NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
WWE legend Hulk Hogan died of natural causes and no drugs or foul play were found, Florida police revealed in a report.
Hogan, real name Terry Bollea, died in Clearwater after reportedly suffering a possible “cardiac arrest.” News of Hogan’s death came weeks after he reportedly suffered a health crisis. But his wife, Sky, dispelled those rumors, saying he was “strong” and recovering from surgery.
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
Dennis Rodman poses with Hulk Hogan during WCW Bash on the Beach at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Florida on July 13, 1997. (WWE via Getty Images)
“After an exhaustive review of statements, medical records, surveillance footage from the residence and a visual inspection of Mr. Bollea’s body, there was no evidence indicating that Terry Bollea’s death was anything other than natural,” Hogan’s death report reads. “During the investigation, there was no evidence indicating foul play related to his death. This case will be closed and considered resolved and not criminal.”
The report also noted a doctor’s conclusion from an August autopsy that Hogan died “exclusively of compelling natural illness, with no reasonable terminal traumatic or toxicological contribution.”
Hogan died on July 24, 2025, at age 71.
He debuted in Championship Wrestling from Florida (CWF) in the late 1970s before eventually joining the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1979. However, it wasn’t until his return to the WWF, now WWE, that he truly became the superstar fans knew him to be.
Vince McMahon had purchased the WWF from his father and chose Hogan as the company’s main attraction. He began wrestling as a babyface when he saved Bob Backlund from an attack by the Wild Samoans. “Hulkamania” became fashionable from there.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PK Press Club
Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan shows off his muscles during the WWE Crown Jewel pay-per-view at King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh on November 2, 2018. (Frieze Nureldine/AFP)
Hogan asked his followers to work out, say their prayers and eat their vitamins. As his catchphrases and personality spread, Hogan began one of his most famous feuds with Andre the Giant. The rivalry culminated in an epic match at WrestleMania III as Hogan, the champion, faced the so-called “undefeated” giant.
Hogan was seen picking up the 520-pound monster and throwing it to the ground. The move was dubbed “the bodyslam heard round the world” and became the calling card of WWE promotional events in the future.
He would continue with classic feuds against Ric Flair, Randy Savage, Earthquake, Yokozuna and Honky Tonk Man. Leaving the WWF, Hogan would later rebrand himself and launch another wild six years at the top of the wrestling world.
World Championship Wrestling (WCW) has brought in WWF stars Kevin Nash and Scott Hall in a judicious free agency move. The two introduced themselves as The Outsiders and teased that they were working with a third man.
Nash and Hall faced Savage, Sting and Lex Luger at Bash at the Beach in 1996. Hogan came out near the end of the match to a huge pop. Commentator Bobby “The Brain” Heenan wondered on the show whose side Hogan was on. Sure enough, Hogan dropped Savage and changed the world of professional wrestling forever.
Hogan’s new faction would be dubbed the New World Order, and the storyline would allow WCW to control the ratings for 83 consecutive weeks.
Hogan would later return to WWE after the company purchased WCW for another run and had a dream match against The Rock. He worked for four years with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and later made sporadic appearances in WWE.
Hollywood Hulk Hogan chokes out Utah Jazz basketball star Karl Malone during a pay-per-view wrestling match in San Diego on July 12, 1998. (Lenny Ignelzi/AP Photo)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PK Press Club APP
He is a six-time WWE Champion, won the Royal Rumble twice, and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as an individual in 2005 and as a member of the NWO in 2020. He was also a six-time World Heavyweight Champion in WCW as well as a one-time IWGP Champion in New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
He left an indelible legacy on professional wrestling.
