Tributes have been pouring in after it was announced that pro wrestling legend Terry Gene Bollea, better known as Hulk Hogan, died on Thursday morning at the age of 71 in Clearwater, Florida.
Hogan’s former employer, WWE, posted a tribute on their social media just after the news broke.
“WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away. 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,” the organization shared via X.
Hogan also received an outpouring of love from conservatives, as the wrestling pro had been a fervent supporter of President Donald Trump, going so far as to take the stage at the Republican National Convention in 2024.
Vice President JD Vance wrote on X, “Hulk Hogan was a great American icon. One of the first people I ever truly admired as a kid. The last time I saw him we promised we’d get beers together next time we saw each other. The next time will have to be on the other side, my friend! Rest in peace.”
“R.I.P to a legend,” Donald Trump Jr. shared.
“Hulk Hogan was a genuine, uniquely American creation. Fearlessly original. Flawed but unbowed. He had the courage to stand on his own principles, and he never stopped fighting for his country. An American icon. He will be missed,” Turning Point founder Charlie Kirk said in tribute.
U.K.-based journalist Piers Morgan also paid his respects on X, writing, “RIP Hulk Hogan – the most iconic wrestler in history, a wonderful character, and in person, a far gentler, charming, intelligent man far removed from his snarling beast ring (and Rocky movie!) persona. Sad news.”
Members of the wrestling community also reacted to the passing of one of the most well-known faces in the industry.
“WWE would not be where it is today without the larger-than-life characters that compete in the ring … and few, if any, loomed larger than Terry ‘Hulk Hogan’ Bollea,” former pro wrestler Triple H, real name Paul Levesque, wrote in his X tribute. “He was the archetype of what it meant to be a ‘Superstar’ – a global sensation that inspired millions to work hard at whatever it was they wanted to accomplish and a look that made him recognizable to fans around the world.”
“Hulk Hogan, clad in red and yellow or nWo black and white, was simply put, iconic. As a Real American or the leader of one of the industry’s biggest factions, he transcended and elevated the entire business to heights never before seen – in every country and on every continent,” he went on. “There was no one like The Hulkster and there very well may never be another. My family sends their condolences to his family, friends, and fans.”
WWE would not be where it is today without the larger-than-life characters that compete in the ring … and few, if any, loomed larger than Terry “Hulk Hogan” Bollea.
He was the archetype of what it meant to be a “Superstar” – a global sensation that inspired millions to work… pic.twitter.com/wXpgFvAhHA
— Triple H (@TripleH) July 24, 2025
“Deeply saddened to hear of the passing of my friend and wrestling legend, Hulk Hogan. Terry Gene Bollea — known to millions as Hulk Hogan — was more than an icon in the ring. He was a man with a big heart and a genuine desire to help others,” former wrestler Marc Mero wrote on X. “I’ll truly miss him. He was one of the greats — not just in professional wrestling, but in the way he treated people. Rest in peace, Hulkster. You’ll always be remembered, brother.”
Retired wrestler Jake “the Snake” Roberts shared on Instagram, “It’s hard to put into words what Terry ‘Hulk Hogan’ Bollea meant to professional wrestling and entertainment. He may be gone, but his memory and legacy will live forever.”
A cause of death has not yet been disclosed. Hogan’s health has been in the headlines as rumors swirled that he was “on his deathbed” or “in a coma.” Meanwhile, Sky, whom Hogan wed in 2023, insisted he was fine. She said Hogan was doing well and recovering from recent surgeries.
Clearwater police wrote on Facebook that they had been dispatched to Hogan’s house on an emergency call for cardiac arrest at 9:51 a.m. on Thursday. Hogan was transported to Morton Plant Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.