Florida Police Announce "Death After Hospital Transfer"
WWE Expresses "Deep Sadness" Over the Loss
'Legend of professional wrestling' Hulk Hogan passed away at the age of 71 on July 24 (local time).
The Clearwater Police Department in the western coastal city of Clearwater, Florida, announced on Facebook that "police and fire authorities were dispatched to Hogan's residence after receiving a report of a cardiac arrest at 9:51 a.m."
The statement continued, "Paramedics performed emergency treatment and transported Hogan to a nearby hospital, but he was pronounced dead at the hospital."
According to the Associated Press, which cited announcements from local police and the professional wrestling organization WWE, Hogan has passed away. WWE stated on its X (formerly Twitter) account, "We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Hulk Hogan, a WWE Hall of Famer," and added, "As one of the most iconic figures in pop culture, Hogan contributed to WWE's rise to global recognition in the 1980s."
Hogan's real name was Terry Bollea. He is considered one of the greatest stars in WWE history. He won the WWE Championship at least six times and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. He is highly regarded for transforming professional wrestling into a family-friendly entertainment sport beginning in the mid-1980s.
Hogan was the figure who elevated professional wrestling, which previously had a relatively small fan base, into a mainstream sports entertainment phenomenon. His dramatic performances in the ring captivated children and family audiences alike. By spreading this entertainment-oriented style of matches, he led professional wrestling into its golden era.
His horseshoe-shaped mustache, red and yellow costumes, and massive arms were his trademarks. Building on his widespread popularity, Hogan was active in various fields outside of wrestling. He connected with the public through numerous movies and TV programs, including the reality show 'Hogan Knows Best,' which depicted his daily life, as well as 'Rocky III' and 'No Holds Barred.'
His private life sparked numerous rumors and controversies. In 2012, videos of him having multiple sexual encounters with Heather Clem, the wife of a famous radio DJ and his closest friend, were released by the gossip media outlet Gawker Media, causing a scandal. He filed a lawsuit against the outlet for invasion of privacy and won, receiving a compensation verdict of $115 million (approximately 157.8 billion won).
In recent years, Hogan has also expressed strong political views. In July of last year, ahead of the U.S. presidential election, he appeared on stage at the Republican National Convention and declared, "We will take America back with our leader and my hero, the gladiator," and added, "Let the Trump maniacs make America great again," voicing his support for then-candidate Trump. He then tore his black T-shirt with both hands, revealing a red T-shirt emblazoned with President Trump's name in a performance.
TMZ Sports, which first reported Hogan's passing, stated that his health had significantly deteriorated following complications from neck surgery he underwent in May.
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