Professional wrestler Hulk Hogan has died at the age of 71.
This was announced in a statement issued by the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) on Thursday.
WWE, in the statement, expressed its sadness over the demise of the Hall of Famer
“We are saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away”. the statement partly read.
Describing Hogan as “one of pop culture’s most recognizable figures”, the WWE said Hogan helped the entertain industry to achieve global recognition in the 1980s.
“WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans,” the post concludes.
The WWE legend reportedly died of cardiac arrest at his residence.
According to the BBC, 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.
Joining the World Wrestling Federation (now World Wrestling Entertainment, WWE) in 1979 but leaving shortly after in 1981, Hogan headlined the first WrestleMania in New York in 1985, where he and Mr T defeated Paul Orndorff and Roddy Piper.
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.
Hogan was booed by the crowd at his most recent WWE appearance, when he appeared on the company’s flagship Monday Night Raw programme to promote his beer brand.
However, tribute had since began to flow in honour of the late WWE superstar
Wrestling legend, Ric Flair, in his tribute to his close friend Hulk Hogan, said he is “absolutely shocked” to hear about his death.
“An incredible athlete, talent, friend and father,
“Our friendship has meant the world to me.” Flair wrote in a post on X.
Also mourning Hogan in a short X post was Donald Trump Jr, son of the US president, who wrote”R.I.P to a legend”.
The post is accompanied by a selfie featuring the pair at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Hogan spoke on stage at the convention and other events in support of Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign.
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 undergone 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.”