WWE legend Hulk Hogan passes away at 71

Hulk Hogan — the most famous pro wrestling star in American history who led the industry to new heights of pop culture prominence — has passed away at 71 years old.

His death was first reported by TMZ, who indicate that the cause was cardiac arrest. Hogan (Terry Bollea) had been dealing with complications from a neck fusion surgery that he underwent in May. There were rumors that he was in grave condition, but that had repeatedly been denied by Hogan’s camp.

TMZ wrote:

Medics were dispatched to the 71-year-old WWE legend’s Clearwater, Florida home early Thursday morning … with operators stating it was regarding a ‘cardiac arrest.’ We’re told a slew of police cars and EMTs were parked outside Hogan’s home … and the icon was carried on a stretcher and into an ambulance.

A star dating back to the early 1980s, Hogan played a massive role in two of wrestling’s biggest booms. He was the face of the WWF as the company’s champion during the 1980s, when WrestleMania was born and Hulkamania ran wild across the country. In the 90s, he turned heel for WCW, joining the NWO and becoming Hollywood Hogan for a run that would see WCW surpass the WWF for a period of time.

Hogan’s stardom crossed over to film, TV, and most parts of American culture. Even people who knew nothing about pro wrestling knew Hulk Hogan.

The final live appearance of Hogan’s WWE career was an unceremonious one, as he was booed at Raw’s Netflix premiere in Los Angeles this January. The booing, in part, was likely due to a racism controversy that impacted Hogan’s legacy and caused him to be removed from the WWE Hall of Fame for a period of time before being reinstated in 2018.

WWE has confirmed Hogan’s death, sending its condolences to his family, friends, and fans.

“WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away,” the company wrote. “One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans.”