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Hulk Hogan, born Terrence Gene Bollea, died on July 24 in Clearwater, Florida. He was 71. The cause of death has now been confirmed as acute myocardial infarction, a heart attack, according to medical records obtained by People.
Hogan had a history of leukemia and atrial fibrillation. While the blood cancer diagnosis had not been public, sources confirmed it appeared in the final records. The former WWE star's cremation was approved in those same documents.
Emergency responders arrived at Hogan's home at 9:51 a.m. after a cardiac arrest dispatch. Paramedics attempted to revive him for 30 minutes before transporting him to a local hospital, where he was declared dead.
The WWE issued a statement honoring the wrestler, calling him "one of pop culture's most recognizable figures." It continued, "Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s." The company extended its condolences to his family, friends, and fans.
Close friends and wrestling legends shared their reactions. Ric Flair, 76, said he was "absolutely shocked" by Hogan's death, describing him as a "close friend." Jimmy Hart, Hogan's longtime manager, recalled speaking with him the night before. "He was so positive," Hart told People, "then everything changed overnight."
Eric Bischoff, a former WWE executive, spoke on his 83 Weeks podcast about visiting Hogan just days before he passed. Hogan was weak, Bischoff said, but still tried to maintain his sense of humor. "It was work for him to have a conversation," Bischoff noted, "but he was the same guy."
Last year, Hogan revealed the toll of years in the ring. "I've had like 25 surgeries in the last ten years," he said on Logan Paul's IMPAULSIVE podcast, listing procedures on his back, knees, hips, and shoulders.
His personal life was also marked by controversy, including his support for Donald Trump at the 2024 RNC, a leaked racist rant in 2015, and a high-profile lawsuit over a leaked sex tape that ended with a \$31 million settlement in 2016.
