As the wrestling world continues mourning the death of Hulk Hogan, the legendary wrestler's cause of death has now been revealed.
The iconic WWE/WCW/TNA superstar passed away on July 24 at the age of 71, leaving behind a complex legacy, but a legion of grieving fans.
A Wrestling Giant Who Transcended the Sport
Born Terry Bollea in Augusta, Georgia on August 11, 1953, Hogan was raised in Tampa, Florida by a construction foreman father and a dance teacher mother. A passionate musician in his youth, he played guitar and bass in rock bands, one of which — Ruckus — found popularity in the Tampa Bay area before he transitioned into wrestling.
He entered the ring in the late '70s and became a global superstar in the 1980s and 1990s, turning professional wrestling into a mainstream entertainment juggernaut.
He went on to become an eight-time WrestleMania headliner and six-time WWE champion, six-time WCW champion, as well as a household movie actor and reality TV star.
Confirmed Cause of Death: Cardiac Arrest
Hogan died on July 24 after suffering a fatal cardiac arrest at his home in Clearwater, Florida.
Page Six confirms that, after reviewing documents, Hogan passed away after suffering from an "acute myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack, in which is when blood flow to the heart muscle is suddenly blocked, causing tissue damage, per the Pinellas County Forensic Science Center".
He is survived by his wife, Sky Daily, son Nick, and daughter Brooke.
WWE paid tribute to him with three televised 10-bell salutes, the most recent taking place on Tuesday's episode of NXT in Orlando.
On Monday Night Raw, another tribute featured his son Nick, who was visibly emotional, wiping away tears as the wrestling community gathered to honor the man many see as the sport’s most important figure.
“He [Hogan] captivated millions of people and inspired them around the globe,” WWE’s chief content officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque said. “We would not be standing here right now – all of us together – if it was not for him.”
WWE legend Eric Bischoff, one of Hogan’s close personal friends, also appeared during the emotional ceremony, joined by top stars like CM Punk, Gunther, Jey Uso, and Iyo Sky.
Nick Hogan’s Heartfelt Tribute
Nick Hogan, 35, paid tribute to his father in a deeply personal Instagram post on July 26. Alongside a collection of photos from his childhood through adulthood, he described his dad as his "forever hero."
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“This has been overwhelming and extremely difficult,” Nick wrote. “Hearing so many kind words and stories about my dad’s life, interactions and experiences with everyone has been incredible and comforting.”
Calling him “the most kind, loving and amazing father anybody could ask for,” Nick added, “He was not only the best dad but also my mentor and my best friend. He always has been my best friend and I love him and miss him more than I could ever explain.”
Brooke Hogan Removed Herself From Her Father’s Will
In a separate and more complicated turn, Brooke Hogan, 37, revealed she had stepped away from her father's life—and his finances—well before his death. In 2023, she formally asked to be removed as a beneficiary of his will.
“During the last two years, I had to step away to protect my heart,” she said in a statement posted to Instagram following Hogan’s death. “My husband stayed open, quietly reaching out to my dad without me knowing, trying to find a safe way back in for me. After my father passed, I read those messages, some answered, some ignored... but all of them broke my heart.”
Brooke, who is married to former NHL player Steven Oleksy and welcomed twins in January, said her final conversation with her father came just weeks before his September 2023 wedding to Sky Daily. Though she expressed concern about his declining health and urged him to slow down, her pleas “fell on deaf ears.”
“We never had a ‘big fight.’ My father and I never ‘fought.’ It was a series of private phone calls no one will ever hear, know, or understand,” she wrote. “My father was confiding in me about issues weighing on his heart, both personal and business. I offered to be a life raft in whatever capacity he needed.”
A Final Act of Love — and Distance
Despite feeling heartbroken by his rejection and distrust, Brooke stated she never sought her father’s fortune and remains at peace with her decision to walk away.
“I know in my heart I did everything I could,” she concluded. “He knew I would run through a burning building for him. And in many ways, along the path of life, I did. He knows how deeply, how hard and how purely I loved him. I am at peace knowing this.”
She is still expected to receive a small sum from a life insurance policy, which she intends to put toward her children’s college funds. As a final tribute, she and Oleksy gave their daughter the middle name “Gene” — the same as Hulk Hogan’s.
Though Hogan will be remembered as one of wrestling’s greatest icons, his career was not without controversy. He was involved in a sex tape scandal and widely condemned after being caught on tape using a racial slur. During the 2024 election cycle, he made headlines again for publicly criticizing Vice President Kamala Harris while stumping for Donald Trump’s re-election campaign.
Trump himself weighed in on Hogan’s passing, calling him: “MAGA all the way – Strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart.”
Hollywood actor Sylvester Stallone, who starred alongside Hogan in Rocky III, remembered him as “absolutely wonderful” and said his “amazing skill made Rocky III incredibly special.”
Wrestling legends also paid tribute. Ric Flair said Hogan's friendship "meant the world to me" and declared, “No one will ever compare to you.” WWE co-founder Vince McMahon called him “the greatest WWE Superstar of all time” and “a global phenomenon.”
Our thoughts continue to go out to every person impacted by "The Immortal" Hulk Hogan's passing.