The world of professional wrestling felt a massive shift on July 24, 2025. Terry Bollea, known to every household as Hulk Hogan, passed away at the age of 71. It was one of those moments where time just kinda stops for a second. Even if you hadn't followed "the biz" since the 80s, Hogan was the face of an entire era.
Honestly, the news hit like a ton of bricks. We’re talking about a guy who seemed immortal—the 24-inch pythons, the yellow and red, the booming voice. But behind the scenes, the years of leg drops had caught up.
The Official Hulk Hogan Cause of Death
The official cause of death was cardiac arrest. Around 9:50 a.m. that Thursday morning, first responders were called to Hogan's home in Clearwater, Florida. It’s a call no one wants to make. The Clearwater Police Department later confirmed that there were no signs of foul play. Basically, his heart just stopped.
He was rushed to Morton Plant Hospital, but it was too late. He was pronounced dead at 11:17 a.m.
Cardiac arrest is often the final chapter of a much longer story. For Hogan, that story involved a body that had been through the ringer. Some reports, including details from Britannica and PBS, later specified that he suffered an acute myocardial infarction—the medical term for a heart attack—which triggered the fatal rhythm in his heart.
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A Body Pushed to the Brink
You’ve probably heard the rumors. In the months leading up to July 2025, the "Hulkster" was looking a bit rough. He’d lost a significant amount of weight. On some podcasts, like Logan Paul's IMPAULSIVE, he admitted to having 25 surgeries in just a ten-year span.
Think about that.
Ten back surgeries. Two hip replacements. Two knee replacements. Shoulders, too. He once joked that he didn't have any original body parts left. He’d been dropping his signature leg drop for 40 years. Every time he landed, his spine took a 400-pound jolt. Eventually, the bill comes due.
The Health Struggles Most People Missed
In May 2025, just two months before he passed, Hogan underwent a pretty intense neck surgery. It was a four-level cervical fusion. While his reps told the media he was "doing great" and "moving around," the reality was more complicated.
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- Weight loss: He was visibly thinner in his final appearances.
- Mobility issues: He’d been using a cane or a walker off-camera for quite a while.
- Chronic illness: There were reports that he was also managing chronic lymphocytic leukemia, though he rarely talked about it publicly.
His wife, Sky Daily, was his rock during this time. She constantly pushed back against "deathbed" rumors on social media, trying to maintain some privacy for a man who had lived his whole life in a spotlight. She even mentioned that his vocal cords and breathing had been affected by the intubation during his various surgeries. It was a lot for a 71-year-old to handle.
Why the "Hoax" Rumors Persisted
Because Hogan had survived so many health scares, people didn't believe it at first. In June 2025, a month before his actual death, a massive hoax went viral claiming he was in a coma. His team had to issue a "no reasons to panic" statement.
When the news finally broke on July 24, many fans thought it was just another internet prank. Sadly, it wasn't.
The Wrestling World Reacts
The tributes came in fast. Ric Flair, a long-time rival and friend, mentioned he was "absolutely shocked." WWE released a statement calling him one of pop culture's most recognizable figures. Even those who had beef with him in the past, like some of the guys from the WCW days, acknowledged that without Hogan, the industry wouldn't be what it is today.
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He was complicated. He had his controversies—the Gawker lawsuit, the racist comments that got him briefly "canceled" by WWE in 2015, and his very public dive into politics later in life. But you can't talk about the 20th century without talking about Hulkamania.
What We Can Learn From the Hulkster's Passing
Hogan’s death sparked a lot of conversation about "big man" health. Cardiologists pointed out that carrying massive amounts of muscle—especially with a history of performance-enhancing drugs, which Hogan admitted to using in the 90s—puts a huge strain on the heart.
If you're looking for the takeaway, it's that even "immortal" icons have a shelf life. The physical toll of professional wrestling is real. It’s not "fake" when it comes to the damage on the joints and the cardiovascular system.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Athletes:
- Monitor Heart Health: If you have a history of high-intensity physical trauma or heavy muscle building, regular EKGs are a must.
- Listen to the Body: Hogan admitted he probably should have stopped the leg drops decades earlier. Knowing when to pivot to a safer "finishing move" can save your spine.
- Transparency Matters: While privacy is important, being open about health struggles can sometimes help fans recognize the same symptoms in themselves.
Hulk Hogan died as Terry Bollea—a man who gave everything to a character. Whether you loved him or hated him, he was the heartbeat of wrestling for decades. Now, that heart has finally found rest.
To stay informed on the legacy of the Golden Era, you can research the history of the WWE Hall of Fame and the medical protocols now in place for retired athletes to prevent similar cardiac events.