'I WASN’T READY FOR THIS'

HULK Hogan’s wife, Sky, is in pieces following the professional wrestler’s sudden death last week. 

Hogan, the 1980s icon of professional wrestling who helped propel the low-budget spectacle into the global spotlight and parlayed his prowess in the ring into pop culture stardom, died last Thursday at the age of 71.

Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, was pronounced dead at a Florida hospital after emergency personnel responded to a cardiac arrest call at his home in Clearwater, police said.

In an emotional post on Instagram over the weekend, his wife Sky wrote: “I wasn’t ready for this… and my heart is in pieces.

“He had been dealing with some health issues, but I truly believed we would overcome them. I had so much faith in his strength. I thought we still had more time.

“This loss is sudden and impossible to process. To the world, he was a legend… but to me, he was my Terry. The man I loved. My partner. My heart.

“Hulk loved his fans so much and despite his growing physical discomfort, he did everything he could to show up, sign autographs, take photos, and connect with the people who supported him through it all. You meant everything to him.

“He was a believer in Christ, and I take comfort knowing his soul is at peace and he’s been welcomed home. 

“Please keep his family and all of us who loved him in your prayers as we try to navigate this new reality.” 

US President Donald Trump was also a Hulkamaniac and said on social media of the wrestler’s death: “We lost a great friend… the 'Hulkster.' 

“Hulk Hogan was MAGA [Make America Great Again] all the way - Strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart.

“He gave an absolutely electric speech at the Republican National Convention, that was one of the highlights of the entire week. He entertained fans from all over the world, and the cultural impact he had was massive.”

Hogan suffered numerous health problems in later years, stemming from the years of abuse his body took in the ring. 

In the 1990s, he admitted under oath that he had used anabolic steroids at the peak of his career.

He was married three times, and had two children with his first wife Linda.

His wife Sky’s words will serve as a reminder to everyone all over the world, that life is short and that we have to do right by each other.