After years of surgeries and health decline, the WWE icon Hulk Hogan has died of cardiac arrest at age 71.
The man who once body-slammed giants and defined American wrestling culture passed away on July 24, 2025, from cardiac arrest. While tributes poured in from fans and fellow wrestlers, we take a look at just how much Hogan had endured in the years leading up to his death.
A Body Pushed Beyond Its Limits
Long before his heart gave out, Hogan’s body had been quietly breaking down. The former WWE superstar had reportedly undergone over 25 surgeries, many of them related to his back, knees, and hips. By his own admission in previous interviews, he had lived with chronic pain for decades – a physical toll accumulated from decades of wrestling matches that pushed his body far beyond normal limits.
“I’ve given my life to this business,” he once said. “I’ve destroyed my body because I love doing this so much”
Hogan’s Illustrious Surgical History
Hogan’s health struggles went way back. He underwent more than 25 surgeries over his lifetime, the result of decades of steroid use and the relentless punishment his body endured across 40 years in the ring.
“I’d had to endure 25 procedures, including ten to my back, facial operations from being kicked, knee and hip replacements and abdominal and shoulder surgeries,” Hogan told Muscle and Health in 2023.
Hogan also spoke openly about a botched back surgery early in his medical journey that nearly left him in a wheelchair. What was meant to be a routine operation had gone wrong. “The guy cut too much bone away,” he said. “After back surgery no.6, I am told I may never walk again.”
In February 2023, he was seen using a cane to walk. A month earlier, fellow wrestler Kurt Angle made headlines when he revealed on The Kurt Angle Show that Hogan had lost all feeling in his lower body after surgery.
“He had the nerves cut from his lower body. He can’t feel his lower body. So (he) uses his cane to walk around.” He added: “I thought he was using the cane because he had pain in his back. He doesn’t have any pain. He has nothing at all. He can’t feel anything.”
The claim prompted a swift denial from Hogan’s camp. His representative told Entertainment Tonight at the time: “Everything is OK with him. Hulk is someone with a lot of humour.”
His Final Surgery and Difficult Recovery
In the months leading up to his death, Hulk Hogan faced serious health setbacks, one of them being a four-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion surgery (ACDF) on his neck in June 2025.
The operation was described by his wife, Sky Daily, as “intense,” involving breathing and feeding tubes, and even caused damage to his vocal cords. She shared that recovery would be a “long and layered healing process,” but assured fans that he was healing “one day at a time.”
Rumours of a poor prognosis circulated:
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Sky refuted them, stating that Hogan was not in a coma and that “his heart is strong.” Hogan’s long-time manager and friend Jimmy Hart initially told fans that Hogan had been moved home to recover, but days before his death, posted on X that “Hulk is doing great, doing phenomenal!”
The Days Leading Up to Hogan’s Death
According to multiple reports, Hogan suffered a serious medical event while at his home in Clearwater, Florida, on the morning of 24 July 2025. Emergency responders were called to the scene, where he was found in cardiac arrest. Despite efforts to resuscitate him, Hogan was pronounced dead shortly after. No foul play was suspected.
What is Cardiac Arrest?
Cardiac arrest is one of the most sudden and life-threatening medical emergencies a person can face. It happens when the heart suddenly stops beating altogether. When that occurs, blood flow to the brain and other vital organs stops immediately, leading to collapse, unconsciousness, and death.
This is unlike a heart attack, which is caused by a blocked artery. This blockage prevents oxygen and nutrients from reaching the heart muscle, causing the muscle tissue to begin to die. If the heart is severely damaged during a heart attack, it can disrupt the heart’s electrical system and trigger cardiac arrest.
What Causes Cardiac Arrest?
The most common cause of cardiac arrest is an electrical disturbance in the heart, often due to ventricular fibrillation (a type of abnormal heart rhythm). This can happen in people with:
- Coronary artery disease or a previous heart attack
- Heart failure or a weak heart muscle (cardiomyopathy)
- Structural heart abnormalities
- Certain genetic conditions like long QT syndrome
- Drug use or overdose (especially stimulants or opioids)
- Severe electrolyte imbalances (e.g. potassium or magnesium)
- Trauma, bleeding, or severe oxygen deprivation
Who is at Risk?
Cardiac arrest can strike suddenly, even in people who seem relatively healthy. However it is more common in men, those older age, and those with underlying heart conditions such as coronary artery disease or arrhythmias.
Other risk factors include:
- A personal or family history of heart disease
- Smoking or heavy alcohol use
- High blood pressure or high cholesterol
- Obesity or diabetes
- Use of certain medications, including stimulants or sedatives
Notably, chronic inflammation and long-term use of pain medication (both of which Hogan reportedly endured) can also increase cardiac risk. Repeated surgeries, years of musculoskeletal damage, and sustained physiological stress can gradually weaken the cardiovascular system, even in someone with a previously strong heart.
Warning Signs Before Cardiac Arrest
Cardiac arrest often happens without warning. Some people may show signs in the hours or days before cardiac arrest, especially when a heart attack – one of its most common triggers – sets it off.
- Sudden chest discomfort
- Shortness of breath
- Light-headedness or dizziness
- Palpitations (racing or irregular heartbeat)
- Sudden fatigue or weakness
- Nausea or sweating, especially with chest symptoms
Once cardiac arrest begins, the person typically collapses within seconds, stops breathing or gasps, and becomes unresponsive. Immediate action to call emergency services and begin CPR-AED procedures can help restart the heart and significantly increase the chance of survival.
A Final Bow for the Icon in Red and Yellow
Even in death, Hulk Hogan’s legacy continues to stir conversation – from his role in shaping modern wrestling, to the physical price he paid along the way.
Hogan’s death has also drawn attention to a less visible consequence of high-impact sports: the long-term cardiovascular risks that can follow years of physical trauma, chronic inflammation, and pain management. These complications often surface quietly, years later – a reminder that the toll of performance can extend far beyond the ring.
As former WWE CEO Vince McMahon said in tribute:
“He leaves us with one of his favourite expressions: ‘Train, take your vitamins and say your prayers.’ Today, we pray for him.”
