Wrestling legend and pop culture icon Hulk Hogan, born Terry Gene Bollea, passed away at 71 after experiencing a cardiac arrest at his Florida home. As reported by TMZ, aramedics moved quickly to a medical emergency call and took the WWE Hall of Famer out of his Clearwater home on a stretcher.
The WWE made the tragic news official on social media, writing, "WWE is saddened to hear WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away. One of pop culture's most iconic figures, Hogan played an integral role in helping WWE gain international prominence during the 1980s. WWE is sending its condolences to Hogan's family, friends, and fans."
Hogan, who is mostly responsible for making professional wrestling a mainstream entertainment commodity in the 1980s and early 1990s, had been battling health issues for years. In May, he had reportedly undergone a neck surgery, and just recently, Us Weekly exposed that he had a "pretty serious" heart surgery.
"WWE is 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.
WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans."
Forged in the fire of his larger-than-life personality, iconic handlebar mustache, and indelible catchphrase, "Whatcha gonna do, brother?" His popularity skyrocketed in the 1980s, and he himself became a cultural icon, main eventing several WrestleManias and being a five-time WWF Champion, with one of them lasting 1,474 days, the longest in the WrestleMania era.
Additionally, Hogan's influence extended well beyond the ring. He acted in films, made the rounds on countless talk shows, and became an ever-present figure in American popular culture.
Fans and fellow wrestlers throughout the world are grieving the passing of the man who embodied the golden years of wrestling. Hogan's legacy continues not only with his legendary matches and charm but also with the generations of wrestlers he motivated.
He is left behind by his children and relatives, to whom the worldwide wrestling fraternity offers its sincerest condolences.