24/07/2025
The wrestling world is in mourning following the passing of legendary WWE Hall of Famer Terry Bollea, known globally as Hulk Hogan, who died on July 24 at the age of 71. One of pop culture's most recognizable figures, Hogan's monumental career spanned decades, shaping the landscape of professional wrestling and leaving an indelible mark on entertainment.
Hogan's journey to superstardom began after being discovered by WWE Hall of Famers Jack and Gerry Brisco in 1977. He debuted on August 10, 1977, and wrestled under various monikers before being christened Hulk Hogan by Vincent J. McMahon in 1979.
Hogan's true ascent began in 1984 when he defeated The Iron Sheik to become WWE Champion, igniting the cultural phenomenon known as Hulkamania. During this period, Hogan secured an unprecedented five WWE Championships and main-evented WrestleMania eight times, selling millions of merchandise items along the way.
After a brief hiatus from full-time wrestling, Hogan made a shocking return to the sport in 1994, joining WCW. In a move that sent shockwaves through the industry, he betrayed WCW fans and heroes to form the groundbreaking New World Order (nWo) with Scott Hall and Kevin Nash.
Hogan, Hall, and Nash returned to WWE in 2002 as the nWo, and despite a shorter tenure, Hogan once again captivated the WWE Universe. He famously clashed with The Rock at WrestleMania X8 and later won his sixth WWE Championship from Triple H at Backlash 2002.
His influence continued as he returned to WWE in 2014 to host WrestleMania 30, sharing the ring with fellow icons The Rock and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, a moment that delighted millions of fans worldwide.
Pictures: NYPost.com, eonline.com
