WWE Hall of Famer Terry 'Hulk Hogan' Bollea reportedly dealt with several heart issues, including suffering from a "weak heart," during the final weeks leading up to his death at the age of 71 on Thursday (July 24), a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed to the Daily Mail.
“He was suffering from shortness of breath, got tired easily, had lost a lot of weight and was on oxygen as his life ebbed away at his mansion in Clearwater, Florida,” the source claimed.
Bollea was, however, reported to be in good spirits during his final days, according to the insider.
“He had a lot of scores to settle. Didn’t want to leave anything unsaid,” the source said.
WWE confirmed Bollea's death in tribute posts shared on its social media account following TMZ Sports' initial report on Thursday (July 24). Medics reportedly responded to a reported "cardiac arrest" at the wrestling legend's Clearwater home early Thursday morning, with the dispatch audio clip obtained and shared by the celebrity news website, though his official cause of death has not yet been determined.
Sources with knowledge of the situation told TMZ Sports that several police vehicles and EMTs were parked outside the wrestling legend's home and he was reported to be carried out on a stretcher and into an ambulance. Bollea's reported death came weeks after his wife denied rumors that he was in a coma, claiming his heart was "strong" while recovering from surgeries, according to TMZ Sports.
The website had previously reported rumors of the wrestler being on his "deathbed," which were later clarified to be symptoms of a neck procedure in May. The Hulk Hogan character is one of the most well-known in the history of professional wrestling, leading WWE to become a global enterprise in the 1980s as the face of the company during its popularity boom.
Bollea was a five-time WWE (then-WWF) Champion, which included a 1,474-day reign as the longest of the WrestleMania era and a six-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, where he was the leader of the New World Order as 'Hollywood' Hulk Hogan during his tenure with the now-defunct promotion. The 71-year-old was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame twice as both an individual and as a member of the faction.