Florida Police Confirm Hulk Hogan Died of Natural Causes, Close Investigation

Florida law enforcement has formally closed its investigation into the death of professional wrestling icon Hulk Hogan, concluding that no criminal wrongdoing was involved. A report released by Clearwater police stated there was "no evidence to indicate the death of Terry Bollea was anything other than natural." The case has been classified as solved and non-criminal.

Hogan, whose legal name was Terry Bollea, died on July 24, 2025, in Clearwater, Florida, at the age of 71, following what was described at the time as a possible cardiac arrest. Investigators reviewed medical records, witness statements, surveillance footage from inside his residence, and conducted a physical examination of his body before reaching their conclusion. An autopsy completed in August determined he died "exclusively from compelling natural disease, with no reasonable traumatic or terminal toxicologic contributions," according to the death report. His wife, Sky, had previously addressed public speculation about his health, stating he was recovering from surgeries and describing him as "strong."

Hogan built one of the most decorated careers in professional wrestling history. He began in Championship Wrestling from Florida in the late 1970s before joining the World Wrestling Federation in 1979. His rise to mainstream prominence accelerated when Vince McMahon positioned him as the WWF's central attraction in the early 1980s, launching the "Hulkamania" phenomenon. His bodyslam of the nearly 520-pound André the Giant at WrestleMania III remains one of the most referenced moments in the sport's history. He held the WWF championship six times and won the Royal Rumble twice. In 1996, his turn to villainy in World Championship Wrestling - forming the New World Order alongside Kevin Nash and Scott Hall - helped WCW dominate weekly television ratings for 83 consecutive weeks. He was also a six-time world heavyweight champion in WCW and held the IWGP championship in New Japan Pro-Wrestling. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as an individual in 2005 and as a member of the nWo in 2020.

With the investigation formally closed, no further legal proceedings are expected in connection with his death. Hogan is survived by his wife, Sky.