ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The world of professional wrestling was shaken to its core when news broke on July 24, 2025, that Hulk Hogan, the legendary entertainer whose real name was Terry Bollea, had died at age 71. Yet, nearly a month later, the circumstances surrounding his death remain shrouded in uncertainty as the Clearwater Police Department continues a complex and evolving investigation.
According to Associated Press, paramedics and police rushed to Hogan's beachfront home in Clearwater after a 911 call was placed. Hogan was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The medical examiner quickly concluded that the cause was a natural heart attack, citing Hogan’s history of leukemia and atrial fibrillation — a condition marked by an irregular heart rhythm. But what initially appeared to be a straightforward, if tragic, loss has since become a source of speculation and controversy.
Police have emphasized that there is no evidence of foul play, yet the investigation has not been closed. "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 Clearwater Police Department said in a statement released to TMZ Sports on August 21, 2025. The department also noted that, due to the ongoing investigation, no records — including the much-anticipated body camera footage and 911 call audio — can be released to the public or media at this stage.
That secrecy has only fueled questions. Hogan’s daughter, Brooke, has been especially vocal about her doubts regarding the official narrative. In a series of Instagram posts and podcast appearances, she described her father’s death as “weird” and “BS,” expressing shock that leukemia was listed as a contributing cause since, as she put it, “it doesn’t run in our family.” Brooke has also offered to personally fund an autopsy if it would help bring clarity to her father’s final moments. “With all of the speculation and uncertainty of my dad’s death, I want to personally offer to pay for an autopsy if that’s what it takes to get it done. My dad’s dignity and legacy deserves it,” she wrote, as reported by AP.
Adding to the intrigue, reports from TMZ Sports and BollywoodShaadis reveal that an occupational therapist who was present at Hogan’s home during his final moments told responding officers that a surgeon had “severed” Hogan’s phrenic nerve during a recent surgery. The phrenic nerve is critical, controlling the diaphragm and the very act of breathing. According to these accounts, Hogan did not experience the typical chest-clutching associated with a heart attack; instead, he simply collapsed and stopped breathing. His wife, Sky Daily, confirmed to TMZ Sports that Hogan’s phrenic nerve was “compromised” during surgery, though she declined to specify which procedure was involved or to disclose the results of the autopsy that was reportedly performed.
Sky Daily was the one who called 911 when she realized something was wrong with her husband’s breathing, according to law enforcement sources cited by TMZ Sports. The police report from that day remains on “lockdown,” but it is known that officers discussed the therapist’s claims at the scene and that these conversations were captured on bodycam footage. The therapist’s assertion — that medical malpractice may have played a role in Hogan’s death — has not been officially confirmed or ruled out by investigators.
Brooke Hogan’s skepticism has only intensified as she has received calls from both police officials and nurses who were reportedly present on the day of her father’s death. According to her statements, these professionals have urged her to obtain the bodycam and 911 recordings, suggesting that the footage could “potentially shed enough light to change the narrative we/I/everyone’s been hearing.” Brooke has also communicated closely with her brother, Nick, who has been involved in the family’s search for answers.
Meanwhile, the Clearwater Police Department has stated that it is working closely with the Hogan family. “We plan to meet with the family and brief them on the case to this point, and we will share the results of the investigation with the family prior to closing the case and releasing it to the public and media,” the department said in a statement echoed by multiple outlets, including AP and Tampa Bay Times. No timeline has been provided for when the findings will be made public.
As the investigation continues, the family has been left in limbo. A private funeral service was held on August 5, 2025, at a church in Largo, Florida, but Hogan’s cremation has been postponed due to lingering questions. Both Sky Daily and Brooke Hogan have confirmed that, as of mid-to-late August, Hogan’s body has not yet been cremated — a decision made in hopes of resolving the persistent doubts and speculation.
The police investigation has involved interviews with multiple witnesses and the collection of medical records from various providers. Detectives are also reviewing the statements of those present at the time of Hogan’s death, including the occupational therapist whose claims have become a focal point of the inquiry. The possibility of medical malpractice is being explored, but without the release of the autopsy results or the bodycam and 911 recordings, the public is left with more questions than answers.
Hogan’s death marks the end of an era for professional wrestling. He was the main attraction at the inaugural WrestleMania in 1985 and remained a fixture in WWE for decades, facing off against giants like Andre The Giant, Randy Savage, and The Rock. He won at least six WWE championships, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005, and reinstated in 2018 after a brief removal over a scandal involving racial slurs. Despite his controversies, Hogan’s charisma and impact on the sport are undeniable.
As fans and family alike await the results of the ongoing investigation, the legacy of Hulk Hogan remains both celebrated and clouded by uncertainty. The final chapter of his remarkable life story is still being written — not in the ring, but in the careful examination of the facts behind his untimely death.
