In the world of wrestling, few figures have loomed as large—or as controversially—as Hulk Hogan.
But even in his final weeks, drama wasn’t far behind.
While the wrestling icon quietly battled health complications, an old name from his past resurfaced: Bubba the Love Sponge, the former friend at the center of Hogan’s infamous sex tape scandal.
And now, following Hogan’s death at the age of 71, Bubba is once again in the headlines—this time for claiming weeks before Hogan passed that the legend was “on his deathbed in a coma.”
A claim Hogan’s wife and friends immediately denied.
Hogan’s Final Days: What Really Happened?
Hulk Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, died on Thursday after suffering cardiac arrest at his home in Clearwater, Florida.
While the wrestling world mourned a titan, reports had already been swirling about his health in the weeks prior.
Radio personality Bubba the Love Sponge had gone on air suggesting Hogan was in a coma and “might not make it,” citing what he described as a “pretty damn reliable source.”
He even added days before Hogan’s passing that the former WWE star “can’t speak anymore.”
Hogan’s Family Shuts Down Grim Rumors
Hogan’s wife, Sky Daily, was quick to shut down the speculation.
Speaking to media on July 12, she dismissed the coma rumors outright.
“No, he’s definitely not in a coma! His heart is strong, and there was never any lack of oxygen or brain damage,” she clarified.
She explained that Hogan had recently undergone an intense surgery with a complex recovery, which caused him to be in and out of the hospital—but he was very much alive and aware.
The Surgery and the Comeback No One Expected
Far from being bedridden, Hogan had actually undergone neck surgery in May—a minor spinal fusion procedure meant to relieve discomfort.
And within just 24 hours, the ever-resilient wrestler was back at work, preparing for the launch of his new venture: Real American Freestyle, a wrestling league set to debut this summer.
This wasn’t his first trip to the OR. Hogan had told Logan Paul during an interview that he’d undergone at least 25 surgeries between 2014 and 2024 alone.
So bouncing back was just another chapter in his warrior story.
Rewinding the Clock: The Sex Tape That Shattered Their Friendship
If Bubba’s name rings a bell, it’s likely due to the scandal that shook Hogan’s career in 2012.
The two were once close friends, with Hogan even serving as best man at Bubba’s 2007 wedding to Heather Clem.
But everything fell apart when a sex tape surfaced showing Hogan with Heather—filmed secretly in the couple’s own bedroom.
Though Bubba initially denied involvement, it was later revealed he had been the one who recorded the footage.
Gawker published the tape, and Hogan sued both the Clems and the media outlet.
A Lawsuit That Made Legal History
The fallout was massive. In 2016, Hogan won a £79 million judgment against Gawker, claiming he had no idea he was being filmed and that his privacy had been deeply violated.
“Mr. Hogan had a reasonable expectation of his privacy, just as all Americans do in their bedrooms,” said his lawyer, Charles Harder, at the time.
Gawker argued Hogan knew about the tape and claimed Bubba was caught on camera encouraging the encounter.
Hogan, however, insisted he was unaware the act was being recorded.
From Accusation to Apology
In the days after the video went public, Bubba made things even worse by accusing Hogan of leaking it himself.
That added gasoline to an already raging fire.
But as legal pressure mounted, Bubba eventually walked it all back.
He later issued a statement saying:
“It is my belief that Hulk is not involved, and has not ever been involved, in trying to release the video or exploit it.”
Despite the public fallout, the damage to their friendship was already done.
Bubba Reacts to Hogan’s Passing with Regret
After the news of Hogan’s death, Bubba spoke to TMZ and shared a surprisingly heartfelt message:
“I’m heartbroken to hear of Terry’s passing.
As everyone knows, we had our issues, and those issues were mostly my fault.
I loved him as a friend while he was with us and will continue to love his memory as a friend going forward.”
It was a rare moment of humility from someone who had once betrayed Hogan so deeply.
A Legacy Beyond the Ring—And Beyond the Scandal
Hulk Hogan may be remembered for his flashy promos, wrestling belts, and iconic mustache—but behind all that was a man who endured public betrayal, surgeries, and media frenzies.
His feud with Bubba the Love Sponge was one of the messiest celebrity fallouts in modern pop culture—and yet, even that ended with an olive branch.
As fans remember the legend of the ring, the tangled human story behind it reminds us that even icons are vulnerable to betrayal, pain, and, sometimes, unexpected reconciliation.