Latest news with #Trumpamania
The Mainichi
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Mainichi
Hulk Hogan, icon in professional wrestling, dies at age 71
CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) -- Hulk Hogan, the mustachioed, headscarf-wearing, bicep-busting icon of professional wrestling who turned the sport into a massive business and stretched his influence into TV, pop culture and conservative politics during a long and scandal-plagued second act, died Thursday in Florida at age 71. Hogan was pronounced dead at a hospital less than 90 minutes after medics in Clearwater arrived at his home to answer a morning call about a cardiac arrest, police said. "There were no signs of foul play or suspicious activity," Maj. Nate Burnside told reporters. Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, was perhaps the biggest star in WWE's long history. He was the main draw for the first WrestleMania in 1985 and was a fixture for years, facing everyone from Andre The Giant and Randy Savage to The Rock and even WWE co-founder Vince McMahon. But outside the the ring, Hogan also found trouble. WWE in 2015 cut ties with him for three years, even removing him from its Hall of Fame, after it was reported that he was recorded using racial slurs about Blacks. He apologized and said his words were "unacceptable." Hogan won at least six WWE championships and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005 and reinstated there in 2018. WWE matches are now held in professional sports stadiums, and millions of fans have watched the company's weekly live television program, "Raw," which debuted in January on Netflix. "He was a trailblazer, the first performer who transitioned from being a wrestling star into a global phenomenon," McMahon said of Hogan. Hogan's own brand of passion "Hulkamania," as the energy he created was called, started running wild in the mid-1980s and pushed professional wrestling into the mainstream. He was a flag-waving American hero with the horseshoe mustache, red and yellow gear and massive arms he called his "24-inch pythons." Crowds were hysterical when he ripped off his T-shirt in the ring -- a trademark move -- revealing a tan, sculpted body. Hogan was also a celebrity outside the wrestling world, appearing in numerous movies and television shows, including a reality show about his life on VH1, "Hogan Knows Best." In recent years, Hogan added his celebrity to politics. At the 2024 Republican National Convention, he merged classic WWE maneuvers with then-candidate Donald Trump's rhetoric to passionately endorse him for president. "Let Trumpamania run wild brother! Let Trumpamania rule again! Let Trumpamania make America great again!" Hogan shouted into the raucous crowd. He ripped off a T-shirt emblazoned with a picture of himself on a motorcycle to reveal a bright red Trump-Vance campaign shirt underneath. Trump stood to applaud the move. "We lost a great friend today, the "Hulkster," Trump said Thursday on Truth Social. "Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way -- Strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart." Hogan lately began to invest in alternatives to theatrical, professional wrestling, announcing plans in April to serve as the first commissioner for the Real American Freestyle organization, which describes itself as the "first unscripted pro wrestling" league in the world. The first event is Aug. 30 at Cleveland State University. "The idea was so exciting that I get a chance to be involved with all these young people and help guide them in any way, especially to make them huge stars and create a future for them," Hogan said. "People might be surprised, but wrestling is wrestling, brother." The league released a statement, saying it is now part of Hogan's legacy "and we intend to honor it." Broken leg and a new attitude Hogan was born in Georgia but lived much of his life in the Tampa, Florida, area. He recalled skipping school to watch wrestlers at the Sportatorium, a professional wrestling studio in Tampa. "I had been running my mouth, telling everybody I'm going to be a wrestler, and in a small town, the word gets out," Hogan told the Tampa Bay Times in 2021. "And so when I went down there, they were laying low for me. They exercised me till I was ready to faint." The result: a broken leg and a subsequent warning from his dad. "Don't you ever let anybody hurt you again," Hogan recalled his father saying. "So I went back four or five months later with a whole new attitude. The rest is history." Hogan first became champion in what was then the World Wrestling Federation in 1984, and pro wrestling took off from there. His popularity helped lead to the creation of the annual WrestleMania event in 1985, when he teamed up with Mr. T to beat "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff in the main event. He slammed and beat Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III in 1987, and the WWF gained momentum. His feud with the late "Macho Man" Randy Savage -- perhaps his greatest rival -- carried pro wrestling even further. Hogan was a central figure in what is known as the Monday Night Wars. The WWE and World Championship Wrestling were battling for ratings supremacy in 1996. Hogan tilted things in WCW's favor with the birth of the Hollywood Hogan character and the formation of the New World Order, a villainous stable that put WCW ahead in the ratings. He returned to the WWE in 2002 and became a champion again. His match with The Rock at WrestleMania X8, a loss during which fans cheered for his "bad guy" character, was seen as a passing of the torch. Hogan was perhaps as well known for his larger-than-life personality as he was his in-ring exploits. He was beloved for his "promos" -- hype sessions he used to draw fans into matches. He often would play off his interviewer, "Mean" Gene Okerlund, starting his interviews off with, "Well, lemme tell ya something, Mean Gene!" Outside the ring He crossed over into movies and television as well. He was Thunderlips in the movie "Rocky III" in 1982. In 2016, a Florida jury awarded Hogan $115 million in a lawsuit against Gawker Media and then added $25 million in punitive damages. Hogan sued after Gawker in 2012 obtained and posted video of him having sex with his former best friend's wife. He said the post violated his privacy. Hogan ended up settling the case for millions less after Gawker filed for bankruptcy. There was other fallout. The litigation led to the discovery that Hogan had used racial slurs on the tape. "It was unacceptable for me to have used that offensive language; there is no excuse for it; and I apologize for having done it," Hogan said. After Hogan was booed at the premiere of Netflix's new WWE show in January, former WWE wrestler Mark Henry, who is Black, said that the scandal was a "dark cloud" over Hogan's career. Henry said he believes in second chances but that Hogan "never wanted to go forward and fix it." Outside Hogan's Hangout, his restaurant in Clearwater Beach, people talked about their admiration for Hogan as news of his death spread. Rich Null of St. Louis said the two men worked out together. "Thirty minutes into our workout in the gym, he said, 'cut the Hulk Hogan crap, call me Terry,'" Null said. "He was a really super nice guy, and we're gonna miss him."
Yomiuri Shimbun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Hulk Hogan, Icon in Professional Wrestling, Dies at Age 71
CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Hulk Hogan, the mustachioed, headscarf-wearing, bicep-busting icon of professional wrestling who turned the sport into a massive business and stretched his influence into TV, pop culture and conservative politics during a long and scandal-plagued second act, died Thursday in Florida at age 71. Hogan was pronounced dead at a hospital less than 90 minutes after medics in Clearwater arrived at his home to answer a morning call about a cardiac arrest, police said. 'There were no signs of foul play or suspicious activity,' Maj. Nate Burnside told reporters. Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, was perhaps the biggest star in WWE's long history. He was the main draw for the first WrestleMania in 1985 and was a fixture for years, facing everyone from Andre The Giant and Randy Savage to The Rock and even WWE co-founder Vince McMahon. But outside the the ring, Hogan also found trouble. WWE in 2015 cut ties with him for three years, even removing him from its Hall of Fame, after it was reported that he was recorded using racial slurs about Blacks. He apologized and said his words were 'unacceptable.' Hogan won at least six WWE championships and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005 and reinstated there in 2018. WWE matches are now held in professional sports stadiums, and millions of fans have watched the company's weekly live television program, 'Raw,' which debuted in January on Netflix. 'He was a trailblazer, the first performer who transitioned from being a wrestling star into a global phenomenon,' McMahon said of Hogan. Hogan's own brand of passion 'Hulkamania,' as the energy he created was called, started running wild in the mid-1980s and pushed professional wrestling into the mainstream. He was a flag-waving American hero with the horseshoe mustache, red and yellow gear and massive arms he called his '24-inch pythons.' Crowds were hysterical when he ripped off his T-shirt in the ring — a trademark move — revealing a tan, sculpted body. Hogan was also a celebrity outside the wrestling world, appearing in numerous movies and television shows, including a reality show about his life on VH1, 'Hogan Knows Best.' In recent years, Hogan added his celebrity to politics. At the 2024 Republican National Convention, he merged classic WWE maneuvers with then-candidate Donald Trump's rhetoric to passionately endorse him for president. 'Let Trumpamania run wild brother! Let Trumpamania rule again! Let Trumpamania make America great again!' Hogan shouted into the raucous crowd. He ripped off a T-shirt emblazoned with a picture of himself on a motorcycle to reveal a bright red Trump-Vance campaign shirt underneath. Trump stood to applaud the move. 'We lost a great friend today, the 'Hulkster,'' Trump said Thursday on Truth Social. 'Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way — Strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart.' Hogan lately began to invest in alternatives to theatrical, professional wrestling, announcing plans in April to serve as the first commissioner for the Real American Freestyle organization, which describes itself as the 'first unscripted pro wrestling' league in the world. The first event is Aug. 30 at Cleveland State University. 'The idea was so exciting that I get a chance to be involved with all these young people and help guide them in any way, especially to make them huge stars and create a future for them,' Hogan said. 'People might be surprised, but wrestling is wrestling, brother.' The league released a statement, saying it is now part of Hogan's legacy 'and we intend to honor it.' Broken leg and a new attitude Hogan was born in Georgia but lived much of his life in the Tampa, Florida, area. He recalled skipping school to watch wrestlers at the Sportatorium, a professional wrestling studio in Tampa. 'I had been running my mouth, telling everybody I'm going to be a wrestler, and in a small town, the word gets out,' Hogan told the Tampa Bay Times in 2021. 'And so when I went down there, they were laying low for me. They exercised me till I was ready to faint.' The result: a broken leg and a subsequent warning from his dad. 'Don't you ever let anybody hurt you again,' Hogan recalled his father saying. 'So I went back four or five months later with a whole new attitude. The rest is history.' Hogan first became champion in what was then the World Wrestling Federation in 1984, and pro wrestling took off from there. His popularity helped lead to the creation of the annual WrestleMania event in 1985, when he teamed up with Mr. T to beat 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper and 'Mr. Wonderful' Paul Orndorff in the main event. He slammed and beat Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III in 1987, and the WWF gained momentum. His feud with the late 'Macho Man' Randy Savage – perhaps his greatest rival — carried pro wrestling even further. Hogan was a central figure in what is known as the Monday Night Wars. The WWE and World Championship Wrestling were battling for ratings supremacy in 1996. Hogan tilted things in WCW's favor with the birth of the Hollywood Hogan character and the formation of the New World Order, a villainous stable that put WCW ahead in the ratings. He returned to the WWE in 2002 and became a champion again. His match with The Rock at WrestleMania X8, a loss during which fans cheered for his 'bad guy' character, was seen as a passing of the torch. Hogan was perhaps as well known for his larger-than-life personality as he was his in-ring exploits. He was beloved for his 'promos' — hype sessions he used to draw fans into matches. He often would play off his interviewer, 'Mean' Gene Okerlund, starting his interviews off with, 'Well, lemme tell ya something, Mean Gene!' Outside the ring He crossed over into movies and television as well. He was Thunderlips in the movie 'Rocky III' in 1982. In 2016, a Florida jury awarded Hogan $115 million in a lawsuit against Gawker Media and then added $25 million in punitive damages. Hogan sued after Gawker in 2012 obtained and posted video of him having sex with his former best friend's wife. He said the post violated his privacy. Hogan ended up settling the case for millions less after Gawker filed for bankruptcy. There was other fallout. The litigation led to the discovery that Hogan had used racial slurs on the tape. 'It was unacceptable for me to have used that offensive language; there is no excuse for it; and I apologize for having done it,' Hogan said. After Hogan was booed at the premiere of Netflix's new WWE show in January, former WWE wrestler Mark Henry, who is Black, said that the scandal was a 'dark cloud' over Hogan's career. Henry said he believes in second chances but that Hogan 'never wanted to go forward and fix it.' Outside Hogan's Hangout, his restaurant in Clearwater Beach, people talked about their admiration for Hogan as news of his death spread. Rich Null of St. Louis said the two men worked out together. 'Thirty minutes into our workout in the gym, he said, 'cut the Hulk Hogan crap, call me Terry,'' Null said. 'He was a really super nice guy, and we're gonna miss him.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Hulk Hogan remembered by Trump, wrestling world: 'Strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart'
Hulk Hogan was wrestling royalty. Born Terry Gene Bollea, Hogan was a WWF superstar in the 1980s and early 1990s, then experienced a career resurgence in the late '90s with his Hollywood Hogan persona in the WCW's New World Order stable. With his passing Thursday morning at 71, many of the biggest names in professional wrestling paid tribute. "I Am Absolutely Shocked To Hear About The Passing Of My Close Friend @HulkHogan!" WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair wrote on X (formerly Twitter). "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. ... Hulkster, No One Will Ever Compare To You! Rest In Peace My Friend!" Read more: Hulk Hogan, pro wrestler and pop culture icon who excelled at earning fans' love and hate, dies at 71 WWE Hall of Fame wrestler and current Chief Content Officer Triple H wrote on X that the organization "would not be where it is today without the larger-than-life characters that compete in the ring … and few, if any, loomed larger than Terry 'Hulk Hogan' Bollea." "Hulk Hogan, clad in red and yellow or [New World Order] black and white, was simply put, iconic," Triple H wrote. "As a Real American or the leader of one of the industry's biggest factions, he transcended and elevated the entire business to heights never before seen — in every country and on every continent. There was no one like The Hulkster and there very well may never be another." Fellow Hall of Fame wrestler Kane, also known as Knox County, Tenn., Mayor Glenn Jacobs, said in a statement: 'The Hulkster was integral in making professional wrestling, and specifically WWE, what it is today. While I join fans all across the world in mourning his loss, I am also grateful for the opportunities that he created for people like me and so many others in professional wrestling and entertainment.' Another politician who is in the WWE Hall of Fame paid his respects to Hogan on Truth Social. "We lost a great friend today, the 'Hulkster,'" wrote President Trump, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame's celebrity wing in 2013. "Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way — Strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart. He gave an absolutely electric speech at the Republican National Convention, that was one of the highlights of the entire week. Read more: Hulk Hogan rips off his shirt during fiery RNC speech: 'Let Trumpamania run wild' "He entertained fans from all over the World, and the cultural impact he had was massive. To his wife, Sky, and family, we give our warmest best wishes and love. Hulk Hogan will be greatly missed!" Secretary of Education and former WWE President and Chief Executive Linda McMahon wrote on X: "I had the privilege of knowing and working with [Hogan] for over 40 years. Hulk was a dear friend and member of our WWE family. His legacy in and out of the ring will always be remembered. He was one of a kind! My thoughts and prayers are with his family, his friends, and all of his fans." Here's how others from the world of professional wrestling are remembering Hogan on X: — Jake "the Snake" Roberts: "It's hard to put into words what Terry 'Hulk Hogan' Bollea meant to professional wrestling and entertainment. He may be gone, but his memory and legacy will live forever." — Sting: "HULK HOGAN - THE GREATEST OF ALL Can't thank you enough for all that you did for me and for wrestling fans all over the world. I loved you and I will miss you. My friend, Terry Bollea, RIP." Read more: Sabu, a.k.a. hardcore wrestling pioneer Terry Brunk, dies at 60 — The Miz: "When I was a kid I ate my vitamins, said my prayers because Hulk Hogan told me to. He was someone I looked up to; a larger-than-life presence I copied constantly growing up. The voice, flexing, charisma, he made you want to be bold, loud, confident. RIP, Hulk Hogan." — Charlotte Flair: "When I nearly lost my dad 8 years ago, one of the few people who was there for all of it was Hulk Hogan. My heart breaks for Nick and Brooke. Rest in peace, brother." — The Undertaker: "The wrestling world has lost a true legend. His contributions to our business are immeasurable and for that I am appreciative. Thank you, Hulk Hogan." — Sgt. Slaughter: "Saddened To Hear About The Passing of Hulk Hogan … I Guess God Needed An Incredible Angel. R.I.P. My Friend." Read more: Kevin Sullivan, pro wrestler known as 'The Taskmaster,' dies three months after accident — Kurt Angle: "R.I.P Hulkster, thank you for opening up doors for so many people in the business including myself. There would not be a Kurt Angle, without the American Made, Hulk Hogan. My heart and prayers go out to his family. We lost a real icon today." — Bubba Ray Dudley: "As a young fan, I'll never forget the day Bob Backlund brought you out to help him. As an old pro, I will never forget how much you meant to my career. I appreciate every thing you did for me. And was happy to call you a friend…and Brother." Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Hulk Hogan, icon in professional wrestling, dies at age 71
CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Hulk Hogan, the mustachioed, headscarf-wearing, bicep-busting icon of professional wrestling who turned the sport into a massive business and stretched his influence into TV, pop culture and conservative politics during a long and scandal-plagued second act, died Thursday in Florida at age 71. Hogan was pronounced dead at a hospital less than 90 minutes after medics in Clearwater arrived at his home to answer a morning call about a cardiac arrest, police said. 'There were no signs of foul play or suspicious activity,' Maj. Nate Burnside told reporters. Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, was perhaps the biggest star in WWE's long history. He was the main draw for the first WrestleMania in 1985 and was a fixture for years, facing everyone from Andre The Giant and Randy Savage to The Rock and even WWE co-founder Vince McMahon. But outside the the ring, Hogan also found trouble. WWE in 2015 cut ties with him for three years, even removing him from its Hall of Fame, after it was reported that he was recorded using racial slurs about Blacks. He apologized and said his words were 'unacceptable.' Hogan won at least six WWE championships and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005 and reinstated there in 2018. WWE matches are now held in professional sports stadiums, and millions of fans have watched the company's weekly live television program, 'Raw,' which debuted in January on Netflix. 'He was a trailblazer, the first performer who transitioned from being a wrestling star into a global phenomenon,' McMahon said of Hogan. Hogan's own brand of passion 'Hulkamania,' as the energy he created was called, started running wild in the mid-1980s and pushed professional wrestling into the mainstream. He was a flag-waving American hero with the horseshoe mustache, red and yellow gear and massive arms he called his '24-inch pythons.' Crowds were hysterical when he ripped off his T-shirt in the ring — a trademark move — revealing a tan, sculpted body. Hogan was also a celebrity outside the wrestling world, appearing in numerous movies and television shows, including a reality show about his life on VH1, 'Hogan Knows Best.' In recent years, Hogan added his celebrity to politics. At the 2024 Republican National Convention, he merged classic WWE maneuvers with then-candidate Donald Trump's rhetoric to passionately endorse him for president. 'Let Trumpamania run wild brother! Let Trumpamania rule again! Let Trumpamania make America great again!' Hogan shouted into the raucous crowd. He ripped off a T-shirt emblazoned with a picture of himself on a motorcycle to reveal a bright red Trump-Vance campaign shirt underneath. Trump stood to applaud the move. 'We lost a great friend today, the 'Hulkster,'" Trump said Thursday on Truth Social. 'Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way — Strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart.' Hogan lately began to invest in alternatives to theatrical, professional wrestling, announcing plans in April to serve as the first commissioner for the Real American Freestyle organization, which describes itself as the "first unscripted pro wrestling' league in the world. The first event is Aug. 30 at Cleveland State University. 'The idea was so exciting that I get a chance to be involved with all these young people and help guide them in any way, especially to make them huge stars and create a future for them,' Hogan said. 'People might be surprised, but wrestling is wrestling, brother.' The league released a statement, saying it is now part of Hogan's legacy "and we intend to honor it.' Broken leg and a new attitude Hogan was born in Georgia but lived much of his life in the Tampa, Florida, area. He recalled skipping school to watch wrestlers at the Sportatorium, a professional wrestling studio in Tampa. 'I had been running my mouth, telling everybody I'm going to be a wrestler, and in a small town, the word gets out,' Hogan told the Tampa Bay Times in 2021. 'And so when I went down there, they were laying low for me. They exercised me till I was ready to faint.' The result: a broken leg and a subsequent warning from his dad. 'Don't you ever let anybody hurt you again,' Hogan recalled his father saying. 'So I went back four or five months later with a whole new attitude. The rest is history.' Hogan first became champion in what was then the World Wrestling Federation in 1984, and pro wrestling took off from there. His popularity helped lead to the creation of the annual WrestleMania event in 1985, when he teamed up with Mr. T to beat 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper and 'Mr. Wonderful' Paul Orndorff in the main event. He slammed and beat Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III in 1987, and the WWF gained momentum. His feud with the late 'Macho Man' Randy Savage – perhaps his greatest rival — carried pro wrestling even further. Hogan was a central figure in what is known as the Monday Night Wars. The WWE and World Championship Wrestling were battling for ratings supremacy in 1996. Hogan tilted things in WCW's favor with the birth of the Hollywood Hogan character and the formation of the New World Order, a villainous stable that put WCW ahead in the ratings. He returned to the WWE in 2002 and became a champion again. His match with The Rock at WrestleMania X8, a loss during which fans cheered for his 'bad guy' character, was seen as a passing of the torch. Hogan was perhaps as well known for his larger-than-life personality as he was his in-ring exploits. He was beloved for his 'promos' — hype sessions he used to draw fans into matches. He often would play off his interviewer, 'Mean' Gene Okerlund, starting his interviews off with, 'Well, lemme tell ya something, Mean Gene!' Outside the ring He crossed over into movies and television as well. He was Thunderlips in the movie 'Rocky III' in 1982. In 2016, a Florida jury awarded Hogan $115 million in a lawsuit against Gawker Media and then added $25 million in punitive damages. Hogan sued after Gawker in 2012 obtained and posted video of him having sex with his former best friend's wife. He said the post violated his privacy. Hogan ended up settling the case for millions less after Gawker filed for bankruptcy. There was other fallout. The litigation led to the discovery that Hogan had used racial slurs on the tape. 'It was unacceptable for me to have used that offensive language; there is no excuse for it; and I apologize for having done it,' Hogan said. After Hogan was booed at the premiere of Netflix's new WWE show in January, former WWE wrestler Mark Henry, who is Black, said that the scandal was a 'dark cloud' over Hogan's career. Henry said he believes in second chances but that Hogan 'never wanted to go forward and fix it.' Outside Hogan's Hangout, his restaurant in Clearwater Beach, people talked about their admiration for Hogan as news of his death spread. Rich Null of St. Louis said the two men worked out together. 'Thirty minutes into our workout in the gym, he said, 'cut the Hulk Hogan crap, call me Terry,'' Null said. 'He was a really super nice guy, and we're gonna miss him.' —- White reported from Detroit. AP writer Safiyah Riddle contributed from Montgomery, Alabama. Curt Anderson And Ed White, The Associated Press
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Hulk Hogan and Donald Trump's friendship from president getting schooled in ring to WWE superstar ripping shirt at RNC
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DONALD Trump has memorialized his close friend and fellow patriot Hulk Hogan, who made a wild transformation from Barack Obama supporter to MAGA loyalist before his sudden death at 71. The two developed a tight bond throughout wild adventures from the president getting schooled in the wrestling ring to the WWE star ripping his shirt and yelling, "Let Trumpamania run wild, brother!" Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 Donald Trump and Hulk Hogan developed a tight-knit friendship before the WWE star's sudden death Credit: X/DanScavino 8 Hogan and fellow wrestler Andre the Giant met at a wrestling match hosted at a Trump Plaza in 1987 Credit: Alamy 8 Last year, Hogan brought down the house when he ripped his shirt during a speech at the Republican National Convention Credit: Getty On Thursday morning, Hogan went into cardiac arrest while at his $11.5 million estate in south Florida. He was rushed to the hospital by first responders and declared dead. His death came after years of health struggles brought on by decades of intense weight lifting and sparring in the ring. In May, he had a "fusion" neck surgery, but quickly got back to work one day later. Just weeks before he collapsed, Hogan was in the hospital, but his wife Sky quashed rumors that his health was failing and said that his heart was "strong." more on hulk hogan INCREDIBLE HULK How Hulk Hogan single-handedly made wrestling a multi-billion behemoth Most fans know Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, for being a wrestling legend who earned tons of championship titles and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame twice. However, in recent years, voters may have seen him crop up more at Trump rallies and, just about a year ago, give a fiery speech at the Republican National Convention. In his jaw-dropping address, Hogan called the president the "toughest of them all" and said he was looking forward to four more years of a MAGA-run White House. "As an entertainer, I try to stay out of politics," said Hogan. "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 called Trump a "real American hero" and told viewers that he was proud to support the candidate for another term. WWE legend Ric Flair leads tributes to 'close friend' Hulk Hogan who has died aged 71 "At the end of the day, with our leader up there, my hero, that gladiator, we're going to bring America back together one real American at a time, brother," Hogan said. The wrestling legend ended his speech by ripping off a black sleeveless t-shirt and revealing a Trump Vance 2024 shirt underneath as the president watched on and smiled. In his emotional tribute, Trump remembered this speech, calling it "electric" as he mourned his "great friend." "Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way - Strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart," he wrote in a Truth Social post. "He entertained fans from all over the world, and the cultural impact he had was massive [...] Hulk Hogan will be greatly missed!" 8 Hogan said he fondly remembered Trump taking part in WrestleMania 23 Credit: YouTube/WWE 8 Trump is a massive wrestling fan and befriended Hogan before he ran for office Credit: Getty 8 In October, Hogan came to a Trump event at Madison Square Garden in New York City Credit: AP HOGAN PRAISES TRUMP Hogan said that he "learned a lot" from watching Trump in an episode of PBD Podcast that was recorded just months before his death. The wrestler described the president as "personable," and fondly remembered the time Trump went head-to-head against WWE co-founder Vince McMahon for WrestleMania 23. Trump and McMahon each sponsored a wrestler for the event and made a bet that whoever lost the match would have to get their head shaved. McMahon ended up losing, so Trump brought clippers and a razor into the ring and shaved the founder's head as he screamed to the crowd. Hogan admired the future president for taking the bit even further, as he actually agreed to take part in some wrestling action. "We wanted a little something extra out of Trump," said Hogan. Hogan said that they asked if WWE star "Stone Cold" Steve Austin could kick Trump in the belly after the shaving stunt, and Trump said, "Oh, no problem." Hulk Hogan career timeline 1977: Made his professional wrestling debut. 1979: Joined the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) and gained recognition. 1982: Appeared as "Thunderlips" in the film Rocky III, significantly boosting his mainstream exposure. 1984: Defeated The Iron Sheik to win his first WWF Championship, ushering in the "Hulkamania" era. 1985: Main evented the first-ever WrestleMania, teaming with Mr. T against Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff. 1987: Slammed Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III in one of wrestling's most iconic moments. 1993: Departed WWF for World Championship Wrestling (WCW). 1996: Shocked the wrestling world by turning heel and forming the New World Order (nWo) with Scott Hall and Kevin Nash at Bash at the Beach, becoming "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan. 2001: Returned to WWE after WCW was acquired. 2002: Had a memorable match against The Rock at WrestleMania X8. 2005: Inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. 2005-2007: Starred in the reality TV show "Hogan Knows Best." 2012: Had his last official televised match for TNA Impact, though he made sporadic appearances in WWE afterward. 2020: Inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame for a second time as a member of the nWo. Hogan also remembered when he first met Trump after they rented out a Trump Plaza hotel for a wrestling event in 1987. He said that he was struck by how humble and friendly Trump was when they first met, and how the billionaire stuck around to watch nearly all of the matches. "He came to the back, met all the wrestlers, just sat down, started talking to us," Hogan said. "He's the same guy now that he was back then; he hasn't changed a bit. He's just a really quality person." 8 Hogan and his wife chatted with the Trump family at the RNC Credit: Getty 8 Trump took part in a WWE tournament one year Credit: YouTube/WWE REPUBLICAN TURN Hogan admitted that he was a staunch Obama supporter before making a shocking u-turn to the GOP in 2011 over a petty issue. The wrestler explained that he was soured by the Democrat leader when Obama used his song Real American for his entrance at that year's White House Correspondents' Dinner. 'I kind of was a little upset that he didn't ask me permission to use my music,' Hogan said in a 2011 interview with Fox and Friends. 'I was a big Obama supporter and kinda, like, believed everything he said he was gonna do,' Hogan said. Hulk Hogan tributes Tributes have poured in for Hulk Hogan following his death at 71 years old. "When I nearly lost my dad 8 years ago, one of the few people who was there for all of it was Hulk Hogan. My heart breaks for Nick and Brooke. Rest in peace, brother." - Charlotte Flair "Saddened To Hear About The Passing of Hulk Hogan…I Guess God Needed An Incredible Angel. R.I.P. My Friend." - Sergeant Slaughter "He Was One Of The First To Visit Me When I Was In The Hospital With A 2% 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!" - Ric Flair "WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away. 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." - WWE "R.I.P to a legend. HULK HOGAN." - Donald Trump Jr. "Hulk Hogan was a great American icon. One of the first people I ever truly admired as a kid. 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." - Vice President JD Vance The WWE star went on to endorse Mitt Romney for the 2012 election, and he wanted Americans to have a "fresh start." After his death, Vice President JD Vance deemed Hogan a "great American icon and said he was "one of the first people I ever truly admired as a kid." "The last time I saw him we promised we'd get beers together next time we saw each other," Vance said. "The next time will have to be on the other side, my friend! Rest in peace."
