By Mark Ellis —
The world of professional wrestling and millions of fans worldwide grieve the loss of Terry Bollea, better known as Hulk Hogan, who passed into the arms of Jesus on Thursday morning from his home in Clearwater, Florida. He was 71.
Emergency responders found him unresponsive following a reported heart attack, and he was pronounced dead at a local hospital, according to TMZ Sports.
Hogan, the bleach-blond, bandana-clad icon who transformed wrestling into a global phenomenon, leaves a legacy not only of championship belts and “Hulkamania,” but of a strong Christian faith that became pronounced in his final years.
His family, through a statement to Reuters, expressed their sorrow: “We are heartbroken to announce that Terry ‘Hulk Hogan’ Bollea has passed away. His impact on wrestling and his love for his fans will live forever.”
Born August 11, 1953, in Augusta, Georgia, Hogan moved to Tampa, Florida, as a child, where his towering physique and charisma found a home in the wrestling ring. Initially a bass guitarist in local rock bands, Hogan felt a pull toward wrestling in the 1970s, despite a trainer breaking his leg to deter him, according to The Washington Post. Undeterred, he trained relentlessly, his 24-inch “pythons” fueled by what he later admitted was anabolic steroid use.
Under promoter Vincent J. McMahon (and his wife Linda, now Secretary of Education), he adopted the name “Hulk Hogan,” paying royalties to Marvel Comics for the name inspired by the comic-book hero. His 1984 WWF Championship win against the Iron Sheik, held for four years, propelled him to stardom, headlining eight of the first nine WrestleManias and drawing 33 million viewers for his 1988 match against André the Giant, a record for wrestling broadcasts.
Hogan’s charisma and shirt-ripping showmanship made him a pop culture titan. His role as Thunderlips in Rocky III (1982) introduced him to Hollywood, followed by films like No Holds Barred and Santa with Muscles. His reality show Hogan Knows Best and Saturday morning cartoon cemented his status as a household name.
Wrestling historian Dave Meltzer called him the greatest ticket-seller in wrestling history, stating, “You can’t possibly overrate his significance.”
Hogan’s Christian faith, a cornerstone of his later life, began at age 14 when he accepted Christ, though he admitted to “derailing” during his wrestling career, as shared in a 2024 700 Club interview.
Married to Linda Claridge (1983–2009), he had two children, Brooke and Nick. His 2023 marriage to Sky Daily marked a new chapter of stability, with Sky dismissing coma rumors weeks before his death, affirming his “strong heart.”
His 2023 baptism at Indian Rocks Baptist Church in Largo, Florida, alongside Sky, was a public declaration of his “total surrender and dedication to Jesus,” which he called “the greatest day of my life” on Instagram. Wearing a John 3:16 shirt, Hogan described himself as a “meat suit filled with the Spirit of Christ,” a testing ground for faith.
Following the baptism, he invited his followers to turn to Jesus as well, saying, “Knowing of Jesus and knowing Him are two different things.”
Amidst his iconic status, he admitted that fame and fortune did not fulfill him. “I was always a believer, but I didn’t completely surrender,” Hogan told TBN. “I thought I could drive better than He could. I thought I could make the decisions better than He could. And now He takes His hands off the wheel and says, ‘Okay. You think you can do it better, go ahead and do it.’ So, like I said, I got tired of crashing and burning…”
Recently, he posted on his social media page about the joy of rediscovering his Christian faith. “I accepted Christ as my savior at 14 yrs old and the training, prayers, and vitamins kept me in the game, but now that I am one with God, the main event theme of surrender, service, and love makes me the Real Main Event that can slam any giant of any size through the power of my Lord and Savior and so it is, even now brother, AMEN!”
Hogan invited his followers to come to Jesus, no matter what their background or condition: “I think all those people that have all the excuses for being in the wrong place at the wrong time or not being good enough. You don’t need to be cleaned up. Come to Him. He’ll clean you up,” he said.
Hogan’s legacy endures through his WWE Hall of Fame inductions (2005, 2020), six WWE Championships, and cultural impact. Tributes from Piers Morgan, who called him a “gentler, charming man” behind the “snarling beast,” and Ric Flair, who said, “No one will ever compare,” flood social media.
Survived by Sky, Brooke, Nick, and grandchildren, Hogan’s life testifies to the power of redemption in Jesus Christ.
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