Despite his declining health, Hulk Hogan continued to project strength and determination.
He remained active in the public eye—attending events, giving interviews, and staying involved in wrestling circles—long after many of his contemporaries had stepped away. He never shied away from speaking about the toll wrestling had taken on his body.
In the weeks leading up to his death at age 71, growing concern about Hogan’s condition led his wife to address the speculation. She confirmed he had recently undergone a major medical procedure and was in the process of recovering.
Although her intention was to calm public fears, her comments also hinted at more serious, ongoing issues that the family had chosen to keep private. In retrospect, that update adds deeper context to what followed.
Built for Stardom, Not Longevity
Hogan launched his professional wrestling career in 1977, taking on the persona that would turn him into a global icon. With his massive frame, signature blond hair, and unmistakable handlebar mustache, he quickly became one of the most recognizable figures in sports entertainment.
His career skyrocketed in the early 1980s when he joined the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE). By 1985, he was headlining the first WrestleMania, capturing audiences with his larger-than-life charisma and redefining what it meant to be a wrestling superstar.
Over the years, Hogan squared off against legendary opponents like Andre the Giant, Randy Savage, and The Rock. Beyond the ring, he expanded his presence through movies and television.
He starred in films such as Rocky III, Mr. Nanny, and No Holds Barred, and had a leading role in TV series like Thunder in Paradise and Hogan Knows Best. His image was also licensed for everything from video games to music.
In 1995, his band—the Wrestling Boot Band—released an album that peaked at No. 12 on Billboard’s Top Kid Audio chart. Yet behind the fame was a physically grueling career that demanded punishing schedules and took a serious toll on his body, even into his 50s.
The Hidden Cost of a Wrestling Life
The fame and spotlight Hogan enjoyed came with years of extreme physical strain. From the beginning, his wrestling style involved repeated trauma: slams, falls, and high-impact moves.
By his own count, he underwent around 25 surgeries between 2014 and 2024. In a 2024 interview with Logan Paul, he revealed he’d had ten back surgeries and replacements in both knees and hips, along with shoulder procedures. Still, he insisted, “It’s all cool, man. No regrets.”
He reflected on how tough the early conditions were: wrestling rings in the late ’70s lacked proper padding, making every fall more dangerous. “The equipment back in the day… was a little different,” Hogan recalled. He remembered one ring with exposed boards beneath him and Andre the Giant warning, “Don’t fall down—you won’t get back up.”
His famous leg drop move, performed repeatedly over the years, further worsened the wear on his spine. In one example, he said his left knee was severely damaged just two years into his career after wrestling without knee pads in Japan, when he weighed over 300 pounds. Yet he kept pushing through the pain to perform.
The Surgery That Sparked Rumors
In May 2025, Hogan underwent an intensive spinal operation. While his team downplayed it as a minor “fusion procedure,” it would later be seen as a major turning point in his final health battle.
Although he reportedly returned to work the next day, questions about his condition soon surfaced online. Speculation exploded when radio personality Bubba the Love Sponge, a former friend of Hogan’s, claimed he was hospitalized with heart failure and in critical condition.
On July 12, Hogan’s wife, Sky Daily, took to Instagram to shut down the rumors. Responding to a fan asking whether Hogan was in a coma, she wrote: “No, he’s definitely not in a coma! His heart is strong… none of those rumors are true.”
She then revealed Hogan had undergone a four-level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF), a complex spine surgery performed through the front of the neck to relieve pressure on nerves and the spinal cord.
She added, “We’ve been in and out of the hospital for the past six weeks supporting his recovery. No need for panic or drama.”
ACDF surgeries are common—roughly 132,000 are done annually in the U.S.—but Hogan’s was more extensive than most. Multi-level fusions like his carry increased risks and require longer recovery times.
Short-term side effects often include voice changes, trouble swallowing, and breathing issues. While most patients are discharged quickly, recovery from a four-level fusion can be especially challenging, especially for someone Hogan’s age and with his medical history.
Daily’s post aimed to quiet the online noise, but it also revealed how serious the situation had become behind closed doors.
A Sudden Decline
Though Daily remained optimistic publicly, sources close to the family later shared that Hogan’s health was more fragile than many realized.
In his final weeks, he reportedly showed signs of heart failure—fatigue, shortness of breath, and weight loss. He was said to be using oxygen at home as his condition worsened.
On the morning of July 24, 2025, those concerns became critical. A 911 call was made from Hogan’s home in Clearwater, Florida, at 9:51 a.m., reporting a cardiac emergency.
Paramedics arrived quickly and transported him to Morton Plant Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. His manager, Chris Volo, confirmed he passed away with loved ones at his side.