Crowd assembles at a Florida church for Hulk Hogan's funeral ceremony
Hulk Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, passed away on July 24, 2023, at the age of 69. Known for his larger-than-life personality and in-ring exploits, Hogan was a prominent figure in the history of the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
The first WrestleMania in 1985 saw Hulk Hogan as the main draw, marking a significant milestone in his career. His influence extended beyond the wrestling ring, with appearances in numerous movies and television shows, including Rocky III, No Holds Barred, Suburban Commando, Thunder in Paradise, and the reality show Hogan Knows Best about his family life. He also fronted a band called Wrestling Boot Band, whose 1995 album Hulk Rules reached number 12 on the Billboard Top Kid Audio chart.
In the 1980s, Hogan played a crucial role in mainstreaming professional wrestling by crossing over into media outlets like MTV, helping wrestling capture a mass audience beyond just sports fans. This exposure made him a general pop culture icon and a symbol of wrestling’s explosive growth into mainstream entertainment.
In the 1990s, Hogan notably revitalized his career by adopting a villainous persona, Hollywood Hogan, and leading the New World Order (nWo) faction in World Championship Wrestling (WCW). This character reinvention helped secure WCW’s success during the “Monday Night Wars” era and reshaped wrestling storytelling.
However, Hogan's legacy is complicated by numerous controversies. He admitted steroid use in the 1990s and was involved in legal battles, including a high-profile privacy lawsuit against Gawker over leaked personal videos and racial slur incidents in the 2010s. These controversies considerably damaged his public image and reputation. Additionally, his political alignment with Donald Trump and subsequent remarks sparked further public backlash in the 2020s.
President Donald Trump paid tribute to Hogan by posting a photo on his Truth Social platform showing him arm wrestling Hogan. Hogan's private funeral service was held at the church where he was baptized in 2023, with the service signs reading, "Private Event." Anyone not on the guest list was turned away, and the service was heavily patrolled by church security and Largo police officers, including K-9 dogs. Hogan's body will be cremated.
Despite the controversies, Hulk Hogan's impact on professional wrestling and popular culture is undeniable. His career beyond wrestling included significant contributions to film, music, reality television, and the promotion of wrestling’s mainstream breakthrough.
[1] Wikipedia: Hulk Hogan [2] Sports Illustrated: Hulk Hogan's WrestleMania 1 Legacy [3] The Ringer: Hulk Hogan's Long, Strange Career
- News outlets and media networks, including Sports Illustrated and The Ringer, are expected to cover Hulk Hogan's impact on popular culture, delving into his contributions to film, music, reality television, and the promotion of wrestling's mainstream breakthrough.
- Toronto-based entertainment and pop-culture websites are likely to feature stories about Hulk Hogan's life and career, given his role as a general pop-culture icon and his significant influence in mainstreaming professional wrestling.
- Celebrity news portals might highlight Hulk Hogan's funeral service, attended by President Donald Trump, as a notable event in the entertainment world, despite the controversies that have tarnished his public image and reputation.
