Wrestling icon Hulk Hogan privately fought chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in the years leading up to his death, according to newly released documents from the Pinellas County Forensic Science Center in Florida, as reported [1] by Page Six.
Hogan, born Terry Gene Bollea, died [2] on July 24 at the age of 71 after suffering cardiac arrest. His official cause of death was listed as acute myocardial infarction — commonly known as a heart attack.
The cremation summary approval report, obtained Thursday by Page Six, also noted that the former WWE superstar had a medical history that included CLL and atrial fibrillation, a condition characterized by irregular heart rhythm.
CLL is a type of cancer that begins in the bone marrow and leads to the accumulation of cancerous white blood cells in the bloodstream, lymph nodes, and spleen, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Hogan did not disclose his leukemia diagnosis publicly during his lifetime.
His death came after a reported period of declining health, during which he experienced shortness of breath, significant weight loss, fatigue, and required oxygen, according to a source close to the family who spoke to the Daily Mail.
The source also stated that Hogan had a “weak heart.”
The wrestling legend is survived by his wife, Sky Daily, and his two children from his previous marriage to Linda Hogan — Brooke Hogan, 37, and Nick Hogan, 35.
In a tribute posted to Instagram earlier this week, Brooke [3] referenced their years-long estrangement and her father’s declining health. She wrote, “Everything started getting covered in a thick veil,” and said it felt like “there was a force field around him that I couldn’t get through.”
Brooke Hogan shared the following photos to pay tribute to her father pic.twitter.com/W0c4jRCubK [4]
— WrestleFeed (@WrestleFeedApp) July 29, 2025 [5]
Brooke also noted that she had herself removed from Hogan’s will, despite having supported him through 24 surgeries.
Nick Hogan honored his father in a separate post, calling him his “mentor” and “best friend.” He also appeared visibly emotional during WWE’s tribute [6] to Hogan on “Monday Night Raw.”
WWE Raw begins with a 10-bell salute for the legendary WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan. pic.twitter.com/Pae7Wvbw5Y [7]
— WWE (@WWE) July 29, 2025 [8]
While the wrestling community continues to mourn the loss of one of its most recognized figures, the revelations surrounding Hogan’s health shed new light on his final years.
His representative has not yet issued a public statement regarding the details confirmed in the cremation report.