Pro wrestling legend Hulk Hogan dies at age 71 - ESPN

Hulk Hogan, the star who took professional wrestling to the national mainstream and became the biggest money-making draw in the history of the industry, died Thursday at the age of 71, Florida police and the WWE said Thursday.

In Clearwater, Florida, authorities responded to a call Thursday morning about a cardiac arrest. Hogan was pronounced dead at a hospital, police said in a statement on Facebook.

«There were no signs of foul play or suspicious activity,» Maj. Nate Burnside told reporters.

WWE posted a note on X saying it was saddened to learn the WWE Hall of Famer has died.

«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,» it said.

Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, had been struggling with several health issues in recent years, including a problematic, lingering back injury from his wrestling days. Hogan had not wrestled since 2012 but had been in the news recently as a founder of the new Real American Freestyle wrestling promotion and the owner of an upcoming New York City bar opposite Madison Square Garden, the site of many of his big matches.

In 1985, Hogan headlined the first WrestleMania, teaming up with 1980s TV star Mr. T to take on Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff. WrestleMania I, at MSG, drew an audience of around 1 million on closed-circuit television and is credited with taking professional wrestling, specifically the then-WWF (now WWE), into the national zeitgeist.

Hogan's grudge match with Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III took the wrestling business — and Hogan's career — to new heights. Around 80,000 people filled the Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan for the match. The