Linda Hogan Reflects on Hulk Hogan’s Sudden Passing
I’m Zoe Bennett, and here’s an analytical look at the key developments. Objective reporting, insightful analysis: let’s begin.
Four days after Terry “Hulk” Bollea died on July 24 at age 71, his ex-wife, Linda Hogan, broke her silence with a candid Instagram comment that has drawn both sympathy and interest. On July 28, Linda—who spent 26 years married to the wrestling icon before their 2009 split—replied to her own July 19 throwback photo with a heartfelt reflection on the unexpected nature of his passing.
“I had no idea he would pass away this soon,” she wrote, adding that the family “all really thought he would make a comeback.” Linda recounted how news of Hulk’s cardiac arrest first reached her, noting that she has been “weeping all day” at the finality of never seeing him again. In her comment, she admitted past hurts—“It hurt when he cheated. But he was sooo famous”—and yet reiterated enduring affection: “I still love him. Even tho I never spoke or saw him, Nick did, and Nick would tell me things and vice versa.”
Linda and Hulk share two children, Brooke and Nick Hogan. She acknowledged the lingering family tensions: “We still were a family. It’s so hard to know he’s just gone. I tried to stay strong for Nick…but I’m me.” She closed her message with a simple tribute: “I love you Hulkster. You were my man. The only man for me. RIP.” That post follows her initial July 19 Instagram tribute, when she shared an image captioned “The good old days!” featuring the couple in their early years.
Law enforcement records confirm that Clearwater Police Department officers responded to a medical emergency on July 24 related to a cardiac arrest. Hulk was transported to Morton Plant Hospital where he was pronounced deceased, as confirmed by hospital staff and his management team. His managers released a statement to E! News expressing heartbreak over the loss, calling Bollea “a great human being and friend.”
The wrestling community has poured out condolences across social media. Fellow WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair took to Instagram on July 24, writing, “I am absolutely shocked to hear about the passing of my close friend @hulkhogan. He was an incredible athlete, talent, friend, and father.” Flair recalled Bollea’s generous support when his own son faced health issues: “Hulk was one of the first to visit me when I was in the hospital with a 2 percent chance of living. He prayed by my bedside and even lent me money when Reid was sick.”
Hogan’s legacy includes six WWE world championships and a cultural impact that extended beyond the ring into reality TV and endorsement deals. His children occasionally shared mixed reflections of their relationship with their father. Nick, in a 2018 interview with TMZ, described him as “physically insane” and acknowledged both the pride and the pressures of growing up with a legendary dad. Meanwhile Brooke, now an actress and singer, has at times kept her distance from public family events to focus on her own healing journey.
Linda Hogan’s public statement underscores the personal complexity behind a celebrity’s public image. Her mix of sorrow, unresolved pain, and lasting affection provides a nuanced window into the emotional aftermath of Bollea’s death. Watch for further details on how the Hogan family will honor his memory and what legacy tributes emerge in the coming weeks.
That closes our retrospective on this family chapter, blending personal reflection with verified facts.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! News, Clearwater Police Department, WWE, Instagram
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
