WWE icon Hulk Hogan died on July 24, 2025, at the age of 71 after a long battle with health issues and a recent surgery. His death was officially ruled a heart attack (acute myocardial infarction), with records suddenly claiming he had been fighting cancer. But the circumstances surrounding his death remained a mystery, especially for his daughter, Brooke Hogan, who has been vocal about her doubts. Now, a new report suggests medical malpractice could be at the centre of it all.
Also read: How Hulk Hogan’s sex tape lawsuit bankrupted media company Gawker
Hulk Hogan’s cause of death
Speaking to Clearwater Police, a therapist who was allegedly with Hogan in his final moments claimed a surgeon had severed his phrenic nerve during a recent surgery. Law enforcement told TMZ the claim was included in the official police report filed after the 911 call from Hogan’s home. The phrenic nerve is crucial as it controls the diaphragm, the muscle that makes breathing possible. According to TMZ, in those last moments, Hogan didn’t clutch his chest like most heart attack patients. Instead, he simply collapsed and stopped breathing. That alone raised doubts over whether his death was truly cardiac arrest. His wife, Sky Daily, was the first to notice something was wrong.
The Clearwater Police Department is once again investigating the case. The department is in frequent touch with Hogan’s kids, including Brooke and Nick Hogan, but no evidence (like bodycam footage or 911 tapes) has been released yet since the case is still active. Authorities said the family will be briefed before any details go public. “All of this takes time,” police said. “The Hogan family has been appreciative of our efforts and our communication with them.” The investigating officer continued, “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 report comes just days after Brooke opened up about her doubts. She earlier pointed out that Hogan’s cause of death listed leukaemia as part of his medical history, is something that doesn’t run in their family. She called it “weird” and even went as far as saying it sounded like “BS.” Following his death, she appeared on radio shows and podcasts, claiming bodycam and 911 footage could change the story of how her father actually died. She also said medical professionals, including police and nurses, had reached out to her privately, urging an investigation based on what they witnessed. Brooke offered to pay for an independent autopsy. Recently, she confirmed that one had been done, though she refused to share the results. According to her, although Hulk was buried on August 5, he still hasn’t been cremated.
