As fans mourn Hulk Hogan’s death, his widow remembers him differently. To her, she was not a hero in the ring, but a loving man she believed would outlive the pain.
Terry Gene Bollea, the wrestler widely known to fans as Hulk Hogan, died on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at 71 years old. He suffered cardiac arrest early that morning and was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Hulk had been facing ongoing health struggles and surgeries leading up to his death. Now, a day after his passing, his 47-year-old widow, Sky Hogan, has spoken up.
In an Instagram post dated July 25, Sky shared a photo of her and Hulk in a tender moment. He stood with his eyes closed, wearing a black sleeveless top and red bandana, as she gently kissed his cheek.
“I wasn’t ready for this… and my heart is in pieces,” Sky wrote. “He had been dealing with some health issues, but I truly believed we would overcome them. I had so much faith in his strength. I thought we still had more time.”
“This loss is sudden and impossible to process. To the world, he was a legend… but to me, he was my Terry. The man I loved. My partner. My heart,” she continued, adding:
“Hulk loved his fans so much and despite his growing physical discomfort, he did everything he could to show up, sign autographs, take photos, and connect with the people who supported him through it all. You meant everything to him.”
Decades of work inside the ring left the legendary wrestler with a wide array of health issues. In 2024, he told Jake Paul on the “Impaulsive” podcast that he had undergone more than 25 operations over the previous decade.
In May, TMZ reported that Hulk underwent neck surgery, which was described at the time as a “little fusion procedure.” By June, rumors circulated that he was on his “deathbed,” but sources told TMZ those claims were false.
Hulk Hogan arrives at the premiere of HBO’s “Andre The Giant” at the Cinerama Dome on March 29, 2018 | Source: Getty images
A few weeks before his passing, Sky reassured the public that Hulk’s heart was “strong,” despite persistent rumors that he was in a medical coma.
Sky and Hulk married in an intimate ceremony in September 2023 following a brief engagement. She was his third wife.
He was previously married to Linda Hogan from 1983 to 2009. Linda rose to prominence as part of VH1’s reality show “Hogan Knows Best,” which focused on their family.
Their marriage ended after Linda learned that Hulk had cheated on her — with a friend of their then 19-year-old daughter, Brooke. The two reportedly remained estranged up until his death.
L-R: Linda, Hulk, Brooke and Nick Hogan in a promotional photo for “Hogan Knows Best,” on March 19, 2006. | Source: Getty Images
However, this didn’t stop Linda from sharing a nostalgic throwback photo of her and Hulk just days before his passing. In the caption, she reminisced about the “good old days.”
His legacy was also marred by other controversies, including a 2015 scandal in which a racist outburst from Hulk was caught on tape. The backlash led to his removal from the Hall of Fame, though he was reinstated in 2018.
Hulk Hogan’s passing marks the end of an era in professional wrestling, leaving behind a career that was celebrated by millions of fans worldwide.
As tributes continue to pour in, we extend our condolences to Sky, Linda, and the rest of his family at this difficult time.
