Terry Bollea, globally known as Hulk Hogan and one of WWE’s most iconic Hall of Famers, has died at the age of 71 on July 24.
A towering figure in both wrestling and pop culture, Hogan was instrumental in pushing WWE into the global spotlight during the Hulkamania era of the 1980s and later revived interest in the sport during the 1990s with the New World Order in WCW. Whether cheered as a hero or booed as a villain, Hogan was always a standout presence in the ring.
Originally a musician playing bass in a Tampa band called Ruckus, Hogan was discovered by WWE legends Jack and Gerry Brisco. In 1977, under the brutal training of Hiro Matsuda—who broke Hogan’s leg to test his resolve—he chose to stick with wrestling. Just a year later, he made his in-ring debut in Fort Myers, Florida.
Wrestling under various personas early in his career, including Super Destroyer and Terry “The Hulk” Boulder, he finally became Hulk Hogan when he joined WWE in 1979, a name given by Vincent J. McMahon. Hogan quickly made an impression, clashing with stars like Ted DiBiase and Bob Backlund, even facing Andre the Giant before WrestleMania was ever conceived.
His big break came in 1984 when he defeated The Iron Sheik to become WWE Champion, igniting the Hulkamania phenomenon. Hogan went on to become the face of WWE for nearly a decade, headlining countless events including WrestleMania I with Mr. T and the legendary WrestleMania III showdown with Andre the Giant in front of over 93,000 fans.
After a brief departure to focus on acting, Hogan returned in 1994 with WCW, where he redefined himself again. His shocking heel turn to form the New World Order with Scott Hall and Kevin Nash rocked the wrestling world and gave WCW the upper hand in the Monday Night Wars. He would go on to win six WCW World Championships.
Hogan made a WWE comeback in 2002, famously facing The Rock at WrestleMania X8 and later capturing his sixth WWE Championship from Triple H. His legacy was cemented further in 2005 when he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by Sylvester Stallone.
He made another return in 2014 as host of WrestleMania 30, sharing the ring with The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin—a moment cherished by millions worldwide.
Few figures are as synonymous with wrestling as Hulk Hogan. His influence transcended the ring, shaping WWE into the global phenomenon it is today. Hogan’s legacy includes six WWE titles, sold-out arenas, memorable rivalries, and a charisma that defined an entire era. WWE has extended its condolences to his family, friends, and fans around the world
