You’ve seen the headlines. You’ve probably scrolled past a blurry Facebook post or a frantic tweet claiming that the immortal one is gone. It happens every few months like clockwork. But if you are wondering, did Hulk Hogan pass, the short answer is a resounding no. Terry Bollea, the man behind the yellow and red spandex, is very much alive.
He’s 72. That’s a reality that hits hard for those of us who grew up watching him slam André the Giant in the Pontiac Silverdome. But in the world of the internet, being "legacy famous" means you are constantly the target of death hoaxes. One day it's a fake CNN screenshot, the next it's a "Rest in Peace" page on Facebook that gains 100,000 likes before anyone bothers to check a reputable news source.
He’s still here. He’s still "training, brother." But the fact that people keep asking this question points to something deeper about how we view our aging icons and the physical toll of a career built on leg drops.
Why the internet thinks Hulk Hogan passed away
Social media is a weird place. Algorithms love engagement, and nothing drives engagement quite like the "death" of a childhood hero. Usually, the rumor starts with a clickbait site using a headline like "Sad News for Hulk Hogan Fans." You click it, and it's actually about him closing a restaurant or having a minor back surgery. By the time you realize it's a bait-and-switch, the link has already been shared 5,000 times by people who only read the preview.
There is also the "Mandela Effect" at play here. Because so many of Hogan’s contemporaries have passed—The Ultimate Warrior, "Macho Man" Randy Savage, Roddy Piper—our brains sometimes lump the Hulkster into that group. It feels like he should be part of that era that has moved on, but he’s the outlier who survived the golden age of wrestling's excesses.
Honestly, the sheer number of surgeries he’s had doesn't help the rumors. He’s been open about it. Over 25 surgeries in the last decade. Backs, hips, knees—basically everything that makes a human move has been replaced or fused in that man’s body. When fans see him looking a bit slower or using a cane in a paparazzi video, the rumor mill starts grinding. "Is this the end?" No, it's just the physical bill coming due for forty years of jumping five feet in the air and landing on his tailbone.
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The physical reality of Terry Bollea
Let’s talk about the health stuff because that’s usually where the "death" rumors find their fuel. Hogan has been very transparent about the state of his body. On various podcasts, including his appearances on The Joe Rogan Experience and Theo Von's This Past Weekend, he’s laid it all out.
The leg drop. That was the finisher. It made him a multimillionaire, but it also destroyed his spine. Every time he hit that move, his vertebrae took the brunt of the impact. He’s admitted that if he could go back, he’d use a sleeper hold or a punch as a finisher instead.
"I'm always in some kind of pain," he told Rogan. "But you just learn to live with it. It becomes the new normal."
In early 2023, there was a massive scare. Kurt Angle, another wrestling legend, mentioned on his podcast that Hogan had lost feeling in his lower body after another back surgery. The internet exploded. People were convinced he was paralyzed or on his deathbed. Within 24 hours, Hogan’s reps had to clarify that he was fine and actually walking with a cane for stability.
He’s also made massive lifestyle changes lately. He quit drinking. Entirely. He’s talked about how he leaned on alcohol to manage the chronic pain, but eventually realized it was making everything worse. Now, he’s focused on a "clean" lifestyle, which has actually led to him looking leaner and healthier than he has in years.
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The controversies and the "Cancel" culture confusion
Sometimes when people search did Hulk Hogan pass, they aren't talking about physical death. They are talking about his career. Hogan’s legacy is... complicated.
In 2015, a transcript of a recording was released featuring Hogan using racial slurs. It was ugly. WWE reacted swiftly, scrubbing him from their website and removing him from the Hall of Fame. For a few years, Hulk Hogan was "dead" to the wrestling industry. He was persona non grata.
If you weren't following the day-to-day news, you might have caught a headline about him being "removed" or "gone" and assumed the worst. But wrestling is a business of returns. He was eventually reinstated into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2018. While he’s no longer the face of the company, he still appears at major events like WrestleMania or Raw anniversary specials.
There's also the Gawker lawsuit. That whole saga felt like a series finale for a celebrity. Winning a $140 million judgment (which was later settled for less) against a major media outlet is the kind of "ending" most people don't come back from. He didn't just survive it; he basically burned the house down on his way out.
Where is Hulk Hogan now?
If he’s not gone, what is he actually doing? He’s living in Clearwater, Florida. He’s a businessman now more than an athlete.
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- Hogan’s Hangout: He owns a popular restaurant and bar in Clearwater Beach. You can often find him there on karaoke nights or during big UFC fights. He’s very accessible to fans, which is why it’s so easy to debunk death rumors—someone usually has a photo of him from twenty minutes ago eating a steak.
- Real Estate and Licensing: He’s still making a killing on his likeness. From video games like WWE 2K24 to various fitness and wellness products, the Hulk Hogan brand is a machine that doesn't stop.
- Political Appearance: More recently, he made waves by appearing at the 2024 Republican National Convention. Regardless of your political leaning, seeing him rip his shirt off on a national stage was a pretty clear indicator that the man is still full of energy.
He’s also very active on social media. If you check his Instagram or Twitter, you’ll see him posting workout videos, photos with his wife Sky Daily, and plenty of "Hulkamania" nostalgia. He’s leaned into the elder statesman role of professional wrestling.
The tragedy of his peers
Part of why these rumors stick is because the mortality rate in professional wrestling is legitimately terrifying. Look at the 1980s roster.
- The Ultimate Warrior: Died at 54, just days after being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
- "Macho Man" Randy Savage: Died at 58 from a sudden heart attack while driving.
- Mr. Perfect (Curt Hennig): Died at 44.
- The British Bulldog: Died at 39.
- Rowdy Roddy Piper: Died at 61 from a pulmonary embolism.
When so many of your "coworkers" die young, the public develops a sort of grim expectation. Hogan is the survivor. He’s the one who made it to his 70s despite the steroid scandals of the 90s, the brutal travel schedule, and the physical trauma of the ring. It’s almost statistically improbable that he’s still this active, which is why the "Hulk Hogan dead" searches never really go away. People are waiting for the other shoe to drop.
How to spot a celebrity death hoax
Don’t get fooled again. If you see a post claiming a celebrity has passed, do these three things before sharing:
- Check the Associated Press or Reuters: If Hulk Hogan actually died, it wouldn't be a "secret" on a random blog. It would be a "breaking news" alert on every major network on the planet.
- Look for the "Blue Check" (or lack thereof): Fake accounts often use a celebrity’s photo but have a handle like @HulkHoganReal_123.
- Search for a Date: Hoax sites often use old news stories about a different person or a different event and slap a new headline on it.
Hulk Hogan is an American icon. Love him or hate him, he changed the landscape of entertainment. He’s had his brushes with the end—both professionally and physically—but for now, the Hulkster is still running wild.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you want to keep up with the actual facts of Hogan's life and avoid the rumor mill:
- Follow his verified social media: His Instagram is the most updated source for his daily life.
- Watch long-form interviews: If you want to know how he's really doing, skip the tabloids and listen to his 2023-2024 podcast appearances. He speaks with a level of nuance about his health and his past that you won't find in a 200-word gossip article.
- Visit Clearwater: Honestly, if you're ever in Florida, stop by Hogan’s Hangout. It’s the easiest way to see for yourself that the man is still standing.
The bottom line is simple. Terry Bollea is 72, he’s been through the ringer, and he’s definitely feeling the miles on his body. But he hasn't passed away. He's just moved into the next chapter of a very long, very loud, and very public life.