Hulk Hogan laid to rest in private funeral as WWE legends, celebrities, & family attend & ‘wear touching nod to icon’
HULK Hogan has been laid to rest in a private funeral with WWE legends, celebrities, and his family attending.
Mourners appeared to be wearing a touching nod to the wrestling icon as his casket was taken into a Clearwater, Florida, church on Tuesday.
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Hogan died on July 24 aged 71 from a heart attack, but medical records showed he had a history of leukaemia.
Wrestling icons like Triple H, Stephanie McMahon attended, while celebrities like singer Kid Rock and comedian Theo Von were also present.
His ex-wife Lina, who he was married to from 1983 to 2009, was the only member of his family seen going in or out of the service.
Photos from the funeral saw pallbearers wearing yellow boutonnieres – the same colour as Hulk’s iconic wrestling outfit.
The private service was held at the same church where Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, was baptized in 2023.
The service was heavily patrolled by church security and Largo police officers, including K-9 dogs.
President Donald Trump paid tribute to the wrestler by posting a photo to his social media of the pair arm wrestling.
He said: “They are having the “Hulkster’s” funeral today, and I thought everybody would enjoy seeing this picture.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered flags flown at half-staff at all official buildings last Friday, which he declared Hulk Hogan Day in Florida.
Hogan was perhaps the biggest star in WWE’s long history, known for both his larger-than-life personality and his in-ring exploits.
He was the main draw for the first WrestleMania in 1985 and was a fixture for years, facing everyone from Andre The Giant and Randy Savage to The Rock and even WWE co-founder Vince McMahon.
Hogan had been dealing with significant health issues for months when he went into cardiac arrest at his $11.5 million mansion in Clearwater.
He had a neck surgery in May, and was rushed to the hospital afterwards over complications with his recovery.
In June, he suffered a series of health issues that left him reportedly unable to feel his legs or walk with a cane.
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Hogan was also a celebrity outside the wrestling world, appearing in numerous movies and television shows, including Hogan Knows Best, a reality show about his life on VH1.
Hogan’s body will be cremated.
His daughter Brooke Bollea Oleksy, better known by her stage name Brooke Hogan, memorialized her father in a recent social media post.
“I am so grateful I knew the real version of him. Not just the one the world viewed through a carefully curated lens, she wrote on Instagram.”
Just days before his death, Hogan and Brooke shared a short but emotional conversation, per the National Enquirer.
“It was a tearful conversation, albeit a short one,” a source told the outlet.
“Brooke told her dad how much she loved him, how much she missed him. Hulk said he loved her, and he was sorry.”
Instantly recognisable in trademark bandana and shaggy, blond handlebar moustache, Hogan had long been a larger-than-life icon for middle America.
Hogan became such a big star that he was able to transcend wrestling and starred in the movie The Rock III with Sylvester Stallone, as well as securing his own reality TV show, Hogan Knows Best.
Born Terry Gene Bollea in Augusta, Georgia, in 1953, his dad was a construction foreman father and his mum was a dance teacher.
At school, he was called a hippy because of his long hair, love of rock music and hatred of American football despite his physique.
Hulk Hogan tributes
Tributes have poured in for Hulk Hogan following his death at 71 years old.
“When I nearly lost my dad 8 years ago, one of the few people who was there for all of it was Hulk Hogan. My heart breaks for Nick and Brooke. Rest in peace, brother.” – Charlotte Flair
“Saddened To Hear About The Passing of Hulk Hogan…I Guess God Needed An Incredible Angel. R.I.P. My Friend.” – Sergeant Slaughter
“He Was One Of The First To Visit Me When I Was In The Hospital With A 2% Chance Of Living, And He Prayed By My Bedside. Hulk Also Lent Me Money When Reid Was Sick. Hulkster, No One Will Ever Compare To You! Rest In Peace My Friend!” – Ric Flair
“WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away. One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans.” – WWE
“R.I.P to a legend. HULK HOGAN.” – Donald Trump Jr.
“Hulk Hogan was a great American icon. One of the first people I ever truly admired as a kid. The last time I saw him we promised we’d get beers together next time we saw each other. The next time will have to be on the other side, my friend! Rest in peace.” – Vice President JD Vance
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