Hulk Hogan, the professional wrestling legend who transformed the sport into a global entertainment phenomenon, has died at the age of 71. Born Terry Gene Bollea in Georgia, Hogan's larger-than-life persona and trademark red-and-yellow attire made him a household name, headlining multiple WrestleManias and helping to build the WWE into a multibillion-dollar empire.
Hogan's career began in 1976 after being scouted by the Brisco brothers. Despite a broken leg suffered in his first training session, he returned to the ring within 10 weeks. He joined the WWF full-time in 1983 and won his first championship the following year, sparking the 'Hulkamania' craze that captivated fans worldwide. His iconic body slam of Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III in front of 80,000 spectators remains one of wrestling's most memorable moments.
Beyond wrestling, Hogan appeared in films such as Rocky III and Suburban Commando, starred in the reality show Hogan Knows Best, and inspired cartoons and video games. In the mid-1990s, he moved to WCW, where he formed the villainous New World Order (nWo) stable, helping WCW challenge WWF's dominance during the 'Monday Night Wars'. After WCW's collapse, he returned to WWE, having memorable matches with The Rock and Vince McMahon, and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.
Despite his success, Hogan's later years were marked by controversy and poor business decisions. He was known for embellishing his life story, often to outrageous effect. Nevertheless, his impact on sports entertainment is undeniable, with many crediting him for elevating wrestling from bingo halls to stadium-filling spectacles.
