Key Takeaways
- Hulk Hogan has suddenly passed away at 71 years old in his home in Florida.
- Hogan will go down as one of the biggest legends in WWE history after transforming the sport in the 1980s.
- We take a look at the impact Hogan had on the WWE and how he changed the company for the better.
Hulk Hogan (Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images)
The WWE world lost an absolute legend on Thursday. Hulk Hogan, one of the most historic wrestlers in the history of the company, has passed away at 71 years old. Hogan truly changed the WWE for the better, transforming it from a relatively unknown sport to a full-on entertainment powerhouse.
Initially known as the WWF before changing over to the WWE in 2002, Hogan was one of the sport’s brightest stars. He made an epic appearance in Rocky III in the early 1980s, and that was the start of something special for his career. In 1984, he beat the Iron Sheik to claim the World Heavyweight Championship. After that victory, “Hulkamania” became a popular trend.
His 1988 match with Andre the Giant garnered 33 million viewers and remains one of the most iconic fights in WWE history. In the early 90s, he was the first wrestler to win two consecutive Royal Rumbles, and in 1993, he briefly left the company to pursue his Hollywood career. Just a year later, he returned, but Hogan would join the rival company, WCW. He became a star for them and adopted the persona “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan in 1996. Hogan skyrocketed the popularity of World Championship Wrestling, winning numerous titles along the way.
In 2002, he would return to the WWE because they purchased WCW in 2001. Hogan eventually left and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005. He was also inducted again in 2020. During his storied career, Hogan had numerous legendary matches with names like The Rock, The Ultimate Warrior, and Randy Savage. His ‘02 showdown at Wrestlemania X8 against The Rock will be remembered for eternity.
Hogan was one of, if not the biggest, reason why WWE became such a hit across America and the world. His legacy will never, ever be forgotten. Hogan leaves behind two children. Rest in peace to an icon.
