Hulk Hogan could have made his mark on a very different sport on Australian soil prior to his tragic death on Friday.
The wrestling legend died at the age of 71 after suffering a cardiac arrest at his home in Clearwater, Florida.
Despite recent reassurances from his wife that his health was stable following a neck procedure, emergency responders were unable to revive him after performing CPR for 30 minutes.
He was transported to Morton Plant Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Hogan’s family confirmed the news in a statement, saying he passed away surrounded by loved ones and asked the public for privacy as they grieved.
Hogan’s main connection to Australia stems from the Hulkamania: Let The Battle Begin tour in 2009, which included events in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth.
Hulk Hogan once considered joining UFC, but pulled out over concerns about the event’s brutality
Hogan described AFL as tougher and more exciting than American football after watching a match in Australia
Royce Gracie in action during the Ultimate Fighter Championships UFC 1 that almost came to Australia
However he also mentioned considering participating in the first UFC event in 1993, which would have involved Australia, but ultimately decided against it due to concerns about the event’s violence.
UFC 1 launched in 1993 with stars like Royce Gracie and Ken Shamrock, showcasing a no-rules tournament that stunned global audiences.
Early plans to bring the event to Australia emerged soon after, with promoters eyeing the country’s growing combat sports scene – and Hogan said he had looked to be involved.
‘We looked at it and it was very violent and the referees weren’t stopping the matches and letting guys get beat up when they should have been stopped,’ he said.
‘So we just didn’t want to have any part of it but it’s become quite a phenomena.’
However, UFC co-creator Campbell McLaren later denied ever approaching Hogan.
While in Australia, Hogan also took in an AFL match and was stunned at the physicality, saying he preferred to the USA’s NFL.
‘I wish American football was as good as Australian football,’ he said at the time.
Hogan passed away aged 71 after suffering cardiac arrest at his Florida home on Friday
Hogan’s legendary wrestling career included iconic moments at WrestleMania III and X8
In 1996, Hogan reinvented himself as Hollywood Hogan, founding the game-changing NWO faction in WCW
‘Those young guys would eat me alive and spit me out.
‘I’ve never seen such athletes run, take those big hits and keep getting up.
‘And when I went back and watched American football, it was boring.
‘Australian football is non-stop, the guys don’t wear pads, they take big hits, it’s amazing to watch.’
Tributes flooded in from across the wrestling and political worlds, with Ric Flair, Vince McMahon and Donald Trump all paying their respects to the man who helped shape modern professional wrestling.
Hogan’s iconic career spanned decades, from slamming Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III to facing off against The Rock in a blockbuster ‘Icon vs. Icon’ match.
His larger-than-life persona helped launch WWE into global prominence, with catchphrases and showmanship that defined an era.
Hogan’s career took a dramatic turn in 1996 when he joined WCW and formed the New World Order (NWO), reinventing himself as the villainous Hollywood Hogan.
The black-and-white NWO faction, alongside Scott Hall and Kevin Nash, became one of the most influential storylines in wrestling history.
At WrestleMania III, Hogan delivered one of wrestling’s most iconic moments by body-slamming Andre the Giant in front of over 93,000 fans.
He returned to WWE in the 2000s and headlined WrestleMania X8 against The Rock in a match billed as ‘Icon vs. Icon.’
Outside the ring, Hogan’s life was marked by controversy, including a high-profile sex tape lawsuit, a racism scandal and an eyebrow-raising speech at the 2024 Republican National Convention.
He had recently been preparing to launch a new wrestling league. FOX Nation had announced a deal with Real American Freestyle to live stream the event on the platform.
Hulk Hogan is survived by his wife, Sky and his children, Brooke and Nick.
