Last Farewell to the Wrestling Icon: Hulk Hogan
Largo, Florida – In a moving ceremony, family and friends gathered Tuesday night to say goodbye to the legendary wrestler Hulk Hogan, who passed away last month at the age of 71. The private service was held in the same church where Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, was baptized in 2023. According to the Pinellas County medical examiner, Hogan died after suffering a heart attack on July 24 at his Clearwater home. The coroner’s report revealed that Hogan had suffered from leukemia and atrial fibrillation, an irregular heart rhythm. His death was considered natural. The security of the church and Largo police officers, including K-9 dogs, intensely patrolled the event. Anyone not on the guest list was turned away near the signs indicating “Private Event”. Former President Donald Trump shared a photo on his Truth Social platform where he is seen arm wrestling with Hogan, and commented: “Today is the ‘Hulkster’s’ funeral, and I thought everyone would like to see this photo.” Governor Ron DeSantis ordered flags to fly at half-staff at all official buildings last Friday, a day he declared as “Hulk Hogan Day in Florida”. Hogan was perhaps the biggest star in WWE’s extensive history, recognized as much for his flamboyant personality as for his achievements in the ring. He was the main attraction of the first WrestleMania in 1985 and a constant figure for years, facing legends like André The Giant and Randy Savage, up to The Rock and even WWE co-founder Vince McMahon. In addition to his success in wrestling, Hogan was a celebrity outside the world of wrestling, appearing in numerous films 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, honored her father’s memory in a recent social media post.“I am very grateful to have met the real version of him. Not just the one the world saw through a carefully selected lens”, she wrote on Instagram.
