Hulk Hogan, the wrestling legend from the 1980s and 90s, has died at 71. TMZ first reported the news.
Tributes are already pouring in on social media, including an iconic clip of Hogan tearing off his shirt at the Republican National Convention — which took place in Milwaukee last July.
Hogan spoke for nearly 10 minutes on the final night of the convention, shortly before President Donald Trump took the stage and accepted the nomination.
Most memorably, about a third of the way through his remarks, Hogan shrugged off his suit coat, ripped his “Real American” shirt in half and revealed an orange Trump-Vance cut-off shirt.
“What happened last week when they took a shot at my hero and they tried to kill the next President of the United States, enough was enough,” Hogan said during the moment. “And I said let Trump-a-mania run wild brother, let Trump-a-mania rule again. Let Trump make America great again.”
The convention began just days after an assassination attempt on Trump, which shifted the tone of the multi-day event in downtown Milwaukee.
Hogan spoke for several more minutes after the shirt-ripping spectacle, focusing on the image of Trump’s strength that Republicans aimed to project on the convention stage.
“Over my career, I’ve been in the ring with some of the biggest, some of the baddest dudes on the planet,” Hogan said. “I know tough guys. But let me tell you something, brother: Donald Trump is the toughest of them all.”
Trump apparently approved of Hogan’s speech, raising his fist in the air and blowing Hogan a kiss.
Hogan was born Terry Gene Bollea in Augusta, Georgia. He retired from wrestling in 2012 after a 35-year career and six WWE championships.
He was a registered Republican and expressed political ambitions. In 2018, former Trump advisor Roger Stone urged him to run for U.S. Senate in Florida.
Trump has a long history with Hogan and the WWE. Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO and president Dana White also had a speaking gig at the RNC.
Hogan returned to Wisconsin this year to promote his beer brand, including most recently in March with stops in Appleton, Beaver Dam, Watertown, Oconomowoc, Kenosha, Lake Geneva and Silver Lake.
