Professional wrestling legend Hulk Hogan died Thursday at the age of 71. Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, died of cardiac arrest at his home in Florida.He is remembered as an icon in sports and pop culture, helping bring pro wrestling into the mainstream.Fans across the country, including in New Hampshire, have been sharing memories of the star.Jacqueline Richards, a Hulk Hogan fan from New Hampshire, told News 9 that Hogan was her childhood hero. She saw him live during the 2005 WWE Backlash pay-per-view at what was then the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester.>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<“For wrestling, it’s like he started everything. Like nowadays, people say they make it go viral, like he made it go viral, like he made that. There are a lot of other legends too that we all love, but this one really hurts the most, I feel like,” Richards said.Wrestling star Dave Bautista, who was part of that 2005 main event alongside New Hampshire’s Triple-H, said Hogan left an undeniable mark on the sport.”If you’ve ever experienced Hulkamania, the guy, he tears the house down anywhere he goes,” Bautista said.Triple H, a former wrestler and WWE executive, also shared his thoughts on social media, writing:”WWE would not be where it is today without the larger-than-life characters that compete in the ring and few, if any, loomed larger than Terry “Hulk Hogan” Bollea.”Hogan defeated Triple H in 2002 to win his final WWE title.>> Subscribe to WMUR’s YouTube channel <<

MANCHESTER, N.H. —

Professional wrestling legend Hulk Hogan died Thursday at the age of 71.

Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, died of cardiac arrest at his home in Florida.

He is remembered as an icon in sports and pop culture, helping bring pro wrestling into the mainstream.

Fans across the country, including in New Hampshire, have been sharing memories of the star.

Jacqueline Richards, a Hulk Hogan fan from New Hampshire, told News 9 that Hogan was her childhood hero. She saw him live during the 2005 WWE Backlash pay-per-view at what was then the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester.

>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<

“For wrestling, it’s like he started everything. Like nowadays, people say they make it go viral, like he made it go viral, like he made that. There are a lot of other legends too that we all love, but this one really hurts the most, I feel like,” Richards said.

Wrestling star Dave Bautista, who was part of that 2005 main event alongside New Hampshire’s Triple-H, said Hogan left an undeniable mark on the sport.

“If you’ve ever experienced Hulkamania, the guy, he tears the house down anywhere he goes,” Bautista said.

Triple H, a former wrestler and WWE executive, also shared his thoughts on social media, writing:

“WWE would not be where it is today without the larger-than-life characters that compete in the ring and few, if any, loomed larger than Terry “Hulk Hogan” Bollea.”

Hogan defeated Triple H in 2002 to win his final WWE title.

>> Subscribe to WMUR’s YouTube channel <<