Hulk Hogan's Cause Of Death Revealed: Report

CLEARWATER, FL — Professional wrestling legend Hulk Hogan, a Georgia native, died of a heart attack in Clearwater after a battle with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Page Six reported Thursday.

The July 24 death of Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, sparked emotion across the U.S. after the 71-year-old suffered cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at his Clearwater home.

The Pinellas County Forensic Science Center told Page Six that Hogan died of an acute myocardial infarction, during which blood is restricted from flowing to the heart and tissue is damaged.

Hogan previously battled the heart condition, atrial fibrillation, which causes an irregular and rapid heart rate, Page Six reported. Additionally, he faced chronic lymphocytic leukemia unbeknownst to the general public, the news outlet reported.

“I am not aware when Mr. Bollea will be cremated, only that we received a request for cremation approval," the medical examiner's office told Page Six.

Recent rumors swirled that Hogan had been in a coma, but his family denied the claims, TMZ Sports reported. There was also hearsay last month that he had been on his deathbed, though not confirmed at the time, the media outlet reported.

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Hogan was born in Augusta, Georgia. He started wrestling in the 1970s and rose to fame after joining the World Wrestling Federation in 1983, according to his biography.

Hogan was perhaps the biggest star in WWE’s long history. He was the main draw for the first WrestleMania in 1985 and was a fixture for years, facing everyone from Andre The Giant and Randy Savage to The Rock and even company chairman Vince McMahon.

He won at least six WWE championships and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.

When he died, the wrestling community took to X to express their sentiments, including fellow WWE great Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. He wrote:

"Rest in Peace, Terry Bollea aka The Immortal Hulk Hogan

To millions of little kids you were a childhood hero - myself included. In 1984, I gave you your “HULKSTER” headband back, in the locker room in Madison Square Garden - I was the lucky kid caught it when you threw it in the crowd. You were wrestling 'Mr Wonderful,' Paul Orndorff that night in the main event. You were shocked and so happy after the match because you told me that was your very last headband and if it weren’t for me, you’d have no way of getting that exact one made again. You promised me that you would get more made and give me a Hulkster headband of my own as a thank you gift. A month later in Madison Square Garden, you did just that. You kept your word, with a handshake and a “thanks kid”.And that meant the world to that little 12 year old boy."

Johnson reminisced on his action-packed bout with Hogan on Wrestlemania X8 in March 2002, during which Johnson ultimately defeated Hogan to be named the greatest of all time.

The match did not end with them as enemies, but instead, they walked away from the ring with respect for one another after partnering against nWo members Kevin Nash and Scott Hall. At the end, Johnson showed Hogan respect, giving him the floor to interact with the audience as only Hogan knew how.

Johnson wrote:

"You may have 'passed the torch' to me that night, but you, my friend….… you 'drew the house' meaning you sold out every arena and stadium across the country in your prime as Hulk Hogan, on your way of becoming the greatest of all time. From deep in my bones, and on behalf of this wild and crazy world of professional wrestling that we love, I say to you now, and forever…Thank you for the house, brother… Thank you, for the house. RIP Terry Bollea aka Hulk Hogan."

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