Hulk Hogan, Wrestling Legend, Dead at 71

A little over a month before his tragic passing, the wrestling legend’s rep dispelled rumors that he was “on his death bed” telling E! News in June there was “no reason to panic.”

His rep confirmed that the Hogan Knows Best star “had problems with his back,” adding that he underwent neck surgery and that it “has indeed been successful.”  

A health battle was not unusual for Hogan, who officially stepped back from wrestling in 2012. In fact, he had been open about his health struggles, saying he had undergone over 25 surgeries for the physical toll his body underwent in the WWE. 

“I’ve had like 25 surgeries in the last ten years. 10 of them were back surgeries," he told Jake Paul on the IMPAULSIVE podcast in September 2024. “I’ve had 10 back surgeries, both knees and both hips replaced, shoulders—everything.”

Throughout his wrestling career, which began in 1977, Hogan established himself as "The Real American" and was known for donning his token colors of yellow and red, as well as for his signature leg drop move—one he often said he had come to regret for the damage it did to his hips and knees.

The late 71-year-old was beloved in the community and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 by Sylvester Stallone. During his time as a wrestling star, Hogan had the support of his ex-wife Linda Hogan, with whom he shares kids Brooke Hogan, 37, and Nick Hogan, 34. 

In 2005, the family starred in their short-lived reality series, Hogan Knows Best, which detailed Hogan’s life in the WWE, as well as with his family. However, in 2007, Linda filed for divorce after 24 years of marriage, and the series ended a year later. 

While the Hogans shared their life with viewers, in recent years their relationships had grown fractious with Hogan’s daughter Brooke sharing she was estranged from both her parents earlier this year.

“No contact with my Mom has nothing to do with my Dad, and no contact with my Father has nothing to do with my Mother," the 37-year-old wrote in a March 27 Instagram post. “I so badly wanted to see good in them, protect, help, and start anew-just to be disrespected again and again. I longed for a normal family, but it never came to fruition.”

Amid his new chapter, Hogan found love again, marrying Sky Daily in 2023, and launched Real American Beer a year later. The couple often shared highlights of their life with Sky’s three children, and stepped out last year to support Donald Trump at the Republican National Convention, where Hogan gave a speech. 

During public engagements, Hogan often discussed how early professional wrestling safety conditions were "terrible."

Still, the Georgia native thought he couldn't have made it to a better place in his life. 

"It was something that I kind of stumbled into," he admitted on the IMPAULSIVE podcast last year. "I was a huge fan."

And while he admitted he could've taken much better care of his body in another profession, Hogan added, "It was all cool, man. No regrets.”

Keep reading for Hogan’s life in photos…