Hulk Hogan has passed away at the age of 71, as confirmed by his family to US Weekly.
According to TMZ, Hogan experienced a cardiac arrest at his residence in Clearwater, Florida.
Last month, US Weekly reported that Hogan was recuperating from significant heart surgery.
“Hulk had pretty serious heart surgery a few weeks ago and was doing well afterward,” a source with knowledge of the situation informed the publication.
Hogan is widely recognized as one of the most prominent figures in the WWE universe, and the news of his death is a heavy blow to his countless fans worldwide.
Tributes have been pouring in for the wrestling icon, with one fan writing on Twitter: “Hard to describe this man’s dominance in our society during my childhood years. RIP to the Hulkster.”
Another person added: “I grew up watching Hulk Hogan, first in the wrestling ring, then in movies like 3 Ninjas, Mr. Nanny, and Suburban Commando. He was a true character and one of the first wrestlers I saw make the leap into Hollywood. A larger-than-life icon. RIP, Champ.”
A third individual commented: “Whether you liked him or hated him as a person, professional wrestling wouldn’t be what it is today without Hulk Hogan. Truly the end of an era. RIP.”
Although Hogan is cherished by numerous wrestling enthusiasts, his career has not been without its share of controversies in recent years.
The backlash against Hogan stemmed from a 2007 video where he was seen using a racial slur, which resulted in his removal from WWE’s Hall of Fame in 2015. However, he was reinstated three years later.
Hogan subsequently apologized for his remarks, stating: “It was wrong. I’m embarrassed by it but a lot of people need to realize that you inherit things, you’re your environment.”
“Where I grew up was South Tampa and it was a really rough neighborhood, very low income and all my friends we greeted each other saying that word.”
Upon his return to WWE following the controversy, Hogan was met with boos from the audience, much to his and his manager, Jimmy Hart’s, surprise.
Aside from his wrestling fame, Hogan also ventured into acting, appearing in movies such as Rocky III, Gremlins 2, The A-Team, and Gnomeo and Juliet.