Wow… friends, this is one of those moments where you almost feel the collective gasp across a generation. Hulk Hogan — yes, “that” Hulk Hogan — has died at the age of 71, and the world of wrestling, pop culture, and honestly just about anyone who ever ripped a T‑shirt while shouting “brother!” is feeling the hit today.
Early Thursday morning, medics were rushed to his home in Clearwater, Florida, after an emergency call reported a cardiac arrest. Police cars lined the street, EMTs swarmed the property, and before dawn broke, the man who once defined professional wrestling was gone. TMZ broke the news, and soon after, tributes started pouring in like a tidal wave of disbelief.
BREAKING: Hulk Hogan has passed away at the age of 71 due to cardiac arrest, according to TMZ.
Hogan was wheeled out of his house on a stretcher according to the outlet.
“We’re told a slew of police cars and EMTs were parked outside Hogan’s home … and the icon was carried on… pic.twitter.com/xUELuq9i4N
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 24, 2025
Now here’s the kicker — this shocking news comes only weeks after his wife Sky publicly pushed back against rumors that Hogan was in dire health. Just routine neck surgery, she said. His heart was strong. But for a man who spent decades brutalizing his body for the roar of a crowd — 25 surgeries in the past decade alone, ten of them on his back — that “strong” heart gave out.
Hogan leaves behind Sky, his new bride of 2023, and his two kids from his first marriage — Brooke, 37, and Nick, 34 — plus two grandchildren. And let’s not forget, this wasn’t just a wrestler; this was the man who turned the WWE from a scrappy regional circuit into a global powerhouse in the ’80s. He main‑evented eight of the first nine WrestleManias, became the face of wrestling action figures, cartoons, lunchboxes — you name it. He was larger than life, a babyface who transcended the ring and practically invented sports entertainment as we know it.
THIS IS THE GREATEST ENTRANCE MADE BY A HUMAN EVER. IN ANYTHING. NOT JUST PRO WRESTLING. pic.twitter.com/x6DjH0PJ1D
— FightOracle ™🇺🇸 (@fightoracle) July 24, 2025
In recent years, Hogan had been back in the headlines, from his odd appearance on Fox & Friends that had fans wondering what was going on with his look, to his endorsement of Donald Trump’s campaign and even showing up at rallies, sleeves torn, hyping the crowd. Always the showman, even as health issues and family turmoil swirled around him.
🚨BREAKING: Wrestling icon Hulk Hogan has passed away at 71.
Rest in peace, Legend.
pic.twitter.com/bcqeaqpirK— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) July 24, 2025
Ric Flair, one of his greatest rivals and closest friends, summed it up best with heartbreak: ““No one will ever compare to you. Rest in peace, my friend.””
For so many of us, Hulk Hogan wasn’t just a wrestler — he was a symbol of a louder, brasher, brighter era. And now, the world says goodbye to the Hulkster.
