Hulk Hogan’s Cause Of Death, Secret Cancer Battle Revealed

Wrestling icon Hulk Hogan’s cause of death has been revealed one week after he died following a prolonged battle with cancer, a diagnosis unknown until now.

Hogan, who was 71, was synonymous with professional wrestling for decades but in recent years had been dealt a setback in his battle with cancer, according to family members who described the painful final weeks of his life. Hogan died at his home in Clearwater, Florida, after a brief reconciliation with his estranged daughter, a relationship that friends say tormented him for most of his adult life.

Complications from his illness caused Hogan, whose real name was Terry Gene Bollea, to die from acute myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack, on July 24.

The WWE legend had a history of leukemia, a cancer that affects the white blood cells, medical records show, and atrial fibrillation, a condition of the heart that produces irregular heartbeats.

Emergency response records from the day of Hogan’s death indicate responders arrived at his home at approximately 9:51 a.m., where they spent about 30 minutes attempting to revive the ex-wrestler. Dispatch audio obtained by People indicates that Hogan was transported by ambulance to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

“WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away. One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans,” the organization said in a statement confirming Hogan’s death.

Other luminaries of the wrestling world, including John Cena and Ric Flair, paid their respects to a man who helped elevate the sport from niche novelty into stadium-packed events like Wrestlemania, the annual, nationally syndicated showdown that draws top talent and millions of viewers.

Both Cena and Flair said they were “absolutely shocked” by the passing of his “close friend.”

Rumors of Hogan’s ailing health first surfaced in June, but representatives for the Georgia native downplayed them at the time, saying there were “no reasons to panic” despite reports that Hogan was “on his deathbed.”

Jimmy Hart, Hogan’s longtime friend and on-screen manager, told the outlet one day after his death, “I called [Hogan] on Wednesday night, and then Thursday morning is when everything took place,” an emotional Hart said on Friday morning. “So just…just overnight it all happened, but it was so positive the day before.”

“It just hits so fast,” Hart said. “It was like, ‘Oh my God.’ We thought he was doing so well, you know? We didn’t go to see him at the house and didn’t go to see him at the hospital, because we wanted to make sure that he didn’t get any infections or anything else, like if anybody had a cold or brought anything in. So, that’s what we all did.”

WWE booker Eric Bischoff, another close friend, said Hogan was “kind of embarrassed” to be seen in such “weak” shape during his final days.

“[Hogan] said, ‘I really want to see you, but I’m kind of embarrassed for you to see me this way because I’ve been pretty sick,'” Bischoff shared. He said he told Hogan, “When I look at you, I don’t see the same thing you see when you look in the mirror, so f— that, I’ll be down Monday.”

They talked for about an hour, and over that time, it took “more effort” by Hogan to continue the conversation.

“It was work for him to have a conversation, but he was the same guy,” Bischoff said.