WWE HOF Hulk Hogan's death reportedly linked to medical malpractice

The WWE Hall of Famer passed away in July.

WWE Hall of Famer, Terry Gene Bollea, better known among fans as ‘The Immortal’ Hulk Hogan, passed away on Thursday, July 24, at the age of 71.

According to the New York Post, medical records from the Pinellas County Forensic Science Center indicated that Hulk Hogan passed away due to an acute myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack, which occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle is suddenly blocked.

The records also showed that the WWE Hall of Famer had a history of atrial fibrillation, a heart condition characterized by an irregular heartbeat. Additionally, he had been diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a type of cancer affecting white blood cells, though the specifics regarding his cancer are not fully clear.

Hogan’s battle with cancer was not publicly known, and the manner of his death has been officially ruled as natural. Hogan’s memorial service took place on August 5th, 2025, in a church located in the Tampa-Clearwater area.

Bubba the Love Sponge, who has had a rocky relationship with Hogan, recently claimed that he doesn’t believe Hogan simply passed away; he believes he was killed. In the backdrop of the claim, a new report from TMZ has claimed that Hogan’s death is likely linked to medical malpractice.

Hulk Hogan’s phrenic nerve was severed during a recent surgery

According to a new report from TMZ, the police report from the 911 response to Hogan’s home on the day of his death revealed that the occupational therapist present when the WWE Hall of Famer stopped breathing told officers that he was a victim of medical malpractice. The therapist claimed a surgeon had “severed” his phrenic nerve during a recent surgery.

Hogan’s widow, Sky Daily, told TMZ that Hulk’s phrenic nerve was “compromised” during a recent surgery and that an autopsy had been performed on her late husband.

However, she did not disclose the results of the autopsy. Additionally, Daily also confirmed that Hogan has not yet been cremated. Furthermore, the Clearwater Police Department stated that the investigation into the Hall of Famer’s death is still ongoing.

“We have been in communication with family members — including his son, Nick, and daughter, Brooke. The unique nature of this case has required us to interview multiple witnesses and seek medical records from a variety of providers, and our detectives continue to do that. All of this takes time. The Hogan family has been appreciative of our efforts and our communication with them,”

[H/T: TMZ]

The phrenic nerve is a crucial nerve that controls the muscle responsible for breathing, which is the diaphragm. It originates in the neck (C3-C5 levels of the spinal cord) and runs down to the diaphragm. If the phrenic nerve is damaged, it can impair breathing.

TMZ adds that during Hulk Hogan’s heart attack, he did not experience a chest-clenching episode but instead just stopped breathing. The report also reveals that Sky was the one who alerted authorities, leading to the 911 call.

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