Hulk Hogan, the American star of sports and entertainment that has transformed the professional struggle into a global phenomenon and openly supported Donald Trump for the US presidency died on Thursday at the age of 71. The information was confirmed by WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment).
“WWE regrets informing that WWE Hall Hall member Hulk Hogan died. One of the most recognizable pop culture figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s,” said WWE at X. The cause of death was not informed.
Platinum and tanned blond giant mahogany color became the face of professional wrestling in the 1980s, helping to transform the simulated combat of a decaying spectacle into a billion dollar -rated family entertainment.
A crucial moment in this evolution occurred in the extravagant Wrestlemania III event in 1987, when Hogan raised also fighter André The Giant in front of a Pontiac Silverdome packed in Michigan to apply a huge fall to the French rival.
Hogan turned his fame into wrestling into a less successful Hollywood career, starring films such as “Rocky III” and “Santa with Muscles” but continued to return to the ring while his body allowed it.
In 2024, he appeared at the Republican National Convention to support Trump’s presidential candidacy, which in the 1980s had been host of Hulk -headed wrestlemania. Hogan said he made the decision to support the Republican candidate after seeing his combative reaction, with erected fist, to an attempted murder during the election campaign.
“Let Trumpamania run loose, brother!” Hogan shouted to an enthusiastic crowd, tearing his shirt to reveal a Trump tank top. “Let Tormpamania rule again!”
Tornando-it ‘hulk’
Born Terry Gene Bollea in Augusta, Georgia, on August 11, 1953, the future Hulk and his family soon moved to the Tampa region, Florida. After high school, he played low for local rock bands, but was attracted to the boiling scene of Florida in the 1970s.
Many details of his career were exaggerations of show Business, representative of the fine line between reality and fiction in the wrestling.
His first coach allegedly broke Hogan’s leg to dissuade him from entering the business, but he persisted in the wrestling, in weight training and-how he admitted later-in the use of anabolic steroids. He gained notoriety as his biceps became what he called “24 -inch pythons.”
The nickname “Hulk” arose from comparisons with the comic book hero portrayed on TV at the time. He would end up paying royalties to Marvel Comics for years. “Hogan” was the invention of prosecutor Vincent J. McMahon, owner of WWF (World Wrestling Federation), who wanted Irish representation among his stars.
His appearance as fighter Thunderlips in “Rocky 3”, where he was making the lead actor Sylvester Stallone look small, catapulted Hogan to the mainstream. Upon returning to WWF, now controlled by McMahon’s son Vincent K., he defeated Iron Sheik in 1984 to claim the World Championship, a belt that would keep for four years.
Hogan became a well-known name, appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine and performing alongside pop culture stars such as Mr. T. WWF began to dominate the wrestling, anchored by its annual Pay-View Wrestlemania events.
Facing “The Rock”
He later joined competitor WCW (World Championship Wrestling), exchanging his yellow knitting characteristics and taking over the persona of the villain “Hollywood” Hogan, leader of a rules broken group known as New World Order. The trick has revitalized his career.
Hogan eventually returned to WWF, now known as WWE, and faced Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in Wrestlemania in 2002.
“I’m better than him,” Hogan told Reuters at the time, five months before his 50th birthday. “I will be beside The Rock and I will posit with him if he wants.” The Rock eventually won the fight.
Hogan was twice introduced into WWE’s fame hall and referred to himself as the “Babe Ruth” of the fight – reference to the famous New York Yankees baseball player.
Media war
Outside Ringues and TV, Hulk Hogan starred in a court battle against Gawker Media, an American group that gathered news sites.
One of the pages published in 2012 a video showing the fighter having sex. His lawsuit against the group, sponsored by a billionaire who had declared war on the websites, was closed in 2016. Gawker Media was ordered to pay an indemnity of $ 140 million ($ 773 million in the current price) to Hogan. An agreement was later made.
The conviction led the group to the Concordat. The Gawker website cast, which included Gizmodo, Jezebel and Deadspin, was sold to Univision Communications for $ 135 million ($ 745 million in the current price), except the main site, Gawker.com, which closed the doors.
Hogan’s process represented a collision between the first amendment to the United States Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression and the press, and the 14th amendment, which protects the right to privacy.
The case and other broader issues regarding the first amendment became the subject of debate in the 2016 presidential campaign, after then-candidate Donald Trump announced plans to reform laws on defamation and facilitate media processes.
