Hulk Hogan Passed Away, And The Internet Melts Down With Tributes And Memes

The rise and the fall, Terry Gene Bollea — better known to millions as Hulk Hogan — was indeed a legend. The icon of wrestling.

With his towering physique, patriotic red-and-yellow persona, and the battle cry “Whatcha gonna do, brother?”, he ignited the "Rock ’n’ Wrestling Connection"—a crossover with MTV and pop music that permeated mainstream culture. The early 1980s was the era where he helped catapult wrestling into living rooms across America and beyond.

Hogan became the face of Vince McMahon’s WWF (now WWE), transforming wrestling from regional shows into prime-time entertainment.

As the embodiment of Hulkamania, Hogan filled arenas and moved merchandise.

From bandanas and action figures to lunchboxes, his branding sold out everywhere. He sold more tickets than any wrestler in history, helping WWF raise billions and eventually go public by 1999. His appeal turned wrestling into a mainstream, billion-dollar business.

Hogan died at his Clearwater, Florida home on July 24, 2025, after suffering a cardiac arrest. He was 71 years old

Hulk Hogan first rose to fame in the late 1970s and became the face of the "Hulkamania" phenomenon, helping transform the WWF (now WWE) into a global powerhouse.

He headlined multiple WrestleManias and faced legends like André the Giant and The Rock. Hogan captured six WWE World Championships and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame twice, in 2005 and 2020.

Beyond the ring, Hogan became a pop culture icon. From roles in Rocky III and Mr. Nanny to his VH1 reality series Hogan Knows Best, he transcended wrestling and cemented his celebrity status.

Not to mention his infamous case with Gawker Media.

In 2016, he won a landmark $115 million lawsuit against the company over a leaked sex tape. His reputation took a blow in 2015 when a racist rant was made public, resulting in WWE briefly removing him from their Hall of Fame—although he was reinstated in 2018 after public apology.

Despite the controversies that surrounded him, as well as his personal and legal turmoil, Hogan’s legacy was ultimately defined by his showmanship and charisma.

He played both hero and heel—famously turning villain as the leader of the nWo (New World Order) in WCW, shaking up the wrestling world and fueling TV ratings wars in the 1990s.

Hogan helped turn wrestling into global entertainment. His larger-than-life persona—yellow swagger, muscled physique, patriotic energy—became instantly recognizable. Through his eccentric promos and fierce in-ring battles, he inspired generations of athletes and fans alike.

Though his later years were tainted by scandal, many still remember him as the charismatic force behind the wrestling boom of the 1980s and 1990s. His involvement in ventures like Real American Freestyle earlier in 2025 showed he was still actively shaping wrestling culture—even outside mainstream promotions.

In his final weeks, Hogan reportedly suffered from severe weight loss, shortness of breath, and a weakened heart, requiring supplemental oxygen.

Emergency crews worked for nearly 30 minutes before he passed away at a hospital.

The news spread like wildfire.

WWE, Vince McMahon, The Undertaker, John Cena, Kurt Angle, Ric Flair, and even former President Donald Trump paid tribute, calling Hogan “the greatest WWE superstar of all time.”

When the news broke, the internet was flooded with tributes from fans.

Paul Levesque, better known by his ring name Triple H, a former wrestling superstar and now WWE’s Chief Content Officer, also shared his tribute on X.

From memes that compiled classic Hulkamania moments, to various video compilations of his signature moves trended worldwide, are being wildly shared and created.

Tributes ranged from solemn eulogies to nostalgic flashbacks. Hashtags like #HulkHogan, #Hulkamania, and #RIPHogan skyrocketed within moments.

From Vince McMahon, Jake Paul, Brooke Shields, Elijah Wood, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, Sgt. Slaughter, Lee Greenwood, Piers Morgan, and more also poured in.

Reddit threads and fan forums saw unprecedented engagement, with users revisiting his iconic matches and debating his impact on wrestling’s mainstream breakthrough. Even casual viewers were captivated by the sudden loss of a symbol from their childhood.

From body-slamming giants in WrestleMania to entering the courtroom over privacy battles, Hulk Hogan's life was anything but scripted.

He embodied wrestling’s electrifying spectacle and human frailty. His death may have been sudden, but the legend he leaves behind is immortal.

He wasn’t just a wrestler.

He was Hulkamania. And when Hulkamania runs wild... it never truly fades away.

Only before this, the internet just mourned the passing of the ‘Prince of Darkness’ Ozzy Osbourne, who died on July 22.