Born Terry Gene Bollea and raised in Florida, Hogan found fame in the 1980s after triumphing over Iron Sheik to become the World Wrestling Federation’s heavyweight winner. The win sparked a phenomenon in the wrestling world known as “Hulkmania,” which he leveraged into a career outside of the sport through which he first rose to prominence.

Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan has died at 71. From his rise in the WWF to pop culture stardom, we look back on the larger-than-life icon who defined Hulkamania.

Hulk Hogan has been the talk of the sports world since the 71-year old wrestling superstar’s untimely death on Friday. Up until 2018, Hogan fit the mold of a folk hero, particularly during his rise to wrestling stardom in the 1980s.