Hulk Hogan's death: Health issues, cardiac arrest, and the life he left behind

It’s official: Hulk Hogan, the wrestling legend who made “Hulkamania” a household word, has died at the age of 71. Born Terry Eugene Bollea, Hogan passed away on July 24, 2025, reportedly after suffering a cardiac arrest at his Florida home. The man who once told millions to eat their vitamins and say their prayers fought a very real, painful battle behind the scenes—and now, that fight is over.

Let’s be real: Hulk Hogan wasn’t just a wrestler. He was the wrestler. The walking, talking, flexing embodiment of 80s and 90s sports entertainment. He was everywhere—on cereal boxes, in cartoons, action figures, and even in Hollywood flicks. But behind the bright yellow bandanas and the booming voice was a man who paid the price for his fame.

In his prime, Hogan was the face of WWE (then WWF), slamming giants and delivering electric promos that turned him into a global icon. But what fans didn’t always see was the toll his body was taking. Over the years, he underwent countless surgeries—on his back, hips, knees, you name it. The wear and tear of decades in the ring didn’t come cheap. And like many athletes, he turned to painkillers to cope.

That wasn’t the only battle. Hogan also openly admitted to using steroids during his wrestling days—something that was practically an open secret in the industry back then. He later expressed regret, but the damage to his heart and body may have already been set in motion. Friends say his health had been shaky for years, with heart procedures becoming more frequent in the last decade.

Despite the pain, Hogan stayed active in public life—popping up at fan events, conventions, and even launching a short-lived wrestling promotion earlier this year. But in the weeks leading up to his death, sources say he was “slowing down.” One report mentioned a serious heart issue in May, but his camp downplayed it at the time.

Now, fans around the world are mourning a man who gave them larger-than-life moments. Whether it was body-slamming André the Giant at WrestleMania III, feuding with “Macho Man” Randy Savage, or shocking the world with his heel turn as Hollywood Hogan in WCW’s nWo, he was always at the center of wrestling’s biggest stages.

But beyond the ring, there was Terry Bollea—a father, a friend, and a man who tried, sometimes messily, to separate himself from the superhero he played for so long.

His family has yet to release an official statement, but tributes from fellow wrestlers and fans are pouring in. And rightly so. Hogan may have been a complicated figure—flawed, human, and at times controversial—but he was also unforgettable.

As fans scroll through highlight reels and old promos today, one line keeps coming back:
“Whatcha gonna do… when Hulkamania runs wild on you?”

Turns out, it ran wild for over four decades. And now, the ring is a little quieter.

Rest in power, Hulk.