Hulk Hogan’s son, Nick, has spoken out on the ‘overwhelming and extremely difficult’ death of his father.
Hulk, a wrestling legend, died at the age of 71 on Thursday after suffering cardiac arrest at his home in Clearwater, Florida. Emergency services rushed him to a local hospital but the WWE icon was ultimately declared dead.
Taking three days to process the devastating loss, Nick, 35, thanked those who had reached out to support him through the difficult time as he paid an emotional tribute to his father.
‘Hearing so many kind words and stories about my dad’s life, interactions and experiences with everyone has been incredible and comforting,’ Nick wrote alongside a series of throwback photos of him with his dad.
‘My dad was the most incredible person I’ve ever known and will always be my hero. He was the most kind, loving and amazing father anybody could ask for. I feel so blessed to have had the greatest dad in the world. He was not only the best dad but also my mentor and my best friend. He always has been my best friend and I love him and miss him more than I could ever explain.
‘I thanked him for everything he has ever done for me and told him how much I loved him and hugged him every chance I got. I spent a lot of time with him the past few years after moving back to Florida to be closer to him and I am so grateful for those memories. They are the best moments in my life.’
Hulk Hogan’s son, Nick, has paid tribute to his ‘best friend’ after the death of the WWE legend
The 35-year-old shared a series of photos of himself and his father to Instagram
Hulk is also survived by his daughter Brooke, 37, and wife, Sky Daily, as well as his ex-wife Linda.
Through the final months of his life, Hogan battle through the emotional toll of a bitter family feud with Linda and Brooke. But Nick seemingly took a neutral stance on the fallout, revealing he had grown closer to his father towards the end of his life.
‘I spent a lot of time with him the past few years after moving back to Florida to be closer to him and I am so grateful for those memories. They are the best moments in my life,’ Nick continued.
‘I would do anything to have him back but I know now that he will always be watching over me. I will always remember the lessons and advice he gave me and carry on in a way that I know would make him proud,’ he added.
‘Thank you for being the best dad in the world and thank you for being my best friend. I love you so much Big Dog and I will miss you forever.’
However, Hulk did not share the same close bond with his daughter Brooke as their bitter fallout was revealed earlier this year.
In an astonishing video on social media shared back in March, Linda first accused her former husband of being a ‘complete liar’ and ‘sex addict’.
She also claimed their family is ‘in the worst mess’ after Brooke cut both parents out of her life, before hitting back at her mom by alleging that her dad was not the only reason behind the shocking family divide, claiming she was ‘verbally and mentally abused’ during her childhood.
The wrestler is pictured with Nick are pictured with the wrestler’s ex-wife Linda (second right) and his daughter Brooke (right) in 2006
Nick spoke out on the ‘overwhelming and extremely difficult’ time in the wake of the loss
‘Sadly, it would frequently turn physical. And sometimes it’s not by the person you would assume, abuse comes in all shapes and sizes,’ Brooke alleged.
After Brooke’s stunning response, Linda then took a dramatic U-turn by defending Hogan and branding her daughter a ‘narcissist.’
Yet, despite their differences, Linda, who married Hogan in 1983 and divorced in 2009, sent her own touching message to the wrestler just days before his death.
In her final Instagram post before Hogan’s passing, Linda shared a photo of herself and the ‘Hulkster’ from the 1980s, which she captioned: ‘The good old days !’
Hogan and Linda were married for 26 years between 1983 and 2009. Hogan remarried in 2010, tying the knot with Jennifer McDaniel, but they split 11 years later. He married his third wife – Sky – in 2023, in a ceremony that Brooke did not attend.
Nick’s tribute to his father comes after Hulk’s third wife Sky opened up on her devastation in the wake of the ‘sudden’ loss of her husband in a heartbreaking message one day after his tragic death.
Sky wrote on Instagram Friday morning: ‘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.’
Hogan, pictured with wife Sky Daily, died Thursday after suffering cardiac arrest at his home
She shared a picture of her kissing the wrestling icon, 71, on the cheek.
Her statement continued: ‘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.’
