Hulk Hogan, the wrestling icon who helped define an era of sports entertainment, died on July 24, 2025, at his $8 million waterfront home in Clearwater Beach, Florida, at the age of 71. His passing shocked millions of fans worldwide and left his family grappling not only with grief but with a growing cloud of controversy surrounding the circumstances of his death. As new details emerge, his widow, Sky Daily, has announced she is considering a medical malpractice lawsuit centered on a neck surgery Hogan underwent just two months before his death—a procedure that may have had tragic consequences.
According to Daily Mail, Sky Daily, 46, revealed that Hogan’s phrenic nerve was "compromised" during the May surgery, leaving him short of breath in the weeks leading up to his fatal heart attack. The phrenic nerve, as described by the Cleveland Clinic and cited in Page Six, is responsible for controlling the diaphragm and is essential for breathing. "We are investigating for possible malpractice. If you have shortness of breath for a long time, that makes you very sick. It’s not something that’s an alarming (sudden) cause of death. It’s something that wears on you, makes you weak," Sky told Daily Mail. When asked if the nerve damage could have contributed to Hogan’s death, she replied, "Definitely."
The official cause of death, as recorded by the Pinellas County Forensic Science Center and obtained by Page Six, is acute myocardial infarction—commonly known as a heart attack. Hogan had a documented history of irregular heartbeat and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, a cancer affecting white blood cells. Yet, the possibility that surgical complications played a role in his demise has prompted a deeper investigation, and the family’s search for answers has only intensified.
Adding to the intrigue, an occupational therapist named Justin McCamey, who was present at Hogan’s home when he stopped breathing, reportedly told police that Hogan’s phrenic nerve had been "severed" during the operation. Sky Daily later clarified to Daily Mail that while the nerve was not completely severed, it was indeed damaged—a distinction she says is critical. "We’ve all known about it for a while. It’s not brand new information… everything about his neck surgery has been documented from when he was alive. So there’s nothing that happened right before he passed," she explained.
Hogan’s final months were marked by ongoing medical care. Sky says he was under the supervision of Tampa General Hospital, although the controversial operation took place at a different facility. She has declined to name the doctors involved, citing the ongoing investigation. Sky also took the opportunity to defend Hogan’s personal physician, Dr. Gerald Fitzgerald, against rumors that he had over-prescribed medication or otherwise contributed to Hogan’s decline. "To me it’s irresponsible to go out and slander doctors," she said, noting that Fitzgerald "never even gave him a scrip."
The aftermath of Hogan’s death has played out not only in the media but within his own family. Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, was married three times: first to Linda Claridge (1983–2007), then to Jennifer McDaniel (2010–2021), and finally to Sky Daily, whom he married in 2023. He leaves behind two children, Nick, 35, and Brooke, 37. Both have been vocal about their struggles to process their father’s passing and the circumstances surrounding it.
Brooke Hogan, in particular, has expressed frustration and uncertainty. As reported by Daily Mail, she took to social media to challenge the narrative about her father’s death, stating, "FACT: I’ve 100% gotten legit calls from professionals—from police officials to nurses that were supposedly with my dad on the day of his death telling ME I need to see body cam footage and I need to get a hold of the 911 tapes because they supposedly contain information that could potentially shed enough light to change the narrative we/I/everyone’s been hearing." She continued, "Those same professionals feel so passionately about what they witnessed, they have continued to contact me and push me to find specific answers to this very day. They are quite literally putting their careers at risk because they feel so compelled to do the right thing."
Brooke’s concerns extended to the handling of Hogan’s autopsy and cremation. For nearly five weeks after his death, Hogan’s embalmed body remained at a Clearwater funeral home as the family awaited the outcome of the medical investigation. Sky confirmed to TMZ Sports and Daily Mail that a private autopsy was performed but has not disclosed the results. Brooke, meanwhile, insisted on viewing her father’s body herself, both to say goodbye and to confirm that no cremation had occurred before the autopsy. She later said on the Bubba the Love Sponge radio show that seeing her father and the autopsy process provided closure, remarking, "Everybody appears to be acting in good faith and doing the right thing. I feel good going home, that I got to see my dad. I got to see the autopsy done. I know there’s still more investigating to do. From what my heart is telling me, everybody’s on the up and up and trying to do their jobs."
Hogan’s son Nick described the family’s efforts to support their father in his final months. "We all put our best foot forward and tried to be there with support and putting our heads together to help and trying to figure out the best way for him to recover. Unfortunately, it was not the easiest situation to be in and not the easiest road," he told The Post.
As the investigation continues, Sky Daily is adamant that the process is being handled thoroughly and respectfully. She praised the local police for their diligence, saying, "I know the truth will come out, so I’m sitting back here politely being, like, everything’s being well documented. I know it’s fine. But I’m trying to be respectful of the police department because the police department has been very respectful and very thorough." She added that all medical records and medications had been reviewed, and that the family had cooperated fully with authorities.
For now, the wrestling world waits for the outcome of the medical investigation and the possible lawsuit. What remains certain is that Hulk Hogan’s legacy endures, even as those closest to him seek answers and, perhaps, accountability for his untimely death.
