Whatcha Gonna Do, Brother? Wrestling World Mourns Hulk Hogan

Well, here we are. Another cultural giant gone. Another part of our childhood, our memories, our pop culture muscle — gone.

Hulk Hogan passed away today (Thursday, July 24, 2025) at the age of 71 in Clearwater, Florida, after what authorities are calling cardiac arrest.

Let me be very clear: this man wasn’t just a professional wrestler.

He was the professional wrestler.

He was the face, the voice, the walk, the slam, the pose — the moment — for generations of fans.

Before there was The Rock. Before there was Stone Cold. Before there was even WrestleMania as we know it — there was Hulk Hogan.

And now, he's gone.

The Man Who Slammed Giants and Ratings

Back in 1985, Hogan wasn’t just main-eventing WrestleMania I with Mr. T — he was putting the WWF (now WWE) on the map. Before Vince McMahon had a billion-dollar empire, Hogan gave wrestling what it never had before: mainstream superstardom.

Then, in 1987, he did the unthinkable — he body-slammed Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III in front of over 80,000 people at the Pontiac Silverdome.

That moment?

It’s the stuff of wrestling folklore. It wasn't just Hogan’s strength; it was the theater, the drama, and the grandeur.

It told a story millions tuned in to see — and millions still remember.

In a rematch that aired for free on NBC later that year, Hogan drew 33 million viewers.

Do you hear me? 33 million. 

Those are Super Bowl-type numbers.

The Reinvention of a Legend

By the mid-90s, though, the “eat your vitamins and say your prayers” thing started to get old. Fans wanted edge. They wanted real. They wanted grit.

And wouldn’t you know it — Hulk Hogan flipped the script.

In 1996, in what is still the greatest heel turn in wrestling history, Hogan became the villain.

“Hollywood” Hogan.

Black bandana.

Spray-painted NWO shirts.

The leg drop on Macho Man Randy Savage that changed everything.

He aligned with Kevin Nash and Scott Hall in WCW’s New World Order, and the result?

Wrestling’s hottest era.

Hogan helped lead WCW to beat WWE in the ratings for 83 straight weeks. That heel turn was the spark that ignited the Monday Night Wars.

Love him or hate him — Hogan reinvented himself and kept the industry alive.

The Complicated Truth

Now, look — I’d be doing a disservice if I didn’t mention the other side of Hulk Hogan. The man behind the mustache.

In 2015, leaked video footage of Hogan using the N-word and making racist remarks surfaced. WWE cut ties with him. It was ugly. Disappointing. And real.

You can’t just overlook that. He was eventually reinstated years later, but the sting of that scandal stuck with a lot of us, especially in the Black community. You can acknowledge someone’s legacy while also reckoning with their flaws.

It’s complicated. Just like most legends are.

Ranking the GOATs

Is Hulk Hogan the greatest of all time? I’m not going to lie to you — I don’t have him No. 1.

My list goes like this:

1. The Rock – The charisma, the crossover, the box office. Nobody touches him.

2. Stone Cold Steve Austin – He was the Attitude Era. The beer. The stunners. The defiance.

3. Shawn Michaels – The best wrestler pound-for-pound. Bar none.

4. Hulk Hogan – The pioneer. The superstar. The guy who laid the foundation.

5. Ric Flair – The stylin', profilin' icon. Sixteen world titles don’t lie.

   
   

Still, Hogan changed the business forever. That much is undeniable.

The Final Bell

At the end of the day, Hulk Hogan was wrestling for millions. He inspired kids to flex their arms, rip their shirts, and shout “Whatcha gonna do, brother?!” at the top of their lungs.

He transcended wrestling. He was on cereal boxes, cartoons, movies — you name it.

For all the controversy, for all the criticism — Hogan was a one-of-one. And today, whether you loved him or loathed him, a giant has left the ring for good.

Rest in peace, Hulkster.