Pro wrestling icon Hulk Hogan passed away today and evening news coverage was mixed, at best. The legacy networks played up Hogan’s racial incident and politics while mostly minimizing or outright omitting his role in the lawsuit that resulted in the bankruptcy of Gawker.
The worst of these was, of course, ABC. Anchor David Muir’s introduction to Whit Johnson’s reporting sums it up:
DAVID MUIR: Now, to the death of wrestling icon Hulk Hogan, who rocketed to fame in the 1980s. In the ring, transforming the wrestling industry, then appearing in the movies. In recent years, taking a political stand. But there were scandals, too, outside the ring, including what he said about race. Tonight, his complicated legacy, as fans now pay tribute.
Whit Johnson’s feature followed that frame to the letter. There was adequate focus on his in-ring career, and a quick turn to his racial incident. It is interesting that ABC would discuss the racial audio but not its source- the video at the heart of the lawsuit that ended up sinking the odious Gawker. Of this there is no mention whatsoever.
CBS sort of went a little further along the same route on the Evening News, with Vladimir Duthiers addressing the litigation but not daring to mention Gawker by name.
VLADIMIR DUTHIERS: Hogan's life off the movie and TV screens was turbulent. There was divorce, depression, and steroid use. Audio tape of him using the n-word was made public. And after a website published a private explicit video of him, he won a high profile court battle on invasion of privacy grounds.
CBS’s report ended with genuine banter between anchors Maurice DuBois and John DIckerson over Hogan’s impact.
NBC’s report was the most comprehensive among the legacies. There was the same amount of coverage of Hogan’s in-ring career, the same mention of the racial incident, and the same mention of his role at the 2024 Republican National Convention. What sets NBC apart, though: the fullness of its Gawker mention.
JOE FRYER: There were controversies. Hogan admitted to using steroids. A 2015 audio surfaced of him using racist slurs. He apologized but was fired from WWE, returning a few years later. He also made headlines for a sex tape published by the media company Gawker. Hogan sued, winning millions and forcing Gawker into bankruptcy.
That didn’t take long and yet ABC and CBS were unable to spit it out.
In watching the Hogan obituary coverage, I come across a couple of takeaways: I can’t help but suspect that Hogan’s politics had an effect on coverage of his passing, especially when compared to coverage of Ozzy Osbourne’s passing. I don’t even know what Ozzy’s politics were but he got a hero’s sendoff.
I also note that none of the networks truly covered Hogan’s faith walk. Hogan was pretty vocal about where he stood on matters of faith. Somehow, that didn’t make it into the report. Things are (D)ifferent, I suppose.
Click “expand” to view the full transcripts of the aforementioned reports as aired on their respective networks on Thursday, July 24th, 2025:
ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT
7/24/25
6:36 PM
DAVID MUIR: Now, to the death of wrestling icon Hulk Hogan, who rocketed to fame in the 1980s. In the ring, transforming the wrestling industry, then appearing in the movies. In recent years, taking a political stand. But there were scandals, too, outside the ring, including what he said about race. Tonight, his complicated legacy, as fans now pay tribute. Here's Whit Johnson.
BOBBY HEENAN: Hulk Hogan is in the building!
WHIT JOHNSON: He was an American sports and entertainment icon.
GORILLA MONSOON: Hulk Hogan now stands up with The (Iron) Sheik and rams him!
JOHNSON: Hulk Hogan, with that signature horseshoe mustache, beached blond hair and bandanna.
MONSOON: Hulk Hogan- he drops a big leg on him!
JOHNSON: Helping to transform professional wrestling into a multibillion dollar global phenomenon.
MONSOON We have a new champion!
JOHNSON: Hulk Hogan was born Terry Bollea, discovered at a gym in Tampa. At 6'7", 320 pounds, he'd take the name “Hulk” from The Incredible Hulk. Joining the famed World Wrestling Federation in 1983 and facing the greats, from Andre the Giant, to The Rock, Dwayne Johnson. Hogan responding to the question he was so often asked: is wrestling fake?
HULK HOGAN: “Fake” implies that the punches don't hurt, and you never get injured (VIDEO SWIPE) and the people that have given up their bodies and actually their personal lives and everything -- it's fake, and it's not. It's as real as it gets.
JOHNSON: Later starring in movies like "Rocky III" alongside Sylvester Stallone. In recent years, adding his celebrity to politics, endorsing then-candidate Donald Trump at the 2024 Republican National Convention.
HOGAN: Let Trumpamania roll again! Let Trumpamania Make America Great Again!
JOHNSON: But his life outside the ring at times seemed more challenging than inside. He admitted to steroid use. He was heard using a racial slur in audio secretly recorded, later sitting down with ABC asking the public for forgiveness.
HOGAN: If everybody at their lowest point was judged on one thing they said, (VIDEO SWIPE) it’d be a sad world. People get better every day. People get better.
JOHNSON: Hulk Hogan died this morning after suffering cardiac arrest in his Clearwater, Florida, home, at the age of 71.
HOGAN: The image that you want to relate to other people can be either a positive or negative one. For me, I would like to go from the positive aspect of trying to tell people to clean up their act and do the right type of things.
JOHNSON: And David, tonight, the tributes have been pouring in. Sylvester Stallone writing online, "My heart breaks." And President Donald Trump calling Hulk Hogan “strong, tough, smart. But with the biggest heart.” David.
MUIR: Whit Johnson with us here tonight. Whit, we appreciate it.
CBS EVENING NEWS
7/24/25
6:34 PM
MAURICE DuBOIS: He was for years the face of professional wrestling, the face and hulking body.
JOHN DICKERSON: Terry Bollea, better known as Hulk Hogan, died today after suffering cardiac arrest at his home in Clearwater, Florida. Vladimir Duthiers has the story of the man and the media.
HOWARD FINKEL: Hulk Hogan!
VLADIMIR DUTHIERS: When Hulk Hogan stepped into the squared circle...
GORILLA MONSOON: The greatest professional athlete in the world today, look at him.
DUTHIERS: He became the ringleader of a pro wrestling circus. Turning what was once a carnival attraction into a national entertainment juggernaut.
HULK HOGAN: Nice to meet you.
JOHNNY CARSON: Nice to meet you. You're one good size person.
HOGAN: Thank you, thank you.
CARSON: One big man.
DUTHIERS: He was a hulking 6'8", 300 pounds with bulging biceps he named The 24-inch Pythons.
HOGAN: The largest arms in the world!
DUTHIERS: With that trademark handlebar mustache and colorful bandannas covering thinning blond hair, he sent audiences into a frenzy.
HOGAN: Tonight, the hunter becomes the hunted.
DUTHIERS: It was called Hulkamania. Hulk Hogan was born Terry Bollea in Augusta, Georgia, August 11th, 1953.
HOGAN: Once I clicked, I was not Terry Bollea. When I went to that ring, I was Hulk Hogan, brother.
HOGAN (AS THUNDERLIPS): I’m coming after you, Balboa.
DUTHIERS: His pro wrestling fame earned him the role of "Thunderlips" in the 1983 film “Rocky III”.
HOGAN (AS THUNDERLIPS): You’re in trouble.
DUTHIERS: Hogan's life off the movie and TV screens was turbulent. There was divorce, depression, and steroid use. Audio tape of him using the n-word was made public. And after a website published a private explicit video of him, he won a high profile court battle on invasion of privacy grounds. Hogan jumped from the wrestling ring to the political arena last year. At the Republican National Convention, in Hulkamaniacal style. Hulk Hogan was 71.
DICKERSON: I know, because we kind of share the same physique this won't surprise you, but I used to watch him every day after school.
DuBOIS: Like a lot of kids, right?
DICKERSON: Yeah.
DuBOIS: But unlike a lot of superheroes, Superman, Batman- you couldn’t touch them, feel them…he was tangible to a lot of people.
DICKERSON: Sure. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah.
DuBOIS: A real-life superhero.
DICKERSON: A massive turnout for Wrestlemania.
NBC NIGHTLY NEWS
7/24/25
6:32 PM
TOM LLAMAS: Good evening. Tonight, the death of a man known the world over who defined the face of wrestling, Hulk Hogan. Known for his shirt-shredding, signature mustache and muscles. Hogan skyrocketed to fame as pro wrestling took off in the 80s as he famously body slammed Andre the Giant. His showmanship skyrocketed him to popularity and captured a generation, with Hogan appearing in movies like “Rocky III” and even his own reality show, “Hogan Knows Best”. Hogan became a fixture of Republican politics later in life, appearing at the Republican National Convention just last year. And the wrestler also played a role in bringing down the website “Gawker” after it posted graphic video of him. Hogan faced allegations of racism a decade ago, and the WWE removing him from the Hall of Fame. But his apologies leading to a reinstatement in 2018. Here’s Joe Fryer, with more on his life and legacy.
BOBBY HEENAN: HULK HOGAN IS HERE!
TONY SCHIAVONE: HULK HOGAN’S HERE!
JOE FRYER: What Hulk Hogan created stretched far beyond a 20’x 20’ wrestling ring.
HOGAN: Whatcha gonna do!
Hulkamania will live forever. And what you’re gonna do, brothers?
FRYER: A mania still alive today even after word of his death. Police say they were called to his home in Clearwater, Florida just before 10:00 A.M.
DISPATCH: Bravo Rescue 46, LR 45, Engine 46, cardiac arrest…
FRYER: Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, died at the hospital.
NATE BURNSIDE: There are no signs of foul play or suspicious activity related to this call for service at this time.
FRYER: Bursting on the scene in the 1980s, Hogan transformed pro wrestling using his mammoth biceps, what he called his “24-Inch Pythons”, to shred t-shirts and the competition, beating The Iron Sheik for his first world title, body slamming the 500-pound Andre the Giant. Hogan was unabashedly all-American, often speaking directly to kids.
HOGAN: Say your prayers eat your vitamins.
FRYER: His appeal made him a cultural phenomenon.
JOHNNY CARSON: I'm looking at the size of your arms, I don’t believe this. I wish I had anything that big.
FRYER: He starred in movies…
HOGAN: Thunderlips is here!
FRYER: …including “Rocky III”...
HOGAN: I’m outta shape!
FRYER: …and “Mr. Nanny”. Later, he broke into reality TV in VH1’s series “Hogan Knows Best”.
HOGAN: Every day it’s drama. It’s just ridiculous.
FRYER: There were controversies. Hogan admitted to using steroids. A 2015 audio surfaced of him using racist slurs. He apologized but was fired from WWE, returning a few years later. He also made headlines for a sex tape published by the media company Gawker. Hogan sued, winning millions and forcing Gawker into bankruptcy.
HOGAN: The jury agreed with me, that privacy is something that we all deserve.
FRYER: Hogan also stepped into the political ring, speaking at last year's Republican National Convention.
HOGAN: Let Trumpamania run wild, brother!
FRYER: President Trump is reacting to his death, writing: “Hulk Hogan was MAGA all away- strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart.” From Sylvester Stallone: “My heart breaks”. Wrestling legend Ric Flair says: “Hulkster, no one will ever compare to you.”
LLAMAS: Joe joins us live in studio. And Joe, do we know more about how he died?
FRYER: As we heard there, the 911 call indicates cardiac arrest but police in Clearwater say they will conduct a full investigation into his death, which they say is standard in cases like this. Hogan’s manager tells us that he passed away surrounded by family. Tom.
LLAMAS: All right. Joe Fryer leading us off. Joe, thank you.
