Terry Bollea, better known to wrestling fans as the legendary Hulk Hogan, died early Thursday morning. He was 71 years old.

Hogan's passing was first reported by TMZ Sports, which states emergency personnel were dispatched to his home in Clearwater, Florida, over a reported "cardiac arrest."

He rose to fame in the 1980s as the charismatic face of WWE, headlining eight of the first nine WrestleManias after promoter Vince McMahon turned a traditionally territorial business into a national phenomenon under one main umbrella.

Hogan's iconic 1984 World Heavyweight Championship win over the Iron Sheik kicked off the "Hulkamania" phenomenon that transformed professional wrestling into a global entertainment juggernaut. In the 80s, Hogan was certainly in the argument for the biggest star in sports and entertainment.

He later saw a career resurgence with a heel turn as Hollywood Hogan with the nWo in 1996, a storyline that helped redefine wrestling by introducing more reality-based characters who exhibited both good and bad traits, emulating actual human beings rather than cartoon characters.

The Hulkster's career, marked by six WWE Championships and memorable matches against stars like Andre the Giant and The Rock, cemented his legacy as one of wrestling’s greatest icons.

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Hulk Hogan became a massive star due to a combination of charisma, timing, and strategic branding. His larger-than-life personality, marked by intense promos and a magnetic presence, captivated audiences as wrestling began booming with him in the spotlight. 

It's impossible to relive the 80s and not think of such iconic moments as the Hulkster's slam of the 520-pound Andre the Giant, or his tag-team match with Mr. T facing off against "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff.

Hogan’s crossover appeal, with appearances in movies like "Rocky III" and mainstream media, elevated wrestling’s cultural status. Cartoons, cereals, toys - all manner of marketing efforts with his face attached - cemented him as a pop culture icon.

Hogan recently endeared himself to both patriotic and religious Americans, making an earth-shattering appearance at the Republican National Convention (RNC) to support President Trump's candidacy, while he and his wife were baptized almost two years ago.

The two-time WWE Hall of Famer was clearly saying his prayers and eating his vitamins, even as he entered his seventies, proving it by getting baptized alongside his better half.

“Total surrender and dedication to Jesus is the greatest day of my life,” he said in a post to his followers. “No worries, no hate, no judgment… only love!”

Hogan's appearance at the RNC was something that no one in attendance, or anyone who watched it on television, will soon forget. It was, much like his career, legendary. He did, after all, deliver a speech to the jacked-up, pro-Trump crowd that, once he was done, made you want to eat a bowl of rusty nails … without any milk.

Hogan amped up the energy to 11 with a speech that began with his theme song entrance and the obligatory ripping off of his shirt.

At one point, he graced those in attendance with his version of the Trump dance. If that wasn't fun enough, he challenged Trump to an arm wrestling match.

The crowd was losing its collective minds at that point.

Hogan managed to personify the MAGA crowd's anger over what the mainstream media had done in villifying a great American president. You would have run through a wall for that man and Trump by the time he was finished.

“I don't see no stinking Nazis in here. I don't see no stinking domestic terrorists in here. The only thing I see in here are a bunch of hard-working men and women that are real Americans, brother,” the amped up wrestler said.

He captured the spirit and the excitement at the RNC and, quite frankly, made it quite clear that politics was witnessing an energy not seen perhaps since the ascension of Barack Obama in 2008.

Hogan would later explain the turning point in why he chose to publicly back Trump, when so many in the entertainment industry were too afraid, even those within the WWE.

“When they took a shot at my hero, Donald Trump, I realized that I couldn’t be silent anymore," he told Fox News anchor Bret Baier.

Tributes have been pouring in on social media, celebrating the life of Hulk Hogan both as a wrestler and a friend and family man.

"I am absolutely shocked to hear about the passing of my close friend, [Hulk Hogan]," fellow two-time WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair said. "Hulk has been by my side since we started in the wrestling business. An incredible athlete, talent, friend, and father!"

"We all have fond memories of [Hulk Hogan]," wrote House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) on X. "From my childhood in the ‘80s, to campaigning with him last year, I always saw him as a giant in stature and in life. May he rest in peace."

On a personal note, this author grew up a fan of wrestling, having watched it religiously on Saturday mornings with my best friend. That friend passed away as a young boy after battling a brain tumor.

Within minutes of hearing the news of Hulk Hogan's passing, his mother called me and we reminisced about her son and me being huge fans. Funny how such devastating news can transport you back almost 45 years in an instant. I teared up a bit.

Rest in peace, Hulk. You won't soon be forgotten.

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