This has been a devastating week for Gen-Xers. Three celebrities of our youth have passed away. Earlier this week, Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Ozzy Osbourne died, and now pro wrestling legend Hulk Hogan has passed away.
Medics were dispatched to the 71-year-old WWE icon's Clearwater, Florida home early Thursday morning ... with operators stating it was regarding a "cardiac arrest."
We're told a slew of police cars and EMTs were parked outside Hogan's home ... and the icon was carried on a stretcher and into an ambulance.
Just a few weeks ago, Hogan's wife, Sky, denied rumors he was in a coma ... stating his heart was "strong" as he recovered from surgeries.
We broke the story last month — there were rumblings Hogan was on his "deathbed" ... but we were told at the time he was just dealing with the symptoms of a neck procedure he underwent in May.
Before Hogan came on the scene, professional wrestling was a niche form of entertainment. Often low-budget and rough around the edges, the pro wrestling of ages past wasn’t the slick product that it is today. Hogan (born Terry Gene Bollea in Augusta, Ga.) helped usher in the modern era of pro wrestling.
I like the way TMZ explains Hogan’s appeal: “Hulk transformed professional wrestling into a family entertainment sport. Before Hulk, wrestling catered to a fairly narrow audience. Hulk's theatrics in the ring was [sic] magnetic for children and their parents, and it supercharged the sport.”
Hogan’s candy-colored wardrobe, boundless enthusiasm, and “real American” persona appealed to kids and adults, and he was an easy hero to follow and emulate. My brother had a foot-tall Hulk Hogan action figure that’s at my house today for some reason. He said he would pick it up on his way home from work for his shrine.
Hogan’s villainous turn in 1996 broke plenty of hearts, but it added to the Hogan legend. World Wrestling Entertainment inducted him into its hall of fame in 2005, but after the cretinous gossip site Gawker leaked allegedly racist comments he made, WWE rescinded his induction in 2015. Hogan successfully sued Gawker, and WWE re-inducted him in 2020 as part of NWO, the collection of wrestlers he hung with under his villain persona.
The Hulkster had a successful career in movies and television as well, but his appearance at the 2024 Republican National Convention may have been one of his most memorable moments of his later years. He exulted Donald Trump both in character as Hulk Hogan and out of character as Terry Bollea.
Related: Hulkamania Invades the RNC, Brother!
“I really, really love this country, and I've lived the American dream. And I want my kids, your kids, and all those little teeny maniacs out there to live the American dream too,” he said as himself. “This November, guys, we can save the American Dream for everyone. And Donald Trump is the president who will get the job done.”
“So all you criminals, all you lowlifes, all you scumbags, all you drug dealers, and all you crooked politicians need to answer one question, brother,” he said as the Hulkster. “Whatcha gonna do when Donald Trump and all the Trumpamaniacs run wild on you, brother? God bless you.”
Most importantly, he was a believer in Jesus. He spoke about his Christian faith in interviews, and he got baptized in 2023. Rest in peace, brother!