Terry “Hulk Hogan” Bollea– WWE Hall of Fame inductee and former star of VH1’s Hogan Knows Best– has died. He was 71.
The wrestling legend’s family confirmed his death Thursday on social media, revealing that Hulk passed away “surrounded by his loved ones.”
“At this time of grief, we ask that everyone please respect the privacy of his family and friends,” the statement read. “May we all take solace in the wonderful memories he left behind for the millions of fans worldwide whose lives he touched for more than four decades. He will be missed, but never forgotten.”
According to TMZ, medics were dispatched to Hulk and wife Sky Daily’s Clearwater, Florida, home on Thursday morning in response to a “cardiac arrest.” In a video posted to TikTok (which appears to have since been removed), medical responders were reportedly seen conducting chest compressions while transporting Hulk into an ambulance. Police told the outlet that Hulk was treated by Clearwater Fire and Rescue before being taken to a nearby hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
Just weeks ago, Hulk’s wife of nearly two years reportedly denied rumors that her husband was in a coma, insisting that Hulk’s heart was “strong” and that he was recovering “from surgeries.”
Sky’s statements came on the heels of TMZ reporting last month that there were rumors that Hulk was on his “deathbed”; however, the outlet was later told that the 71 year-old was dealing with symptoms stemming from a neck procedure that he underwent in May.
Hulk made his debut on reality TV in 2005 on ‘Hogan Knows Best,’ on which he starred with then-wife Linda Hogan and the couple’s children, Brooke and Nick.
‘Hogan Knows Best’ aired on VH1 for four seasons and later launched a spin-off, Brooke Knows Best, which aired for two seasons.
According to TMZ, Brooke had been estranged from her father since 2023, with the two reportedly last speaking just weeks before Hulk and Sky tied the knot. During their final conversation, Brooke allegedly expressed concern for her father’s declining health, while urging him to slow down.
Though Brooke and her father were unable to mend their relationship before his death– nor did Hulk allegedly make any attempt to meet Brooke’s children– Brooke is reportedly grateful that she was able to tell her father she loved him during that final conversation in 2023.
It has been said that Hulk regretted his decision to put himself and family on reality TV. In 2020, the wrestler’s WCW colleague and friend Eric Bischoff discussed on his 83 Weeks podcast how the Hogan family was already having issues but put on a “happy family” image for the cameras, something that eventually ruined the family.
“I’ll go back to Hulk’s own book, which is public knowledge, to answer the question, short answer, yes, I think the ‘Hogan Knows Best’ show probably exasperated an already existing problem,” he said at the time. “So, it’s not like ‘Hogan Knows Best’ created a problem, but it certainly exacerbated it, probably fueled it, probably expedited the end of their relationship and all the other negative things that happened.
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“The kids had to participate, the schedule was intense. However, much work you think it is, multiply it by 20. However intrusive you think having cameras in your home is gonna be, multiply it by 20,” he continued. “However, much fun you think you’re gonna have, divide it by 100. And that’s what producing a reality show is like when it’s in your home. You can’t get away from it. And I think, again, the relationship between [Hulk] and Linda, was such that it only made things worse. Her personal habits only really, really made things worse for everybody. And everybody suffered as a result of it.”
Linda would go on to file for divorce in 2007. Brooke no longer has a relationship with her mom.
Five days before Hulk’s death, Linda randomly posted an old photo of them together to her Instagram, captioning it, “The good old days.”
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Hulk’s death comes just days after the death of Ozzy Osbourne who, like Hulk, appeared on a family-based reality show in the early days of reality TV.
RELATED STORY: Ozzy Osbourne– Singer & Star of First-of-Its-Kind Reality TV Show ‘The Osbournes’– Dies at Age 76
(Photos: VH1; YouTube; Instagram)
18 Responses
it’s REALLY wild to me that posters (*cough* juelz; melina *cough*) try to gatekeep what theashley does (or does not) cover on HER site (which, BTW, is very clearly reality show oriented ~ like, it’s in the name). 🙄🙄
that said, whatever the feelings abt the departed, their actions, or the shows they were on ~ they WERE a significant part of pop culture. 🤷🏼♀️
oh, and melina? it’s “you’re” ~ you’re welcome! 🤗😘
i’m surprised a lot of people didn’t know how extremely and openly racist that man was
i always found his way around his daughter kinda disturbing! He wanted her like a doll to be admired but never touched! its was creepy AF!
This site’s comment section is inundated with far leftist slime.
He was an extreme RACI*T sad your covering him. May he not be resting in peace.
Seek help in your listless life. The guy was a legend.
Gawd I know I hate when people have differing opinions than mine and then I have to read it online. Why can’t people just love him for turncoat, self absorbed and self centered person he was. He wanted to come back a a different race for karma you guys, that’s, wait for it LEGENDARY
Exactly. Like for example, two-time Grammy Award-winning musician Chuck Mangione also passed away. No mention of him either, but he was also not on reality TV.
Another legend gone. Third in a week. So very sad. (No coverage on Malcolm Jamal Warner?)
@Juelz– he was never on a reality TV show. -The Ashley
To be fair, most people don’t know who Malcom Warner is (especially just by name). If you are comparing fame, Ozzy and Hulk Hogan are definitely world recognized names, whereas Malcom Warner is not. Hulk and Ozzy were still fairly relevant. You can’t write a piece on every single person who has passed away this week or it would be never ending.
Exactly. Like for example, two-time Grammy Award-winning musician Chuck Mangione also passed away. No mention of him either, but he was also not on reality TV.
I think people get confused here. Someone dies and they expect it covered even though this site is for reality TV news. Hogan and Ozzy Osbourne got articles because they did reality TV.
What. You must be very young. The Cosby show was a cultural juggernaut
It’s interesting y’all get upset about Hulk and Ozzy’s shows, but yet the Cosby show had an actual rpst as the star of it and y’all still praise that show lol. Gross. But seemingly expected behavior from the hypocritical left that is devoid of accountability and just whines.
It was not reality TV though
It is sad that Hulk died. I feel bad for his family. I loved him as a kid and my kids loved him. But…he did have a tendency to say some extremely racist shit. I’m not saying I wanted anything to happen to him, obviously. I just didn’t find him to be super awesome after I heard him saying some terrible things.