
The professional wrestling community is mourning the loss of Hulk Hogan, who passed away Thursday morning at age 71. He died following a cardiac arrest at his Clearwater, Florida home, according to local authorities. The Hall of Famer was later pronounced dead at Morton Plant Hospital.
The news came just hours after he was said to be in good health. Longtime friend and WWE veteran Jimmy Hart said he was devastated. “I called him Wednesday night. Everything seemed great,” Hart told PEOPLE magazine. “By Thursday morning, he was gone.”
Hart and the wrestling icon shared a decades-long friendship, filled with appearances on screen and moments behind the scenes. From traveling the world to singing karaoke with fans at his Florida bar, their bond extended beyond the ring. “It just hits so fast,” Hart said. “We thought he was doing so well.”
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A Brotherhood Forged in Wrestling
Hart first met the larger-than-life superstar in Memphis during a regional wrestling event. At the time, Hart was managing Jerry “The King” Lawler, and the newcomer was brought in to face him. The two quickly became inseparable.
Their careers exploded in the 1980s with the WWF (now WWE), where Hart became the official manager and hype man for the man behind “Hulkamania.” They later joined WCW during the height of its rivalry with WWE and had brief stints together in other promotions.
“He had fan appeal like no one else,” Hart said. “It felt like traveling with Elvis.”
Even weeks before his death, the wrestling star remained active in public. Hart described their last night together as vibrant. “He was laughing with fans and enjoying life. You wouldn’t believe this could happen so suddenly.”
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A Legacy Marred by Injury and Controversy
Behind the camera, the pop culture figure battled serious health issues. Hart revealed that he had multiple joint replacements, including hips, knees, and shoulders. Most recently, he underwent neck surgery due to nerve pain in his arms.
“He loved wrestling more than anything,” Hart said. “But his body had taken so much punishment.”
The icon’s later years also brought public scandals that threatened to overshadow his achievements. From using racial slurs on tape to being involved in a high-profile lawsuit over a sex tape, his personal life sparked significant backlash. His vocal support for Donald Trump also divided fans, especially during his last WWE appearance earlier this year.
Still, Hart firmly believes that his friend deserves to be remembered among the greatest. “He’s right next to Ric Flair in the all-time list,” he said.
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Final Tribute from a Friend
Friday Night SmackDown in Cleveland will feature an official tribute to the wrestling legend. But fans were already lining up outside the arena hours before the show, many holding signs and wearing vintage merchandise.
Hart, speaking emotionally, reflected on their time together and the immense impact his friend had on the industry.
“He was a gentle soul under all that bravado,” Hart said. “He never stopped loving this business.”
He then painted a picture of the wrestling afterlife, imagining his old friend reuniting with legends like Andre the Giant, Dusty Rhodes, Randy Savage, and Bobby Heenan.
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