The world knew him as Hulk Hogan, the larger-than-life wrestling icon who bodyslammed giants and captivated generations with his “Hulkamania” charisma. But when Terry Gene Bollea, the man behind the persona, was found dead in his Clearwater, Florida mansion on July 24, 2025, the official story of “natural causes” began to unravel, revealing a tangled web of secrets, family drama, and a mysterious phone call that may hold the key to his final moments.

At 71, Hogan’s passing was initially attributed to the immense physical toll of a life in the ring, a conclusion supported by his more than 25 surgeries. However, the pristine condition of his home gym, the disabled security system, and the unsettling details of his final days prompted local authorities to hand the case over to the FBI. What they uncovered has painted a picture far more complex and disturbing than anyone could have imagined.

The Eerily Sterile Gym and the Silenced Security

When FBI agents first stepped into Hogan’s home gym, they were struck by its unnatural tidiness. There were no sweat-soaked towels, no out-of-place dumbbells, no hint of the warrior-like training sessions for which Hogan was known. The room felt staged, as if it had been scrubbed clean of any evidence of its last use. This initial red flag was compounded by a far more alarming discovery: Hogan’s state-of-the-art security system had been manually disabled from inside the house. For a man obsessed with privacy and safety, this was a detail that defied explanation.

The absence of forced entry or any signs of a struggle only deepened the mystery. Had Hogan disabled the system himself? Or had someone with intimate knowledge of his home been present in his final hours? The FBI’s cyber-crime division was called in, and a deep dive into Hogan’s digital life began.

The Cryptic Call That Changed Everything

Just three days before his death, Hogan received a phone call that, according to his wife, Sky Daily, left him pale and shaken. He listened in silence for a minute, uttered a single word, and hung up. Daily told investigators it was the only time she had ever seen fear in his eyes. The call was routed through a complex web of foreign servers, making it nearly impossible to trace. While its contents remain classified, sources close to the investigation have called it a “trigger,” a moment that shattered the peace Hogan had so carefully cultivated in his later years.

In the years leading up to his death, Hogan had embraced a quieter, healthier lifestyle, thanks in large part to Daily, a yoga instructor and wellness coach. He was focused on clean eating, meditation, and healing, and those closest to him said he had finally found a sense of contentment that had long eluded him. This newfound peace makes the sudden, dark intrusion of the mysterious phone call all the more significant.

A Fractured Family and a History of Turmoil

To understand a man’s death, investigators often look to his life, and Hogan’s was a tapestry of public triumphs and private struggles. His first marriage to Linda Clarage, which produced his two children, Brooke and Nick, was a cornerstone of his public image, particularly during their reality TV show, Hogan Knows Best. But behind the scenes, the family was unraveling. Allegations of an affair, which Hogan vehemently denied, and a messy, public divorce in 2007 took a heavy emotional and financial toll. Hogan later admitted to contemplating suicide during this dark period.

His second marriage to Jennifer McDaniel also ended in divorce, and it wasn’t until he met Sky Daily that he seemed to find a lasting sense of peace. They married in September 2023, but not everyone in Hogan’s inner circle was supportive. His daughter, Brooke, was noticeably absent from the wedding, citing a need to distance herself from family events at the time. This fractured family dynamic provided investigators with a new set of questions. Could old wounds have reopened? Were there hidden financial or legal disputes that had come to a head?

Rumors, Denials, and a Daughter’s Quest for Truth

In the months before his death, Hogan’s health was a subject of intense speculation. A major cervical spine surgery in May 2025 led to rumors, sparked by shock jock Bubba the Love Sponge, that Hogan had slipped into a coma. Sky Daily quickly and firmly denied these claims, and Hogan himself appeared to be in good health. However, the possibility of a botched medical procedure lingered. Medical experts suggested that a nerve essential for breathing could have been severed during the surgery, a catastrophic injury that could lead to sudden death.

When Sky Daily made the frantic 911 call on July 24th, her panicked words, “My husband’s not breathing,” brought those fears roaring back to life. The wrestling world was divided. Some, like Triple H, offered heartfelt tributes, while Bubba the Love Sponge doubled down on his claims, suggesting Hogan’s death was no accident. Amid the chaos, Brooke Hogan, despite her estrangement from her father, demanded a full autopsy, even offering to pay for it herself. She later stated that after reviewing the evidence, including the body cam footage and the 911 call, she was satisfied with the official explanation of a “natural death” due to medical malpractice.

The Hidden Room and the Lingering Questions

But the story doesn’t end there. A leaked account from an FBI forensic sweep has suggested a stunning discovery: a concealed basement room in Hogan’s mansion. According to the unconfirmed report, the room was meticulously organized and contained files that seemed out of place for a retired wrestler. The most explosive claim is that a folder, dated the day before Hogan’s death, was linked to the cryptic late-night call.

The FBI has refused to comment on these rumors, but their existence adds another layer of intrigue to an already complex case. Was Hogan gathering information to protect himself? Was he being blackmailed? Or is the hidden room simply a private archive, its significance exaggerated in the retelling?

As fans continue to celebrate the legacy of Hulkamania, investigators are left to sift through the shadows of a life lived in the spotlight. Toxicology reports are still pending, digital devices are being decrypted, and a medical malpractice lawsuit is reportedly in the works. The official story may be one of natural causes, but the whispers of a hidden room, a mysterious phone call, and a family’s fractured past suggest that the final chapter of Hulk Hogan’s life is far from closed. The legend of Hulkamania will live on, but the questions surrounding the death of Terry Bollea may never be fully answered.