Hulk Hogan dead at 71 after weeks of ‘health issue’ rumors as tributes pour in for WWE legend: Live updates

WWE icon Hulk Hogan died early Thursday morning after medics were dispatched to his Clearwater, Florida home, per TMZ.

Operators stated they were called to the wrestling legend’s home regarding a cardiac arrest.

Police cars and EMTs were parked outside Hogan’s home, with the reality star carried onto a stretcher and into an ambulance.

Fellow WWE legend Jake The Snake shared a tribute to Hulk Hogan.

‘It’s hard to put into words what Terry “Hulk Hogan” Bollea meant to professional wrestling and entertainment,’ he said on X.

‘He may be gone, but his memory and legacy will live forever. RIP Hulkster.’

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth posted a photo of Hulk Hogan waving the American flag after his death.

‘RIP,’ Hegseth captioned the post.

Sylvester Stallone shared a tribute to his Rocky III co-star Hulk Hogan after his death on Thursday.

‘I had the pleasure of meeting this brilliant personality and showman when he was 26 years old,’ Stallone said on Instagram.

‘He was absolutely wonderful and his amazing skill made Rocky three incredibly special. My heart breaks. I think that he’s gone…’

Shortly after the news broke of Hulk Hogan’s passing, John Cena shared a photo of the wrestling legend.

Radio personality Bubba the Love Sponge and his co-host Lummy claimed that Hogan was in such bad health that he ‘might not make it’ and his family had been called in to say their goodbyes.

‘Hogan’s not doing well. He can’t speak. His trachea or whatever was damaged, and he’s having problems, and it does not look good. It does not look at all,’ Lummy said.

However, at the time, the Daily Mail reported that he was only in the hospital to address health problems he’s struggled with for years.

Audio of the 911 call as emergency services rushed to Hulk Hogan’s Florida home has emerged following his death.

Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, was locked in a family feud with his first wife and daughter in the months before his death.

His ex-wife, Linda, posted a tearful video on Instagram in March, blaming him for the breakdown of her relationship with their daughter, Brooke.

Linda, who was married to Hogan for 26 years until 2009, claimed Hogan was a ‘complete liar [and] a sex addict’ who had left their family in the ‘worst mess.’

It sparked a fierce back-and-forth with Brooke also chiming in to insist that her father was not the only reason she had cut contact with her mother.

While Brooke has never fully confirmed her reasons for losing touch with either parent, she said this weekend that she had been ‘verbally and mentally abused since childhood’. She made sure to stress that the allegations were ‘not pointed at either person.’

Sources told the Daily Mail that the 71-year-old was ‘heartbroken’ about the family feud and was hoping to speak to Brooke directly and ‘make amends’ for past behavior.

Wrestling icon Ric Flair was stunned when contacted by the Daily Mail.

Vice President JD Vance shared a heartfelt tribute to the WWE icon.

‘Hulk Hogan was a great American icon. One of the first people I ever truly admired as a kid,’ Vance said on X.

‘The last time I saw him we promised we’d get beers together next time we saw each other.

‘The next time will have to be on the other side, my friend! Rest in peace.’

Wrestling icon Hulk Hogan married his third wife, Sky Daily, at a Florida ceremony on September 22, 2023.

Hogan and Daily began dating in early 2022 after divorcing his second wife.

Daily Mail was previously told the besotted Hulkster showered the Florida mom-of-three with flowers, romantic dates, and FaceTime calls after meeting her at a friend’s party.

Hogan had proposed to the yoga instructor with a ‘six-carat’ diamond engagement ring worth $100k.

Notably, Hogan’s daughter, Brooke, did not attend their nuptials.

In an Instagram statement explaining her absence, she revealed: ‘For my own journey to healing and happiness, I have chosen to create some distance between myself and my family, and am focusing on people and things that heal my heart and align with my own personal beliefs, goals, and values.’

Professional wrestler Ryback posted on X honoring Hulk Hogan.

‘Sending positive thoughts, energy, and prayers to Hulk Hogan’s family and close friends during this time,’ he said.

‘Thank you for all the great memories and everything you gave to the business. Every encounter I had left a positive mark. Rest in power, brother.’

Hulk Hogan is survived by his two children Brooke, 37, and Nick, 34.

The television personality fathered his two kids with ex-wife Linda Hogan, whom he was married to from 1983 to July 2009, when their divorce was finalized.

His first child, daughter Brooke was born May 5, 1988 in Tampa, Florida.

Brooke became a celebrity in her own right as a teenager when she featured heavily on her father’s VH1 reality show Hogan Knows Best from 2005 to 2007.

She proved to be a captivating enough screen presence that she eventually got her own spin-off show Brooke Knows Best, which ran from 2008 to 2009.

A decade ago, her name was dragged into the explosive scandal that torpedoed Hulk’s career and saw him fired from World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).

Hogan’s son Nick was born on July 27, 1990 in Los Angeles. He appeared on Hogan Knows Best alongside his sister.

Like his sister, Nick is also a reality television personality.

As for his personal life, he was previously in a longterm relationship with model Breana Tiesi from 2008 and 2015, followed by a relationship with Instagram model Brit Manuela between 2017 and 2018. Since 2019, he has been dating Tana Lea.

In his youth, Nick was sentenced to eight months in prison after a car crash in 2007.

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.

Hogan was on the show to promote his new wrestling league but appeared to ramble as the interview went on.

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.’

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson shared a tribute to the wrestling icon.

‘We all have fond memories of @HulkHogan. From my childhood in the ‘80s, to campaigning with him last year, I always saw him as a giant in stature and in life. May he rest in peace,’ Johnson said.

Fellow wrestling great Ric Flair shared a tribute post to Hulk Hogan on Thursday.

‘I am absolutely shocked to hear about the passing of my close friend @hulkhogan,’ Flair said on X.

‘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.

‘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 two percent 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!’

In the weeks leading up to his death, rumors circulated that Hulk Hogan was on his deathbed.

While representatives for Hogan squased those claims, he had been in the hospital to address health problems he’s struggled with for years.

Hogan – whose real name is Terry Bollea – underwent neck surgery in May after having a ‘little fusion procedure’ to make him ‘feel a little better.’

He did spark fears over his health after making a bizarre appearance on Fox News earlier this year.

Fans were left concerned when he appeared as a special guest on Fox & Friends at the start of May 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.

Hulk Hogan’s ex-wife and the mother of his two children, Linda Hogan, shared a sweet, reminiscent photo of the couple just days before his death.

On July 20, Linda posted a picture on Instagram of the former couple with the caption, ‘The good old days!’

A month before his unexpected passing, Hulk Hogan joined a team set to open a New York City sports bar in his likeness.

The bar will be called ‘Slam’ and is located at the intersection of West 31st Street and Eighth Avenue in Manhattan with windows facing the world-famous Madison Square Garden, where several of Hogan’s defining moments inside the squared circle took place.

The $7million project will be a multi-floor establishment where his fans can eat your vitamins, say their prayers, and drink plenty of liquor.

WWE star Charlotte Flair posted a heartfelt tribute to Hulk Hogan.

‘When I nearly lost my dad 8 years ago, one of the few people who was there for all of it was Hulk Hogan,’ she said on X.

‘My heart breaks for Nick and Brooke. Rest in peace, brother.’

WWE released a statement on social media confirming the death of wrestling legend Hulk Hogan.

‘WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away,’ the network said.

‘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.’

Donald Trump Jr. posted a picture with Hulk Hogan in a patriotic tribute to the WWE icon shortly after the news of his death broke.

‘R.I.P to a legend,’ the president’s son said on X.