Terry Gene Bollea, known to millions as Hulk Hogan. The WWE Hall of Famer and creator of the iconic Hulkamania movemen has died, aged 71. TMZ reported that the Hulkster suffered a cardiac arrest at his Clearwater, Florida, home, passing away on July 24, 2025.
For many fans, Hogan wasn't just a wrestler; he was a pop culture icon at the peak of his popularity. Emerging in the 1980s, his signature blonde horseshoe mustache, red and yellow attire, and those memorable catchphrases like "Whatcha gonna do, brother?" transformed the squared circle wrestler into a global pop culture phenomenon. He headlined multiple WrestleManias, famously body-slamming André the Giant in a moment etched forever into history. If you grew up in the 80s or 90s, the Hulkster was probably inescapable, whether on your TV screen, in Saturday morning cartoons, or on lunchboxes.
But Hogan's career was more than just wholesome Hulkamania that pedaled the WWF as a loyal soldier. In a move that shocked the entire industry, he jumped ship to WCW in the mid-90s, undergoing a legendary heel turn to become "Hollywood Hulk Hogan." Founding the game-changing New World Order (nWo), he helped ignite the infamous Monday Night Wars, forever altering the landscape of professional wrestling.
Beyond the ring, his larger-than-life persona spilled into movies like "Rocky III" and even his own reality show, "Hogan Knows Best." While his later years saw various health battles, his impact on pop culture is undeniable, inspiring generations and proving that sometimes, all it takes is one person to truly dominate a genre.
Beyond the main event triumphs and "Hulkamania" running wild, Hulk Hogan's storied career wasn't without its fair share of backstage drama and real-world controversies. Long before social media, the WWE legend found himself embroiled in the infamous 1990s steroid trial involving Vince McMahon, where Hogan's testimony about past usage cast a massive shadow over the industry. In the mid-2010s a secretly recorded sex tape, leading to the highly publicized Gawker lawsuit, brought to light deeply offensive racial slurs made by Hogan. These shocking revelations led to his temporary removal from the WWE Hall of Fame and soured his final appearance within the company, being booed during Monday Night Raw's Netflix debut.
From everyone here at Epicstream.com, our deepest condolences go out to the Bollea family and all the millions of Hulkamaniacs mourning this tremendous loss. Rest in peace, Hulkster.