Tributes from the sports world are pouring in after hearing the news that Hulk Hogan, arguably the most iconic and popular performer in the history of professional wrestling, has died at the age of 71.
TMZ reported that first responders arrived at his home in Clearwater, Florida after receiving reports of a ‘cardiac arrest’. He was taken out of his home on a stretcher and brought to an ambulance where he was transported to a hospital.
This came weeks after his wife, Sky, swatted aside rumors that Hogan was on his ‘deathbed’. She said his heart was ‘strong’ after he underwent surgery.
Within minutes of the news trickling through, fans and sports stars paid tribute to the man, born Terry Bollea, who transcended wrestling to become a 1980s pop culture icon.
Donald Trump Jr posted to X, ‘R.I.P to a legend’ and added a selfie of himself with the wrestling star.
Fellow wrestling icon Ric Flair wrote, ‘I Am Absolutely Shocked To Hear About The Passing Of My Close Friend @HulkHogan! Hulk Has Been By My Side Since We Started In The Wrestling Business. An Incredible Athlete, Talent, Friend, And Father! Our Friendship Has Meant The World To Me.
The sports world paid tribute to iconic wrestler Hulk Hogan, who died at the age of 71
Hogan’s rise to popularity catapulted professional wrestling into the mainstream and made him a 1980s pop culture icon in the process, helping to pave the way for WWE to be what it is today
Hogan pictured alongside Donald Trump in Atlantic City in 1987. Hogan would become one of Trump’s biggest supporters throughout his three runs for President of the United States.
Donald Trump Jr. posted this image of Hogan in tribute to the late wrestler
‘He Was Always There For Me Even When I Didn’t Ask For Him To Be. He Was One Of The First To Visit Me When I Was In The Hospital With A 2% Chance Of Living, And He Prayed By My Bedside. Hulk Also Lent Me Money When Reid Was Sick. Hulkster, No One Will Ever Compare To You! Rest In Peace My Friend!’
The official X account from the WWE said, ‘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.’
Ric’s daughter, former WWE women’s world champion Charlotte Flair also posted a tribute: ‘When I nearly lost my dad 8 years ago, one of the few people who was there for all of it was Hulk Hogan. My heart breaks for Nick and Brooke. Rest in peace, brother.’
Former MLB pitcher John Rocker posted, ‘A patriot, and a true American. RIP Hulk Hogan.’
‘Prayers up for the family, friends and loved ones of Hulk Hogan who has passed away at 71 years old,’ wrote former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III.
‘Hard to describe this man’s dominance in our society during my childhood years. RIP to the Hulkster,’ MSNBC’s Sam Stein posted.
Other tributes reflected some of the more unsavory parts of Hogan’s legacy: including allegations of racism, his foiling of the WWE star’s plan to unionize, and his relentless support of President Donald Trump.
The Athletic’s Chris Vannini remarked, ‘Hulk Hogan leaves such a complicated legacy. He changed the entertainment business. He changed the journalism business. He did bad things and good things. One of the two greatest pro wrestlers ever, and he never stopped selling the gimmick.’
Tributes to Hogan were mixed, with some reflecting the controversial nature of his life
Former college basketball star and current analyst Travonne Edwards remarked, ‘hulk hogan was a fictional hero in my world until he wasn’t. thanks for the good years as the character/wrestler but to terry the man, i got no words for you ‘brother”‘.
One fan tribute said, ‘Hulk Hogan is probably the best example of a celebrity that was absolutely worshipped by kids in the 80s and 90s then turned out to be the biggest a**hole imaginable’.
Writer Trevor Dame posted, ‘Hulk Hogan is one of the biggest wrestling stars of all time. One of the few who rose above the level of “One of your favorite wrestlers” to “One of your pop culture heroes, period” to a generation. Also: a pretty awful person. Beware of coverage this week that ignores that.’
Dame also noted, ‘It’s kind of insane that Hulk Hogan, one of the 4 or 5 wrestlers that have an honest case to being the biggest star in wrestling history, his final appearance in WWE is going to go down as getting booed out of the building as he tries to sell beer.’
Many other tweets outright celebrated the death of Hogan, due to his controversial words and actions.
Hogan is survived by his third wife Sky, who he wed in 2023, children Brooke, 37, and Nick, 34, who he shared with first wife Linda Claridge, and two grandchildren.
DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for Hulk Hogan for comment and has yet to hear back.
Hogan had previously opened up about undergoing ’25 surgeries in the past decade.’
Hogan is pictured at Trump’s campaign rally in NYC in October 2024
The star is pictured with daughter Brooke, second ex wife Linda and son Nick in 2005
The star looked happy and healthy as he posed up with Governor Ron Desantis in May 2025 in his final photos
Hogan posed for a fun group snap in May
Speaking on Jake Paul’s IMPAULSIVE podcast last year, he said: ‘Ten of them were back surgeries. I’ve had both knees and hips replaced, shoulders — everything.’
Fans were left concerned for Hogan when he appeared as a special guest on Fox & Friends at the start of May while sporting a worrying new look.
Renowned for his deep tan, the WWE great’s skin looked particularly weathered on air, while his usual white beard appeared to be dyed black despite his goatee and hair being left white – making for a strange contrast.
The odd TV cameo came just over a month after his family became embroiled in a bitter public dispute after ex-wife Linda accused him of being ‘complete liar’ and ‘sex addict’
In the 1980s, Hogan – known for his signature mustache and headscarf – was the driving force behind WWE’s rise from a regional promotion around New York to an international brand.
Hogan kickstarted ‘Hulkamania’ after defeating the Iron Sheik for the World Heavyweight Championship in 1984.
He won at least six WWE championships and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.
Hogan was the main draw for the first WrestleMania in 1985 and was a fixture for years, facing everyone from Andre The Giant and Randy Savage to The Rock and even company chairman Vince McMahon.
Hogan kickstarted ‘Hulkamania’ after defeating the Iron Sheik for the World Heavyweight Championship in 1984
Hogan´s public persona transcended the ring, making him a household name. He appeared in numerous movies – including the third Rocky film in 1982, where he played wrestler Thunderlips, who took on Stallone’s protagonist
He won at least six WWE championships and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. – pictured 1985
Hogan was also a celebrity outside the wrestling world, appearing in numerous movies and television shows, including a reality show about his life on VH1, Hogan Knows Best.
Hogan’s public persona transcended the ring, making him a household name. He appeared in numerous movies – including the third Rocky film in 1982, where he played wrestler Thunderlips, who took on Stallone’s protagonist.
Hogan later claimed the role had got him fired from the WWF – saying: ‘Back then, ‘78, ‘79, if you were a wrestler, you didn’t do TV. You didn’t go do a movie.’
The star reportedly put three men in the hospital while filming his fight scene.
But his legacy was tainted when he was chucked out of the WWE in 2015 after a tape surfaced of him making racist remarks, including the use of the n-word.
In a video made public by The National Enquirer, Hogan said: ‘I guess we’re all a little racist’ and used the n-word while referring to his daughter’s love life, and includes him repeating the phrase ‘f***ing n******’ several times.
According to Radar, the audio featured him using a number of racist remarks in a rant about his daughter Brooke who was trying to launch a music career, to Heather Clem, the wife of a friend.
He is reported to have said that ‘a black billionaire guy’ had offered to bankroll her, then speculated about her sex life’.
Hogan is seen in action with Karl Malone in 1998
The star became the most famous wrestling star ever – pictured 1990
Fellow wrestling icon Ric Flair wrote, ‘ I Am Absolutely Shocked To Hear About The Passing Of My Close Friend @HulkHogan!’ – pictured in the 1990s
Hogan told Clem: ‘I don’t know if Brooke was f***ing the black guy’s son… I mean, I don’t have double standards.
‘I mean, I am a racist, to a point, f***ing n******. But then when it comes to nice people and s***, and whatever.’
He continued: ‘I mean, I’d rather if she was going to f*** some n*****, I’d rather have her marry an 8-foot-tall n***** worth a hundred million dollars! Like a basketball player! I guess we’re all a little racist. F***ing n*****.’
Back in 2015, Hogan told Good Morning America he was at an all-time low as he begged his former legion of fans to take him back.
‘Please forgive me,’ the 12-time world champ pleaded – both to America as a whole and to his daughter Brooke Hogan, whose boyfriend was the focus of the then 62 year old’s racist tirade.
‘If anybody should have disowned me it should have been her,’ said Hogan. ‘I was upset about something that happened between her and her boyfriend.’
Apologizing at the time, he told outlet People: ‘Eight years ago I used offensive language during a conversation.
‘It was unacceptable for me to have used that offensive language; there is no excuse for it; and I apologize for having done it.’
He wed second wife Jennifer McDaniel from 2010-2021 – pictured 2016
He would then in 2023 describe the controversy as ‘a speed bump’ and claimed it was ‘not who I was’
He was banished from WWE for three years before being welcomed back into the Hall of fame in 2018, having described the incident as the ‘biggest mistake’ of his life but many were not happy with his ‘apology’ when he was brought back.
In 2016, a Florida jury awarded Hogan $115 million in his sex tape lawsuit against Gawker Media. Hogan sued after Gawker in 2012 posted a video of him having sex with his former best friend´s wife. Hogan contended the post violated his privacy.
More recently, Hogan became a celebrity endorser for Trump’s presidential campaign in the United States, which he went on to win.
In January, Hogan ripped off his sleeves on Fox News as he went full ‘Trumpamania’ at the inaugural ball.
Along with his health issues, Hogan was embroiled in family drama in his last few months as ex Linda claimed the family is ‘in the worst mess’ after daughter Brooke cut both parents out of her life,
Brooke’s husband has also taken sly shots at his wife’s parents while leaping to her defense in the midst of the bitter family feud.
Hogan was married to second wife Jennifer McDaniel from 2010 to 2021.
