Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan dies after suffering cardiac arrest: police

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan has died at age 71, according to multiple reports.

TMZ was first to report on Hogan’s death Thursday morning, saying emergency medical crews were seen outside of his Clearwater, Florida, home.

Police told Nexstar’s WFLA that officers were called to the home where Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, suffered a cardiac arrest just before 10 a.m. He was taken to Morton Plant Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The WWE issued a statement Thursday, saying it was “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 statement continued. “WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans.”

Hogan had made occasional non-wrestling appearances on WWE programming after stepping away from the ring, most recently in January to promote his Real American Beer company.

Fellow WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair said Thursday he was “absolutely shocked to hear about the passing of my close friend.”

“Hulk has been by my side since we started in the wrestling business,” he wrote on X. “An incredible athlete, talent, friend, and father! Our friendship has meant the world to me. He was always there for me even when I didn’t ask for him to be. He was one of the first to visit me when I was in the hospital with a 2% chance of living, and he prayed by my bedside. Hulk also lent me money when Reid was sick. Hulkster, no one will ever compare to you! Rest in peace my friend!”

Hogan was regarded as one of the most popular professional wrestlers of all time after rocketing to stardom with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) in the 1980s.

He was the main draw for the first WrestleMania in 1985 and was a fixture for years, facing everyone from Andre The Giant and Randy Savage to The Rock and even company chairman Vince McMahon.

Hogan, who grew up in Tampa, won at least six WWE championships and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.

Outside of the ring, Hogan appeared in numerous movies and television shows, including a reality show about his life on VH1, “Hogan Knows Best.” He had also recently hinted at political aspirations. Last June, Hogan told Nexstar’s NewsNation that he could offer 12 “good years” of leadership if elected to political office.

“If I was the VP, and then all of a sudden I roll right into that top spot, four years later … you get 12 good years out of me,” Hogan said. “And then all of a sudden, we would really be on track.”

While he said at the time that, when choosing between then-presidential nominee Donald Trump and sitting President Joe Biden, he would “probably have to put myself in there somewhere,” he later went on to campaign for Trump.

Less than a month after speaking with NewsNation, Hogan took the stage at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee to give a passionate speech to a loud and enthusiastic crowd.

Hogan, speaking of the 2024 election, said he had seen “some great tag teams” in his career but saw the “greatest tag team of my life,” referring to Trump and his running mate JD Vance.

Vance, on Thursday afternoon, called Hogan a “great American icon” and “one of the first people I ever truly admired as a kid.”

“The last time I saw him we promised we’d get beers together next time we saw each other,” Vance wrote in a post shared to X. “The next time will have to be on the other side, my friend! Rest in peace.”

Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., also shared a tribute to Hogan on Thursday, writing “R.I.P to a legend.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.