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There are still a number of unanswered questions concerning the circumstances of Hulk Hogan’s death following his passing in July. However, there’s mounting evidence that suggests it may have stemmed from complications concerning a medical procedure that will reportedly be at the center of a lawsuit filed by his widow.
It’s been a little over a month since Hulk Hogan passed away in Florida at the age of 71, and the coroner who examined his body cited a heart attack as the official cause of death. That’s not a particularly rare occurrence for someone his age, but it soon became evident the narrative was not as straightforward as it may have seemed at first glance.
In August, Hogan’s daughter, Brooke, said she was lobbying for an autopsy while strongly hinting she had reason to believe foul play may have been involved. However, the only person who was able to authorize one was his third wife, Sky Daily, who eventually confirmed a report concerning a surgery that impacted a nerve that plays a vital role in respiratory function.
That development raised more questions than it answered, but it appears some of them may be addressed based on her plans to take the parties who were allegedly responsible to court.
Hulk Hogan’s widow is preparing to file a medical malpractice lawsuit over a surgery she says played a central role in his death
Daily, who married Hogan in 2023, recently spoke with The Daily Mail to shed some new light on the ongoing investigation into his death, telling the outlet she “definitely” believes it’s linked to the neck fusion he underwent in May to address a pinched nerve.
She previously said that surgery “compromised” the pro wrestler’s phrenic nerve, which is responsible for stimulating the diaphragm and, in turn, mediating the flow of air through your lungs. Daily said that issue caused Hogan’s health to deteriorate in the months leading up to his death, noting:
“If you have shortness of breath for a long time, that makes you very sick. It’s not something that’s an alarming cause of death. It’s something that wears on you, makes you weak.”
She added Hogan’s body has yet to be cremated due to evidence that’s still being gathered, saying, “We’re currently in the investigatory process for possible malpractice.” She did not name the doctor who oversaw the operation but did defend the wrestler’s personal physician, Dr. Gerald Fitzgerald, from online rumors floated by people who’ve baselessly asserted he improperly prescribed his patient medicine before he died.
Daily said Hogan’s remains will be cremated when the investigation is completed, but it doesn’t appear there’s currently a timeline for the conclusion of that inquiry or the filing of the lawsuit.