Hulk Hogan's Final Interview Reveals Suicide Contemplation During Divorce
In a newly released final interview, wrestling icon Hulk Hogan revealed he came perilously close to taking his own life during his bitter divorce from his first wife, Linda. The legendary figure, who passed away from a heart attack last July at age 71, opened up about his darkest moments in the Netflix documentary series Hulk Hogan: Real American.
The Media Storm and Personal Descent
Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, recounted how a 2009 interview with Rolling Stone magazine spiraled into a media frenzy during his divorce proceedings. He described building rapport with the interviewer, only to be blindsided by a question about O.J. Simpson.
"I said: 'Well, brother, I've been that jealous and that mad at a girl that I completely understand how he flipped out. But I would never do that. I would never go there,'" Hogan recalled in the documentary. "I wish I'd never done the interview with Rolling Stone."
The resulting headlines suggesting Hogan "understood" the alleged murderer coincided with his acrimonious divorce from Linda, whom he had married in December 1983. This perfect storm of personal and public turmoil pushed Hogan to his breaking point.
Rock Bottom: Guns, Pills, and Vodka
Hogan described descending into a dangerous spiral following the controversy. "I went home and started drinking, and started eating pills," he revealed. "I just went down this rabbit hole for a couple of days, and next thing I know I'm sitting in my bathroom with a gun in my mouth, not knowing what I was doing."
His friend and wrestling producer Eric Bischoff corroborated Hogan's account, recalling this period as the "darkest, most devastating point of his life up to that point." Bischoff noted Hogan was combining prescribed painkillers with "a quart of vodka a day" during the divorce.
Hogan himself summarized: "I hit rock bottom."
Documentary Revelations and Presidential Commentary
The four-part Netflix series features additional surprising elements, including an interview with former President Donald Trump from the White House. Trump commented on Hogan's controversial nature, stating: "Hulk was always very controversial. That's okay, I'm fairly controversial. I think I've become less controversial over the years, but I'm fairly controversial too, but I don't think Hulk cares about that, and I don't care about that either."
Hulk Hogan: Real American is currently streaming on Netflix, providing an intimate portrait of the wrestling legend who helped launch a global industry while battling personal demons.
Mental Health Resources
If you are experiencing feelings of distress or struggling to cope, support is available:
- In the UK and ROI: Call Samaritans at 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, or visit their website
- In the USA: Call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
- Internationally: Visit www.befrienders.org to find local helplines
These services provide free, confidential support available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
