rewrite this title Hulk Hogan: Sylvester Stallone, Charlotte Flair pay tribute

Actor Sylvester Stallone and WWE champion Charlotte Flair have been among the figures to pay tribute to Hulk Hogan following the wrestling icon’s death at the age of 71.

The American – real name Terry Bollea – died in hospital after medics were called to a cardiac arrest at his home at 10:00 ET on Thursday, local authorities said.

Clearwater Police Department officer Nate Burnside said there was no suspicious activity relating to the strongman’s death.

“Unfortunately, we must confirm that Terry Bollea, aka Hulk Hogan, passed away this morning,” said Bollea’s representative, Linda Boseto, speaking to CBS News.

“We are heartbroken. He was such a great human being and friend.”

Hulk Hogan death: ‘Brilliant showman’

Towering athlete Bollea won the first of his six titles with the WWF – who would later become the phenomenally successful promotion now known as WWE – in 1984.

Two years earlier, Bollea, who was known for his yellow and red costume, starred in hit film Rocky III as a wrestling champion, Thunderlips, who fights Stallone’s title character, Rocky.

“I had the pleasure of meeting this brilliant personality and showman when he was 26 years old,” Stallone said on Instagram following Bollea’s death.

“He was absolutely wonderful and his amazing skill made Rocky III incredibly special. My heart breaks.”

Hulk Hogan career

As well as featuring in a string of acting roles, Hogan continued to enjoy an extraordinary wrestling career that included a change from the WWF to rival company the WCW during the mid-90s, although he made the switch back when the WWF bought the WCW in 2001 and was inducted in their Hall of Fame by Stallone in 2005.

In 2012, a sex tape featuring Bollea was leaked online, and he subsequently received a $31 million payout from gossip website Gawker in 2016, having sued for $100m.

In 2015, audio leaked of Bollea using extremely racist language. He apologised and called the comments “the biggest mistake” of his life, while the WWE cut links with him and expelled him from the hall of fame.

Bollea was reinstated in 2018 and re-established a working relationship with the organisation.

He went on to take a vocal interest in politics, speaking at the Republican National Convention in 2024 in support of Donald Trump’s re-election campaign.

Hulk Hogan: WWE champ Flair pays tribute

WWE superstar and 14-time champion Flair said her “heart breaks” for Bollea’s children, Brooke and Nick.

“When I nearly lost my dad eight years ago, one of the few people who was there for all of it was Hulk Hogan,” Flair wrote on social media. “Rest in peace, brother.”

Hogan married his wife, Sky Daily, in 2023. He was previously married to Jennifer McDaniel between 2010 and 2021 and Linda Claridge between 1983 and 2009.

Images: Courtesy WWE