Sky Sports viewers were left stunned when cameras picked out a cricket fan in Hulk Hogan fancy dress during the fourth Test between England and India on the day of the wrestler’s death.
The WWE legend died at aged 71 at his Clearwater home after suffering cardiac arrest on Thursday.
News of Hogan’s death emerged in the afternoon in the UK, prompting a bizarre moment during the second day of England’s match with India at Old Trafford.
Cameras had highlighted a fan in the crowd dressed in Hogan’s ‘Hulkmania’ merchandise.
The cricket fan was seen wearing a yellow t-shirt and bandana, with the word ‘Hulkmania’ emblazoned in red lettering across the front.
Both items were a replica of the clothing typically worn by Hogan during his wrestling career.
Viewers were quick to comment on the fan’s fancy dress and questioned whether he was aware of the breaking news.
‘That fella sat at the cricket with a Hulk Hogan fancy dress,’ one wrote on social media. ‘What a day to put that on.’
Not the best of days to be dressed as Hulk Hogan at the cricket I must say,’ another added.
A third wrote ‘This poor fella at the Cricket has no idea Hulk Hogan is dead’, while another said ‘Just watched a guy dressed as hulk hogan find out he’s died in real time at the cricket. A real moment.’
Hogan’s death on Thursday morning was confirmed by a Clearwater Police Department spokesman.
A statement read: ‘Clearwater Fire Department and Clearwater Police Department personnel responded to a medical call at 9:51 a.m. today in the 1000 block of Eldorado Avenue on Clearwater Beach.
‘The nature of the call was for a cardiac arrest. A 71-year-old resident, Terry Bollea, also known as Hulk Hogan, was treated by Clearwater Fire & Rescue crews before being taken by Sunstar to Morton Plant Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.’
Police cars and EMTs were parked outside Hogan’s home in the immediate aftermath of the emergency, with the reality star filmed being carried onto an stretcher and into an ambulance.
The shock death comes just weeks after his wife Sky Daily denied rumors he was on his deathbed in a coma – and claimed his heart was ‘strong’ after he underwent a routine neck surgery.
Hogan is survived by his third wife Daily, who he wed in 2023, children Brooke, 37, and Nick, 34, who he shared with first wife Linda Claridge, and two grandchildren.
A statement on Hogan’s official Instagram account read: ‘It is with a heavy heart and deep sadness that we confirm we have lost a legend.
‘Our beloved Terry Bollea, known worldwide as Hulk Hogan, passed away today surrounded by his loved ones.
‘At this time of grief, we ask that everyone please respect the privacy of his family and friends.
‘May we all take solace in the wonderful memories he left behind for the millions of fans worldwide whose lives he touched for more than four decades.
‘He will be missed, but never forgotten.’
In the 1980s, Hogan – known for his signature mustache and headscarf – was the driving force behind WWE’s rise from a regional promotion around New York to an international brand.
Hogan kickstarted ‘Hulkamania’ after defeating the Iron Sheik for the World Heavyweight Championship in 1984.
He won at least six WWE championships and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.
Hogan was the main draw for the first WrestleMania in 1985 and was a fixture for years, facing everyone from Andre The Giant and Randy Savage to The Rock and even company chairman Vince McMahon.
Hogan was also a celebrity outside the wrestling world, appearing in numerous movies and television shows, including a reality show about his life on VH1, Hogan Knows Best.
Hogan´s public persona transcended the ring, making him a household name. He appeared in numerous movies – including the third Rocky film in 1982, where he played wrestler Thunderlips, who took on Stallone’s protagonist.
Hogan later claimed the role had got him fired from the WWF – saying: ‘Back then, ‘78, ‘79, if you were a wrestler, you didn’t do TV. You didn’t go do a movie.’
The star reportedly put three men in the hospital while filming his fight scene.
Stallone paid an emotional tribute to his longtime friend, sharing a photo of Rocky and Thunderlips clashing in a fiery scene.
He wrote: ‘I had the pleasure of meeting this brilliant personality and showman when he was 26 years old. He was absolutely wonderful and his amazing skill made Rocky three incredibly special. My heart breaks. I think that he’s gone…’
But his legacy was tainted when he was chucked out of the WWE in 2015 after a tape surfaced of him making racist remarks, including the use of the n-word.
He was banished from WWE for three years before being welcomed back into the Hall of fame in 2018, having described the incident as the ‘biggest mistake’ of his life but many were not happy with his ‘apology’ when he was brought back.
In 2016, a Florida jury awarded Hogan $115 million in his sex tape lawsuit against Gawker Media. Hogan sued after Gawker in 2012 posted a video of him having sex with his former best friend´s wife. Hogan contended the post violated his privacy.
More recently, Hogan became a celebrity endorser for Trump’s presidential campaign in the United States, which he went on to win.
