Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan died Thursday at the age of 71, just one hour after being rushed to the hospital for a serious medical emergency.
According to TMZ, a 911 call was made around 10 a.m. from Hogan’s Clearwater, Florida home. Dispatchers reported a cardiac arrest.
He was transported to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead at 11:17 a.m. Authorities confirmed that foul play is not suspected, but no official cause of death has been released.
Health Rumors Dismissed Days Before Death
Just days before his death, rumors swirled that Hogan was in critical condition or even in a coma. The speculation stemmed from former friend Todd Clem, who shared the claims on his Florida radio show “The Bubba the Love Sponge Show.”
“Allegedly Hogan is in the hospital and… might not make it,” Clem said last month, citing a “pretty damn reliable” source.
Clem is no stranger to controversy—he once asked Hogan to be best man at his wedding before the wrestler famously slept with Clem’s wife.
Hogan’s team repeatedly denied the health rumors, with wife Sky Daily stating in May that Hogan had undergone a neck surgery but was recovering well.
Yet the radio show kept pushing the narrative. Just four days before Hogan’s death, one host claimed Hogan was unable to speak and that efforts were being made to hide his condition from the public.
From Wrestling Fame to Real-Life Battle
At the peak of his fame, Hogan—real name Terry Bollea—was the face of WWF (now WWE) and a household name in the 1980s and 1990s.
But the toll of the sport was brutal.
Hogan underwent 25 surgeries, including:
- 10 back procedures
- Facial surgeries
- Knee and hip replacements
- Shoulder and abdominal operations
In a 2023 interview, he admitted he developed a painkiller dependency during recovery.
“Doctors kept writing prescriptions. It became a vicious cycle,” Hogan said.
He also struggled with alcohol abuse, which he later gave up alongside the pills.
In December 2023, Hogan was baptized, turning over a new leaf in his personal life.
Final Public Appearance: Trump Endorsement
Hogan’s final major public appearance was just last year, when he delivered a fiery speech at the Republican National Convention in New York City, proudly endorsing President Donald Trump and tearing off his shirt to roaring applause.
The moment was hailed by fans as vintage Hogan—a larger-than-life American icon.
