Professional wrestling icon Hulk Hogan passed away on July 24 due to cardiac arrest. He was 71 years old. Hogan gained popularity as a professional wrestler in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in the 1980s. Hogan was tall, blond haired, blue eyed, and extremely muscular. WWF president Vince McMahon saw Hogan’s attributes as a marketing opportunity to establish professional wrestling (and the WWF in particular) as a premier force in what is now considered sports entertainment.
Hogan didn’t disappoint. He captured the WWF World Title from a wrestler nicknamed The Iron Sheik on January 23, 1984, in New York City’s famed arena, Madison Square Garden. From that point on, Hogan was marketed as an all-American icon. He gave interviews telling children to “say their prayers and take their vitamins” while defending his title in battle against sometimes bigger and sometimes meaner opponents like Andre the Giant, King Kong Bundy, Hercules Hernandez, and Big John Studd. Hogan even entered the ring to Rick Derringer’s song “Real American”, a song that embodied what being a professional wrestling hero was all about. His matches were the epitome of good versus evil battles that many wrestling fans were emotionally invested in. Hogan played a large role in making professional wrestling a multibillion-dollar empire, His name remained in wrestling folklore even after he left the WWF for good in 1993 to pursue a career in film and television.
Hogan returned to wrestling in 1994, joining a rival organization called World Championship Wrestling. On July 7, 1996, Hogan shocked the wrestling world by shedding his good guy image and joining a group of wrestlers called The New World Order. They were known for dominating lesser opponents while fighting dirty every step of the way. Of course, this led to fans booing Hogan for his new alliance. But it helped maintain his presence in the wrestling spotlight.
Hogan’s wrestling legacy suffered a blow with revelations of racism. One particular rant in 2007 displayed Hogan expressing disapproval regarding the idea of his daughter Brooke dating a black man. Hogan immediately apologized after the rant was somehow made public. But the damage was done. His contract with World Wrestling Entertainment (or WWE, which was formerly known as the WWF) was terminated, with all reference to his wrestling accomplishments removed from the WWE website.
It may be considered poor taste to mention that part of Hogan’s legacy after his death. What must be realized is that Hogan was an entertainer. The ring persona he created during his initial ascent towards wrestling immortality must be separated from who he was outside of the ring. Many people harbor sentiments similar to Hogan’s. Free speech under the First Amendment of the United States constitution dictates their entitlement to do so. However, having those beliefs expressed in public are socially unacceptable in 2025. And expressing those beliefs won’t insulate them from adverse public reaction, including Hulk Hogan’s legacy.