Wrestling legen Hulk Hogan has died aged 71. From the mustache, the bandana, the ripped yellow tee, to the roar of “Whatcha gonna do when Hulkamania runs wild on you?!”
If you grew up in the 80s or 90s, chances are you didn’t just watch Hulk Hogan — you believed in him. This week, that era came to a close. Terry Bollea, better known to the world as Hulk Hogan, died of cardiac arrest at his home in Clearwater, Florida. He was 71.
WWE confirmed the news and tributes have poured in from across the globe, from wrestlers and actors to politicians and everyday fans who still remember their childhood heroes stepping into the ring. Hogan didn’t just dominate pro wrestling. He defined it.
From Wrestler to Global Brand
Hogan wasn’t just a performer. He was a prototype for the modern personal brand.
Before social media influencers, there was Hogan. Before billion-dollar sports entertainment empires, there was Hulkamania. He was wrestling’s first crossover icon, leaping from ring ropes to Hollywood film sets, toy shelves, and Saturday morning cartoons.
- Debuted in 1979, exploded into fame during the Hulkamania era of the 80s
- Headlined eight WrestleManias and became a 12-time world champion
- Co-founded the New World Order (nWo) during his WCW run, changing the wrestling narrative forever
- Inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame twice — once solo (2005), once with nWo (2020)
He didn’t just ride the pop culture wave. He was the wave.
The Rise, Fall, and Reinvention
Like any outsized persona, Hogan’s career wasn’t without controversy. In fact, his life was almost mythological in structure — heroic rise, dramatic fall, and polarizing rebirth.
- In 2015, a leaked racist rant nearly erased his legacy. WWE cut ties. Fans were split. Sponsors ran.
- A sex-tape lawsuit against Gawker ended in a $140 million judgment, shuttering the site and setting new standards for privacy and media accountability
- By 2018, WWE cautiously brought him back. Hogan embraced his conservative identity, even appearing at the 2024 Republican National Convention
- Like many of his wrestling arcs, real-life Terry Bollea turned heel, then sought redemption
Love him or not, you couldn’t ignore him.
Why Hogan Still Matters
This isn’t just about wrestling. Hogan’s story is a blueprint for how entertainment, identity, and media evolve — something Geekhub readers know all too well.
Hogan was wrestling’s first “algorithm”
Before YouTube thumbnails and viral TikToks, Hogan mastered how to capture attention, repeat a narrative, and sell a persona across platforms. He knew how to turn volume into value. He was a human headline machine.
Wrestling as transmedia storytelling
WWE built narratives like comic books. Heroes. Villains. Betrayals. Comebacks. Hogan was the Captain America and Lex Luthor of that world, depending on which year you were watching. Wrestling was the multiverse long before Marvel got serious about it.
Proto-influencer power
From energy drinks to action figures to awkward reality TV cameos, Hogan showed what it meant to monetize a personal brand before branding was even a conversation.
Pop culture lesson plan
In many ways, he’s a case study in:
- The limits of celebrity redemption
- The monetization of masculinity
- The fragility of legacy in the digital age
A Legend Signs Off
“Hulk Hogan was the reason I got into wrestling. He was larger than life.”
— Ric Flair, fellow wrestling legend
“He was MAGA all the way.”
— Donald Trump
“A champion and a friend.”
— Sylvester Stallone
Reactions to his death reflect the complicated man he was. A hero to many. A cautionary tale to others. But ultimately, a cultural force who changed how we experience entertainment.
Final Bell
Hogan is survived by his wife, Sky Daily, and two children. His legacy — flawed, fantastic, unforgettable — will live on in the ring, on screens, in memes, and in the imaginations of millions who once said their prayers, took their vitamins, and believed in Hulkamania.
He was wrestling’s first viral icon. The blueprint. The boom. The brand.
And now… the legend who finally left the ring.
🕊️ Rest in power, Hulkster.
Adapted by Geekhub: Original story reported by The Guardian
