WtrsHulk Hogan, born Terry Bollea, was the biggest professional wrestling star of the 1980s and 1990s, becoming a pop culture icon far beyond the ring.
He made his wrestling debut in 1977 and quickly rose to prominence, becoming the defining figure in the industry. Known for his signature red and yellow outfits, “Real American” entrance music, and his army of “Hulkamaniac” fans, Hogan continued wrestling into his 50s.
In 2018, he was reinstated into the WWE Hall of Fame after being previously removed for using a racial slur.
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Health Issues and Surgeries
Speculation about Hogan’s health had been growing in recent months. In May, it was widely reported that he had undergone neck surgery. By June, a representative told TMZ Sports that while Hogan had been dealing with some ailments, he was “back to moving” after recovering.
In an interview last year with YouTuber and wrestler Logan Paul, Hogan revealed he had undergone at least 25 surgeries over the past decade.
“I’ve had like 25 surgeries in the last 10 years,” he said. “Ten back surgeries, both knees and both hips replaced, shoulders – everything.”
WrestleMania Moments
WWE’s flagship event, WrestleMania, might not have become what it is today without Hogan’s star power. He headlined the first WrestleMania in 1985 and continued to be a major draw for years.
One of the most memorable matches came at WrestleMania V in Atlantic City, where “The Mega Powers explode” saw Hogan defeat former tag team partner “Macho Man” Randy Savage for the World Heavyweight Championship.
However, at WrestleMania VI in Toronto, Hogan suffered a rare clean pinfall loss to the Ultimate Warrior in a historic title-for-title match.
Hogan’s final WWE match came at SummerSlam 2006, where he defeated “The Legend Killer” Randy Orton.
Tributes Pour In
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted “RIP” on X, along with a photo of Hogan waving the American flag in the ring, surrounded by fans.
Donald Trump Jr. also paid tribute, writing “R.I.P to a legend” alongside a selfie of himself and Hogan taken at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Hogan had spoken at the convention and publicly supported Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.
CONCLAVENG
