By Lillie Jaenchen
Two-time WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan, whose real name was Terry Gene Bollea, has died, according to Clearwater, Florida police. He was 71.
“WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away,” the company said. “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.”
TMZ reports a cardiac arrest call was made this morning, and medics were dispatched to his Clearwater, Florida home.
He was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Hogan’s professional wresting career began in 1977, and he rose to prominence in the ‘80s with his Hulkmania persona. According to the New York Post, he transformed the WWE, then known as the WWF, into a “a national powerhouse.”
Last month, rumors circulated that Hogan was on his deathbed. But a rep said at the time that Hogan “had problems with his back,” which he had a “successful” neck fusion surgery for.
Faith was a priority for the WWE legend.
Though he accepted Christ as his savior when he was 14 years old, Hogan’s relationship with God deepened in recent years.
He was baptized in 2023 at Indian Rocks Baptist Church, calling it the “greatest day of my life.”
“Once I was baptized, I felt all new. It really was a major pivot,” he said during an appearance on THE 700 CLUB. “It’s given me the opportunity to prove that I’m faithful, that I’ll never make those mistakes again.”
Hogan was married three times, sharing two children — Brooke and Nick — with his first wife Linda Boella. They were married from 1993 to 2009. The wrestler then wed Jennifer McDaniel in 2010, but they divorce in 2021.
He is survived by wife Sky Daily and his two children.
In his later years, Hogan realized why he needed to fully surrender his life to Christ.
“I’ve always been a believer, but I didn’t completely surrender,” he previously told TBN. “I thought I could drive better than He could. I thought I could make the decisions better than He could. And, you know, He takes His hand off the wheels and goes, ‘Okay, you think you can do it better? Go ahead and do it.'”
He quickly learned that doing life his way never went well.
“I decided to turn back to my faith, and one of the things that I did was put that crazy tattoo on my back ‘immortal.’ And, you know, I accepted Christ as my savior, and He died for my sins, and I’ll live forever, and I put that on my back,” Hogan declared.
While Hogan’s family, friends and fans will certainly mourn his death, they can rejoice knowing he’s now in the presence of his savior.
Please keep his family and friends in your prayers during this difficult time.
Read Next: Hulk Hogan Encourages ‘Surrender’ to God: ‘He’ll Clean You Up’
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