Hulk Hogan‘s son Nick was front and center in a poignant tribute to his late dad before the latest edition of WWE‘s Monday Night Raw.
Nick, 35, looked visibly emotional as he stood alongside WWE stars past and present for a 10-bell salute to his father, who died at the age of 71 last week.
His wife Tana Lea was also seen wiping away tears after joining her husband on stage for the event in Detroit.
Prior to the 10-bell salute, a tribute read out by WWE legend and current chief content officer Triple H at Friday night’s SmackDown show was played into the arena.
‘He captivated millions of people and inspired them around the globe,’ Triple H, whose real name is Paul Levesque,’ said about Hulk. ‘We would not be standing here right now – all of us together – if it was not for him.’
A touching video montage of his greatest WWE moments was then displayed, which left Nick on the verge of tears four days on from his dad’s passing.
Hulk Hogan’s son Nick joined WWE stars for a tribute to his dad before Monday Night Raw
Hogan, pictured with his only son, died at the age of 71 last week following a cardiac arrest
Hogan, considered by many as the greatest wrestler in history, passed away last Thursday morning after suffering a cardiac arrest at his home in Clearwater, Florida .
The American icon’s passing sent shockwaves across the world, with president Donald Trump leading the tributes to his good friend last week.
Nick, Hogan’s only son, thanked those who had reached out to support him through the difficult time as he paid an emotional tribute to his father on Sunday.
‘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 on Instagram.
‘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 is also survived by his daughter Brooke, 37, and wife, Sky Daily, as well as his ex-wife Linda.
Nick looked visibly emotional as he stood alongside WWE stars for a 10-bell salute to his dad
The 35-year-old paid tribute to his ‘best friend’ on Sunday after the death of the WWE legend
He also shared a series of photos of himself and his father in an emotional post on Instagram
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.
Hogan pictured with Nick, ex-wife Linda (second right) and daughter Brooke (right) in 2006
‘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.
