HULK HOGAN DEAD AT 71 AFTER CARDIAC ARREST IN FLORIDA HOME

On July 24, 2025, the world woke up to heartbreaking news, Hulk Hogan (real name Terry Gene Bollea) passed away at 71 after suffering a cardiac arrest in his Clearwater Beach, Florida home.

According to emergency dispatch records, first responders arrived at around 9:51 a.m., and he was pronounced dead later at Morton Plant Hospital.

If you were ever there in the roar of the crowd when the Hulkster body slammed André the Giant at WrestleMania III, you probably felt something more than a wrestling match, you felt history in motion. That moment helped turn a regional sideshow into the global pop culture juggernaut called WWE.

A Legend’s Journey: Triumph, Scandal, Reinvention

From humble beginnings in Tampa, Florida, Hogan’s path was never smooth. He trained under Hiro Matsuda and bounced around smaller promotions before finding his true calling. In 1984, he defeated The Iron Sheik to become WWF Champion, igniting the worldwide phenomenon known as Hulkamania.

Hogan’s presence was bigger than the ring, his personality, catchphrases (“Say your prayers, eat your vitamins”), and red-and-yellow gear made him an emblem of a generation. The WWF rose alongside him into the mainstream spotlight.

In the mid‑90s, he pulled off one of the greatest character transformations in wrestling history. Turning heel at Bash at the Beach 1996 and forming the New World Order (nWo), Hogan reinvented himself as “Hollywood,” sparking the WCW boom and forcing a culture change in the wrestling world.

Catch the trending news in the world of HipHop on BWFMedia TV

His legendary matches include clashes with The Ultimate Warrior, headlining multiple WrestleManias, Royal Rumble victories in 1990 and 1991, and a symbolic face‑off with The Rock at WrestleMania X8 that reminded everyone: no one commands attention quite like Hogan.

Beyond the Spotlight: Fame, Fame, and Fallout

Hogan’s fame extended into movies (Rocky III, No Holds Barred), TV (Baywatch, Hogan Knows Best), and endorsements, from action figures to cereal.  But fame came at a cost. In 2015, leaked audio of racial slurs led to WWE removing him from the Hall of Fame and distancing themselves from his brand. After public apologies, he returned in 2018.

He also faced a high-profile lawsuit after a private video surfaced, ultimately winning a $31 million settlement, though the emotional toll was real.

Still, Hogan kept going, launching Real American Freestyle, a new wrestling promotion aimed at giving amateur athletes a professional platform. The league’s first event is scheduled for August 2025.

Remembering the Man, the Myth, Hulk Hogan

Hogan leaves behind his wife, Sky Daily, daughters Brooke and Nick, and two young grandchildren. Brooke had maintained a decade long estrangement before reconnecting briefly in 2023.

Watch PTSD: Blurring the Line Between Sane and Insane On BWFMedia TV

His influence on wrestling is indisputable: 12-time world champion, headlined eight of the first nine WrestleManias, transformed wrestling into a spectacle.

At his press briefing, Vince McMahon called Hogan “the greatest WWE Superstar of ALL TIME, a trailblazer. He gave everything he had to the audience whom he appreciated, respected and loved.”

Fans reacted worldwide. Donald Trump Jr. posted, “R.I.P to a legend. HULK HOGAN.” Vice President JD Vance said: “One of the first people I ever truly admired as a kid.”

His Lasting Legacy

Despite controversies, there’s no denying that Hulk Hogan death marks the end of an era. He embodied the rise of wrestling from gymnasiums to stadium spectacles and left a cultural footprint, from inspirational quotes to merch that defined a generation.

Hogan once said, “If wrestling wasn’t predetermine, I wouldn’t have gone near it.” He meant that he was drawn not to violence, but to the performance, the spectacle, and above all, the fans. Today, as fans across generations reflect, one truth stands out: he transcended sport.

---

Also on BWFMedia TV: GUNNA’S WON’T STOP IS THE ANTHEM OF 2025:  THE RAPPER IS DEFYING ODDS