Hulk Hogan Has Died

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Emotional reactions & cultural impact

  • Many describe the news as surreal: Hogan was a fixture of 80s–90s childhoods even for people who didn’t follow wrestling.
  • His death, alongside other recent celebrity deaths, is framed as a “tough week” for those who grew up in that era and a reminder of mortality.
  • People recall specific media: WrestleMania vs. Andre the Giant, the Hulk Hogan cartoon, “Thunder in Paradise,” and his ring entrance/“hulking up” routine that still gives some viewers goosebumps.

Health, age, and cause

  • Cardiac problems at 71 are seen as sad but not surprising, especially given known steroid use.
  • One commenter notes his entire spine being fused, expressing relief that prolonged physical pain is now over.

Contested legacy and character

  • Strongly negative views: union‑busting, racism, misogyny, xenophobia, constant lying, sabotaging others’ careers. Some say he “will not be missed.”
  • Others argue he was iconic yet a “terrible human,” and that it’s appropriate to reassess childhood heroes as adults.
  • A counterview holds that judging people by private speech sets “unrealistic” standards; critics reply that repeated private racist speech still reflects character and likely affects behavior.
  • His leaked racist rant is cited as explicitly and profoundly offensive; a minority downplays it as “shitty words” but not disqualifying.
  • Personal anecdotes from people who worked with or met him describe him as warm, unfailingly “on” for fans, and genuinely friendly, while still acknowledging “troubled, old‑fashioned thinking.”

Wrestling career & kayfabe

  • Fans praise his charisma and storytelling: minimal moves but maximum crowd psychology.
  • Others list numerous wrestlers they consider far superior in-ring and as performers; they criticize his no‑selling, backstage politicking, and role in blocking a wrestlers’ union.
  • Several note how wrestling’s blurred line between character and reality mirrors modern politics and media; documentaries and video essays about wrestling’s “unreality” are recommended.

Politics, capitalism, and Gawker

  • His recent “hard right turn” sparks a broad side-debate about conservatism, MAGA, capitalism, and fears of authoritarianism.
  • The Gawker sex-tape lawsuit sharply divides opinion:
    • One camp calls him a tool for a billionaire vendetta that chilled adversarial journalism.
    • Another says Gawker’s invasion of privacy and courtroom defiance justified its destruction and that “nothing of value was lost.”