WWE icon Hulk Hogan has died at the age of 71.
The news was first reported by TMZ on Thursday, July 24. WWE confirmed the news.
"WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away," the company said in a statement. "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."
The death of Hogan, whose legal name is Terry Bollea, comes days after rumors circulated on social media about his health. Hogan's close friend Jimmy Hart said on July 22 he was "doing phenomenal."
Hogan was influential in the rise of wrestling worldwide and was WWE's first major star. After a brief stint in WWE in the late 1970s, he re-joined the company in 1983 after Vince McMahon took ownership of the business. Then, "Hulkamania" ran wild as he soon became the most popular star in the company, and arguably all of wrestling. His All-American persona along with his hero-like abilities made fans cheer for him, and he was one of the first wrestlers to have a larger-than-life feel. His entrance song "Real American" became one of the first known wrestling songs.The Clearwater Police Department in Florida said in a statement it responded to a medical call at a residence on Clearwater Beach at 9:51 a.m. for a reported cardiac arrest. Fire and police personnel responded to the scene, and he was treated at the scene before he was taken to Morton Plant Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.