Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan experienced a profound Christian spiritual awakening just months before he passed away, publicly declaring his total surrender to Jesus Christbefore his sudden death from cardiac arrest Thursday.
The WWE Hall of Famer was baptized in December 2023 at Indian Rocks Church in Largo, Florida, alongside his wife Sky Daily in a ceremony that Hogan called the greatest day of his life.
“Total surrender and dedication to Jesus is the greatest day of my life. No worries, no hate, no judgment… only love!” Hogan wrote on social media.
Footage from the baptism showed Hogan being fully immersed in the baptismal pool before emerging with a broad smile, still wearing his signature bandana. Sky Daily was baptized alongside him, and the group bowed their heads in prayer after the ceremony.
The Indian Rocks Church shared Hogan’s baptism on Instagram, writing: “God is doing amazing things at Indian Rocks.”
The spiritual milestone came just months after Hogan and Daily tied the knot in an intimate, faith-centered wedding at Indian Rocks Baptist Church in September 2023. The couple had gotten engaged that July after dating for a year.
Hogan had been open about his Christian faith throughout his life, sharing on social media how he became religious as a teenager.
“I accepted Christ as my savior at 14yrs old, and the training, prayers and vitamins kept me in the game but now that I am one with God, the main event theme of surrender, service and love makes me the Real Main Event that can slam any giant of any size through the power of my Lord and Savior and so it is, even now brother, AMEN!” he wrote in 2023.
The wrestling icon had previously credited his faith with keeping him on the right path during difficult times. In a 2009 TMZ interview during his divorce from first wife Linda, Hogan thanked his Lord.
“I’ve leaned on my religion. I accepted Christ as my savior. He died on the cross and paid for my sins. I found some very good friends who told me about being positive and the power of positive thinking. I could have went the wrong way. I could have self-destructed, but I took the high road.” he said.
Take a look at his baptism —
Hogan died Thursday morning after suffering cardiac arrest at his Clearwater Beach home. The Clearwater Police Department responded to a medical call at 9:51 a.m. at 1000 block of Eldorado Avenue.
A Clearwater Police Department statement read —
Clearwater Fire Department and Clearwater Police Department personnel responded to a medical call at 9:51 a.m. today in the 1000 block of Eldorado Avenue on Clearwater Beach. The nature of the call was for a cardiac arrest. A 71-year-old resident, Terry Bollea, also known as Hulk Hogan, was treated by Clearwater Fire & Rescue crews before being taken by Sunstar to Morton Plant Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.
Hogan was pronounced dead at 11:17 a.m. Police confirmed he was “experiencing a serious medical related issue” and found no signs of foul play or suspicious activity. An investigation into his death remains underway.
“Unfortunately we must confirm that Terry Bollea, aka Hulk Hogan passed away this morning. We are heartbroken. He was such a great human being and friend,” family representative Linda Bose said.
The shocking death came just weeks after Sky Daily had denied rumors on social media that her husband was in a coma or on his deathbed. She insisted his heart was “strong” and explained he was recovering from major spinal surgery.
Hogan had endured extensive physical challenges from injuries during his long wrestling career.
The six-time WWE champion is survived by his wife Sky Daily, children Brooke Hogan, 37, and Nick Hogan, 34, from his first marriage to Linda Claridge, and two grandchildren. He was previously married to Jennifer McDaniel from 2010 to 2021.