Hulk Hogan gestures to the audience during his Hulkamania Tour in 2009/SCREENGRABProfessional wrestler Hulk Hogan has died at the age of 71, the WWE confirms.
In a statement ,World Wrestling Entertainment says it's "saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away".
Describing Hogan as "one of pop culture’s most recognisable figures", it says "Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s".
"WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans," the post concludes.
Hulk Hogan is arguably the most famous name in professional wrestling history.
Born Terry Boella in 1953, Hogan dominated the professional wrestling world throughout the 80s and 90s before expanding into films and later reality TV.
Throughout the 90s, Hogan’s popularity transcended the wrestling ring, appearing in films including Mr Nanny and Suburban Commando.
It was a surprise to no-one when Hogan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 (he would later be inducted again in 2020 as a member of the NWO), but he was removed from the hall in 2015 when his WWE contract was terminated after a tape of him emerged using a racist slur.
In 2018, the company reinstated him, saying he deserved a second chance, but several WWE superstars, including the New Day and Titus O’Neil, said it would be “difficult to simply forget” what Hogan had said.
In recent years, Hogan had appeared at Trump rallies and on the US election campaign trail last year.
Wrestling legend Ric Flair has paid tribute to his close friend Hulk Hogan, saying he is "absolutely shocked" to hear about his death.
"An incredible athlete, talent, friend and father," he says in a post on X. "Our friendship has meant the world to me."
Hogan bodyslamming Andre the Giant will live forever in wrestling history, as will his title run lasting more than three years.
He carried the WWE (then WWF) on his back during the wrestling boom in the 80s and is widely credited with giving “sports entertainment” mainstream appeal, while a reinvention in the 90s led him to run one of wrestling’s biggest ever factions in the nWo.
Hogan was larger-than-life in the ring, while his remarkable charisma outside of it made him the total package.
But for everything he achieved in wrestling—and he basically achieved everything - the end of his career was tarnished by racist comments in 2015 that effectively ended his relationship with the sport.
And his one-off appearance for WWE during the first episode of Raw on Netflix in January 2025 was most notable for the sheer volume of boos he received when he walked on stage.
But despite the controversies, Hogan will likely be best remembered for his biggest moments in the ring - and the Hulkamaniacs will always have a lot to choose from, brother.
Hogan underwent surgery on his neck earlier this year.
There had been speculation about Hulk Hogan's health in the last few months.
In June a representative for the wrestling legend told TMZ sports that Hogan was dealing with ailments but was "back to moving" after rumours he was unwell.
In May, it was widely reported he had neck surgery.
Last year in an interview with YouTuber and wrestler Logan Paul, external, Hulk said he had at least 25 operations in the last decade.
"I’ve had like 25 surgeries in the last 10 years," he said. "Ten back surgeries, both knees and both hips replaced, shoulders - everything."
