Terry “Hulk Hogan” Bollea, undoubtedly wrestling’s most iconic figure, has passed away at 71 years old, succumbing to cardiac arrest at his Clearwater, Florida home on the morning of July 24, 2025, TMZ reports.
Hogan’s wrestling legacy is monumental. He erupted into global fame through the WWF (now WWE) in the 1980s, headlining the first WrestleMania and transforming wrestling into mainstream entertainment. With his thunderous charisma—complete with signature catchphrases like “Whatcha gonna do when Hulkamania runs wild on you?”—he dominated storylines both as a beloved hero and as the notorious Hollywood Hogan of the nWo in the ’90s.
In 2015, Hogan’s legacy took a major blow when leaked audio revealed him using the N-word multiple times in a sex tape recording. In the tape, he made racist remarks about his daughter Brooke’s dating life, including saying:
“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.”
The backlash was swift and severe. WWE terminated its contract with Hogan, removed him from its Hall of Fame page, and distanced itself publicly.
While Hogan later apologized, saying, “I’m not a racist. I never should have said what I said,” many fans and fellow wrestlers remained critical—especially because some of his apologies seemed to focus more on the embarrassment caused by the leak than on the words themselves.
In 2018, Hogan was quietly reinstated into the WWE Hall of Fame, but his return was met with mixed reactions—some welcomed him back, while others, including prominent Black wrestlers like Titus O’Neil and New Day, expressed discomfort and skepticism about his sincerity.
Despite attempts to rebrand himself through public appearances and podcasting, the shadow of his past remained. Hogan never fully reclaimed the cultural goodwill he once enjoyed.
Hulk Hogan was a titan of entertainment—a man whose charisma and persona helped define a generation of wrestling. But his fall from grace serves as a reminder that even legends are human, capable of deep flaws and poor judgment. His death will spark both mourning and reflection: for the joy he brought millions, and the pain his words caused others.
Rest in peace, Hulk Hogan—a man who lived loudly, wrestled boldly, and left behind a legacy as controversial as it was colossal.
