Wrestling Icon Hulk Hogan Dead at 71 After Cardiac Arrest

Wrestling legend and pop culture icon Hulk Hogan has died at the age of 71, TMZ Sports has learned.

Emergency responders were called to Hogan’s Clearwater, Florida home early Thursday morning following a reported cardiac arrest. Multiple police units and EMTs were seen outside the residence, and sources confirm Hogan was transported to a nearby hospital on a stretcher.

The tragic news comes just weeks after Hogan’s wife, Sky, publicly denied rumors that the WWE Hall of Famer was in a coma, insisting his heart was “strong” as he recovered from recent surgeries. Last month, reports surfaced claiming Hogan was on his “deathbed,” but insiders attributed his declining health to complications from a neck procedure he underwent in May.

Hulk Hogan — born Terry Bollea — was more than just a wrestling superstar. He revolutionized professional wrestling in the 1980s, turning it into a global, family-friendly phenomenon. With his larger-than-life persona, signature mustache, and iconic “Hulkamania” energy, he captivated audiences of all ages and brought mainstream attention to the WWE.

In a shocking move in 1996, Hogan flipped his image and became the villainous leader of the NWO (New World Order), rebranding himself as “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan. The twist not only reinvigorated his career but helped launch a new era of wrestling during the Monday Night Wars between WWE and WCW.

He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005, though controversy followed him a decade later. In 2015, Hogan was removed from the Hall of Fame after a tape surfaced of him making racist remarks during a secretly recorded sexual encounter. The clip, published by Gawker, led to a high-profile legal battle, which Hogan ultimately won.

Despite personal scandals, Hulk Hogan’s legacy in the ring remains undeniable. He was the face of an entire generation of wrestling and helped transform sports entertainment into a worldwide spectacle.

He is survived by his wife Sky and his two children, Brooke and Nick. Fans and fellow wrestlers alike are mourning the loss of one of the greatest to ever step into the squared circle.