV ratings for more than a year and a half straight.

Hogan was put into the WWE Hall of Fame twice, once in 2005 and again in 2020 with the nWo. Outside of wrestling, he acted in movies like Rocky III and No Holds Barred and had his own reality TV show, Hogan Knows Best.

But Hogan’s life wasn’t without controversy. Years ago, a leaked tape showed him using racial slurs, which caused major backlash. He later won a lawsuit against the website Gawker, which had published the tape. His political views also sparked debates and sometimes split his fanbase.

He returned to WWE as a brand ambassador not long ago, but during the debut of Monday Night Raw on Netflix this past January, fans in Los Angeles booed him so loudly that WWE pulled back on future appearances.

Still, Hogan stayed active. Just this April, he helped launch Real American Beer and was involved in a new amateur wrestling company called Real American Freestyle, where he was serving as commissioner. The company’s first event was planned for later this year.

Hulk Hogan changed wrestling forever. His voice, his look, and his catchphrases became part of pop culture. Fans around the world knew him, and whether they cheered or booed, they were always watching.

As Hogan once said in the ring: “Whatcha gonna do when Hulkamania runs wild on you?”

Now, the world says goodbye to one of wrestling’s biggest names ever. Cause of death was first reported by TMZ Sports.

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