Wrestling Star Hulk Hogan Dies At 71

Key Facts

Key Background

Hogan, whose real name is Terry Gene Bollea, became known as a wrestling icon after signing with WWE in 1983, winning six WWE championships and drawing massive crowds, both in-person and on television. Hogan was known for his large stature and personality—he stood 6’7 and weighed more than 300 pounds, according to his WWE bio—as well as his “Real American” brand, which was the title of his WWE theme song and inspired the names of his future business ventures. Hogan bolstered his celebrity status by developing a film and television career, starring in movies like “Rocky III” (1982), “Suburban Commando” (1991) and “Mr. Nanny” (1993), as well as the VH1 reality series “Hogan Knows Best,” which aired between 2005 and 2007. In later years, Hogan founded the Real American Beer lager in 2024 and co-founded the Real American Freestyle amateur wrestling league in 2025, which Fox Nation acquired broadcasting rights to days before Hogan’s death. Hogan made one of his last public appearances in January at WWE’s “Monday Night Raw” premiere on Netflix, where he was largely booed by the crowd. Hogan later said he felt his pro-President Donald Trump political views were the reason for the audience’s reaction.

What Did We Know About Hogan’s Health?

Hogan reportedly suffered from some back and spinal issues, for which he underwent multiple surgeries, following his wrestling career. Hogan underwent neck surgery in May, and TMZ claimed in June representatives for Hogan had told the outlet he was not in a coma or on his deathbed, as rumors had circulated online.

Hogan’s Politics In Recent Years

In 2024, Hogan endorsed Trump and spoke at the Republican National Convention, tearing off his shirt at the podium to reveal a Trump-Vance tank top. Hogan, during his speech, said he had previously steered clear of politics, but “after everything that’s happened to our country over the past four years, and everything that happened last weekend, I can no longer stay silent.” Hogan said, “Let Trumpmania run wild, brother! Let Trumpmania rule again!” He spoke again at a Trump event months later, at Trump’s controversial Madison Square Garden rally in New York, declaring he did not “see no stinkin’ Nazis in here. I don’t see no stinkin’ domestic terrorists in here. The only thing I see here are a bunch of hard-working men and women that are real Americans.” He also slammed Vice President Kamala Harris for acting “like she’s the victim.”

Tangent

In 2016, Forbes reported billionaire Peter Thiel had been secretly funding lawsuits Hogan filed against news organization Gawker Media, which had previously published a clip of a sex tape between Hogan and the wife of his friend. Hogan sued the organization for invasion of privacy and was awarded $115 million in March 2016. The steep costs of the lawsuit effectively shut down Gawker, which filed for bankruptcy in June and ceased publication in August.