I checked the news today that said "Hulk Hogan has passed away at the age of 71" several times to see if it was real.

Born in 1953, thinking about his active years until the 90s, he seems too young to die.... But it was on CNN, and even WWE released an official statement.

It's rare for celebrity news to hit me this hard. Hulk Hogan was my childhood 'superhero'.

Kids these days might see pro wrestling as YouTube content, but for us, it was real.

The golden age of WWE (back then it was WWF).

Blonde hair, yellow torn shirt, bulging veins on his arms.

"Take your vitamins, say your prayers, and believe in yourself, brother!"

He gave life advice more convincingly than a church pastor.

From the mid-1980s to the early 90s, Hulk Hogan was literally the face of WWF.

Just hearing the term pro wrestling from that era brings him to mind...

With his flashy entrances, overflowing showmanship, and when he grabbed the mic, he could control the crowd, his character was so strong it was superman-level.

As Hogan's popularity exploded, a nationwide weekly TV show system was established.

So, the WWE style we see today, the term 'sports entertainment' really took root thanks to Hogan.

Then he moved to WCW, shedding his good-guy image and turning into a villain, which was another twist.

Leading the nWo faction, he became a representative figure who made 'bad guys look cool'.

Even though I could tell it was staged, back then I genuinely cheered and was truly excited.

But Hogan wasn't just a 'muscle-bound wrestler'. He was a person with a philosophy.

Every morning he would eat oatmeal, jump rope, and spend at least 3 hours in the gym.

He didn't drink or smoke, went to bed early and woke up early. Living like that, even over 70, his body was almost at a 50-year-old level.

But this guy was also quite famous for his 'interesting personal life'.

During his prime, he received fan letters by the boxful, and female fans would line up outside his hotel room.

He was married, but those who watched the reality show 'Hogan Knows Best' know...

There were many funny moments even within the family. He divorced his wife Linda in 2007, and that process was as dramatic as Hollywood.

And then there was the infamous 'private tape incident' that later leaked...

He got involved in racist remarks and was even cut from the WWE Hall of Fame.

But then he cried and apologized, and managed to restore his honor and return.

He made many mistakes, but he was a guy who could reflect and come back.

What was the real charm of Hulk Hogan? It was that he was not someone who looked invincible, but someone who never gave up.

Hulk always said, "Whatcha gonna do when Hulkamania runs wild on you?"

That wasn't just a catchphrase, it was a question he posed to all of us back then.

Today, he was found collapsed at his home in Clearwater, Florida, due to a heart attack, and the death news was announced.

WWE stated, "He was one of the most well-known figures in pop culture," but... to me, he was more than that.

He was someone who told me, 'You can overcome this, brother.'