©Courtesy of Rocky III

Legendary WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan passed away today, July 24, at the age of 71. The professional wrestling promotion confirmed the passing of one of pop culture’s most recognizable figures since the 1980s.

Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition when he began to rise in the sports-entertainment industry over four decades ago. His popularity in the ring surged again in the 1990s through his leadership of the New World Order in WCW.

The wrestler began to pursue a career in entertainment when he launched a band in Tampa, called Ruckus. WWE Hall of Famers Jack and Gerry Brisco discovered Hogan during his time with the band.

In 1977, Hogan began training with Hiro Matsuda. The trainer intentionally broke Hogan’s lower leg just to see if he was passionate enough about wrestling to return to training in the ring.

Hogan later had his first match against B. Brian Blair in Fort Myers for Championship Wrestling from Florida. Hogan competed as the masked Super Destroyer in Florida.

Hogan then began working with his friend Ed Leslie, who would later become known as Brutus Beefcake. They performed as brothers Terry and Ed Boulder in Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia.

The wrestler then appeared on a local talk show in Memphis with retired bodybuilder and actor, Lou Ferrigno. The latter starred in the title role on the CBS television series The Incredible Hulk. Hogan then began calling himself Terry “The Hulk” Boulder because he noted he was so much larger than Ferrigno.

Hogan first appeared in WWE in 1979. He later changed his name to Hulk Hogan at the suggestion of Vincent J. McMahon. The wrestler then defeated Ted DiBiase in his first match at Madison Square Garden.

Hogan also challenged Bob Backlund for the WWE Championship. He also collided with Andre the Giant eight years before WrestleMania III in August 1980 at New York City’s Shea Stadium.

Hogan eventually garnered more success when he appeared in Rocky III. He then competed for Verne Gagne’s AWA and Antonio Inoki’s New Japan Pro Wrestling. Hogan then found success in the WWE, where where he defeated The Iron Sheik. As a result, Hogan became a WWE Champion on January 23, 1984.

Over the next decade, WWE and Hogan’s successes grew together. The company began playing on nationally syndicated television, and then moved onto pay-per-per-view. During that time, the wrestler headlined many event, including working with Mr. T at the first WrestleMania. He also defeated Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III.

Hogan went on to win an unprecedented five WWE Championships and headlined WrestleMania eight times. He also sold milillions of dollars worth of merchandise before he left WWE in August 1993.

Hogan then delved into a career as a television star on the syndicated action-adventure television series, Thunder in Paradise. After he appeared on the show, “Nature Boy” Ric Flair and new WCW Executive Producer Eric Bischoff recruited him for their company. Using Turner Broadcasting’s budget, the latter signed Hogan to a seven-figure, part-time contract.

Mr. T joined Hogan in his corner, and Shaquille O’Neal sat ringside, at the wrestler’s debut match. The wrestler defeated Flair for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship on the Bash at the Beach pay-per-view in Orlando.

After he spent two years dominating his competition in the WCW, Hogan joined The Outsiders, Scott Hall and Kevin Nash, to form the New World Order. The nWo was WCW’s greatest asset in the Monday Night War, as WCW’s Nitro went against WWE’s Monday Night Raw. During his six years with WCW, Hogan won six WCW World Heavyweight Championships.

Almost one year after WCW ceased operation, Hogan, Hall and Nash returned to WWE as the reviled nWo in February 2002. His third stint in WWE lasted less than two years. The WWE Universe embraced Hogan upon his return match against The Rock at WrestleMania X8. He later won his sixth WWE Championship from Triple H at Backlash 2002.

Hogan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 by his Rocky III co-star and friend, Sylvester Stallone. He then appeared at WrestleMania 21 the following night.

Hogan returned to WWE again in 2014 to host WrestleMania 30. The Rock and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin joined him in the ring to entertain the more than 75,000 WWE fans who gathered to watch the event live at New Orleans’ Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Millions more watched the first WrestleMania to air live on WWE Network.

After learning of Hogan’s death, the professional wrestling promotion posted a statement on X. “WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away. One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans.”