Wrestling World Mourns a Titan: Hulk Hogan Passes at 71

The world of professional wrestling has lost one of its biggest icons—literally and figuratively.

Hulk Hogan, the mustached megastar who body-slammed pro wrestling into the mainstream, passed away Thursday morning at the age of 71 following cardiac arrest in Clearwater, Florida. Known offstage as Terry Bollea, Hogan leaves behind a legacy that transcended rings and reached far beyond the squared circle.

From headlining the first WrestleMania to bodyslamming Andre the Giant in front of 80,000 fans, Hogan was the face of 1980s wrestling—a red-and-yellow-clad superhero who drew millions to the sport. His later transformation into “Hollywood Hogan” with the NWO changed the game again, leading a wave of darker, edgier entertainment that captivated the ’90s.

Though he retired from in-ring action more than a decade ago, Hogan remained active as a promoter and cultural figure. His legacy will be measured not just in championships, but in how he helped redefine what it meant to be a wrestling star.

To fans everywhere, he’ll always be the man who told them to eat their vitamins, say their prayers, and believe in themselves. Rest in power, Hulkster.