Hulk Hogan — arguably the world’s most famous professional wrestler — has passed away.
He was 71 years old.
News of Hogan’s passing comes courtesy of TMZ, who reports that paramedics were dispatched to Hogan’s home in Clearwater, Florida early on Thursday morning.
Sadly, they were unable to revive the unconscious WWE icon.
Hulk Hogan’s cause of death believed to be cardiac arrest
While no official cause of death has been revealed, sources tell TMZ that the 911 call from Hogan’s residence mentioned “cardiac arrest.”
Police cars and ambulances were reportedly parked outside of Hogan’s home for several hours before he was eventually wheeled out on a stretcher.
Hogan’s death comes just weeks after a former friend alleged that the wrestler’s health had taken a sharp downturn.
During a recent podcast interview, the radio personality known as Bubba the Love Sponge claimed that he had received “reliable” information indicating that Hogan was on his deathbed.
“I got some pretty reliable information last night that there are phone calls being made to various family members about getting to town to say their goodbyes,” Bubba remarked.
The former DJ conceded that he was no longer close with his former friend due to his alleged role in leaking Hogan’s sex tape.
Asked about his sources, Bubba described them as “pretty damn reliable” and stated that he had last been in contact with the informant less than a week prior.
“Hogan is in a hospital, and I’ve heard people say that he might not make it,” the insider allegedly remarked.
At the time, Hogan’s wife, Sky Daily, denied that her husband was near death.
We will have further updates on this developing story as new information becomes available.
An epic life, both inside and outside of the ring
Born Terry Gene Bollea in 1953, Hogan started his professional wrestling career in 1977 and gained mainstream fame when he signed with the WWE in 1983.
He quickly transcended the sport to become one of the most marketable celebrities on the planet, lending his name and likeness to everything from deodorants to Saturday morning cartoons.
Hogan rebranded as a “heel” in 1996, when he launched the New World Order and kicked off a second phase of his career in which he became known as Hollywood Hulk Hogan.
The Hulkster, as he was affectionately known, accumulated dozens of film and television credits over the course of his career, and he even showcased his musical talents on several popular singles.
Hogan is survived by his wife and his two children, Brooke and Nick Hogan, both of whom gained fame in their own right due to the family’s reality show, Hogan Knows Best, which ran on VH1 from 2005 to 2007.
Our thoughts go out to Hulk Hogan’s loved ones during this enormously difficult time.