NEED TO KNOW
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Hulk Hogan’s cause of death has been confirmed, one week after medics were called to his home
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The WWE star died at age 71 on July 24 in Florida
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Hogan is survived by his wife Sky Daily and his ex-wives Linda Hogan and Jennifer McDaniel, as well as children Brooke and Nick Hogan
Hulk Hogan’s cause of death has been revealed following the wrestling icon’s death at 71.
Hogan, whose real name was Terrence Gene Bollea, died of acute myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack, on Thursday, July 24, PEOPLE can confirm.
The WWE legend had a history of leukemia, according to medical records obtained by PEOPLE, and atrial fibrillation, a common disorder that causes irregular heart beats. Hogan’s history of leukemia, a form of cancer that affects white blood cells, was not previously known.
The New York Post was first to report Hogan’s cause of death.
According to the dispatch call on the day of his death, police and medics were called to Hogan’s house in Clearwater Beach, Fla. at 9:51 a.m. for a person suffering cardiac arrest. First responders attempted to revive Hogan for 30 minutes, according to dispatch audio obtained and reviewed by PEOPLE, and then taken to a local hospital where he was declared dead.
WWE confirmed Hogan’s passing in a statement to PEOPLE. The wrestling company said, “WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away. One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans.”
Tributes from fellow WWE icons like John Cena and Ric Flair came shortly after Hogan’s death was announced. Flair, 76, said he was “absolutely shocked” by the passing of his “close friend” in a post on X.
Rumors of Hogan’s declining health began spreading in June, claiming he had been hospitalized and was dangerously ill. Representatives for Hogan told E! News there was “no reasons to panic” over his situation despite reports that Hogan was “on his deathbed.”
Hogan’s former on-screen manager and longtime friend Jimmy Hart told PEOPLE one day after the wrestler’s death that he was shocked by the news. “I called [Hogan] on Wednesday night, and then Thursday morning is when everything took place,” an emotional Hart said on Friday morning. “So just…just overnight it all happened, but it was so positive the day before.”
“It just hits so fast,” Hart said. “It was like, ‘Oh my God.’ We thought he was doing so well, you know? We didn’t go to see him at the house and didn’t go to see him at the hospital, because we wanted to make sure that he didn’t get any infections or anything else, like if anybody had a cold or brought anything in. So, that’s what we all did.”
Another close friend, former WWE booker Eric Bischoff, said Tuesday that Hogan was “kind of embarrassed” to be seen in his final days. Bischoff, 70, talked about his visit with a “weak” Hogan in Florida on the Tuesday, July 29 episode of his “83 Weeks with Eric Bischoff” podcast.
“[Hogan] said, ‘I really want to see you, but I’m kind of embarrassed for you to see me this way because I’ve been pretty sick,'” Bischoff shared. He said he told Hogan, “When I look at you, I don’t see the same thing you see when you look in the mirror, so f— that, I’ll be down Monday.”
Bischoff said his visit lasted about an hour and Hogan had to exert “more effort” to talk.
“It was work for him to have a conversation but he was the same guy,” Bischoff said.
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Last September, Hogan opened up about his health, revealing he had “like 25 surgeries in the last ten years,” on Logan Paul’s “IMPAULSIVE” podcast. “I’ve had like 25 surgeries in the last ten years — 10 of them were back surgeries,” the 12-time world champion explained. “I’ve had 10 back surgeries, both knees and both hips replaced, shoulders—everything.”
Hogan has faced multiple controversies in recent years, including criticism of his speech in support of President Donald Trump at the 2024 Republican National Convention; leaked audio of a racist rant, which he later called “unacceptable” in 2015; and a sex tape that was leaked online in 2012. Backed by billionaire Peter Thiel, Hogan sued Gawker over the tape for more than $100 million and settled for $31 million in 2016.
Hogan is survived by his wife Sky Daily and his ex-wives Linda Hogan and Jennifer McDaniel, as well as children Brooke and Nick Hogan.
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The post Hulk Hogan’s Cause of Death Revealed 1 Week After Wrestler Died at 71 appeared first on People.
