On July 24, 2025, the wrestling world was rocked by the sudden death of WWE icon Hulk Hogan, born Terry Gene Bollea, at the age of 71. The legendary wrestler, whose larger-than-life persona defined professional wrestling in the 1980s and 1990s, suffered a cardiac arrest at his Clearwater, Florida home, leaving behind a legacy that transcended the ring. Amidst the outpouring of tributes from fans, wrestlers, and public figures, a poignant detail emerged: Brooke Hogan, his estranged daughter, revealed she had one final conversation with her father in September 2023, where she expressed her love and concern, telling him, “I love you” and urging him to slow down due to his declining health. This heartfelt exchange, however, was overshadowed by a bitter family feud that had fractured their relationship for years, leaving unresolved tensions that added a layer of tragedy to Hogan’s passing.

A Storied Career and a Fractured Family

Hulk Hogan’s career is the stuff of legend. Rising to fame in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE), Hogan became a global phenomenon, headlining the first WrestleMania in 1985 and facing off against icons like André the Giant in a historic match at WrestleMania III. His charisma, signature red-and-yellow attire, and “Hulkamania” movement made him a household name, with crossover appearances in films like Rocky III and TV shows like The A-Team. In the 1990s, his reinvention as the villainous “Hollywood Hogan” with the New World Order (NWO) in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) revolutionized the industry, cementing his status as a trailblazer. Hogan’s influence extended beyond wrestling, with ventures like the reality show Hogan Knows Best (2005–2007), which starred his then-wife Linda, son Nick, and daughter Brooke, offering a glimpse into their family dynamics.

However, behind the public persona, Hogan’s personal life was tumultuous. His 26-year marriage to Linda Hogan ended in a contentious 2009 divorce, marked by allegations of infidelity, including an affair with a friend of Brooke’s. The family’s public profile amplified their struggles, with Brooke, born May 5, 1988, navigating her own path in the spotlight as a reality TV star and pop singer. Her spin-off show, Brooke Knows Best (2008–2009), chronicled her attempts to establish independence, but her relationship with her parents deteriorated over time. By 2025, Brooke had cut off contact with both Hulk and Linda, a decision rooted in years of personal and familial conflict.

The Final Conversation: A Glimmer of Love Amid Estrangement

According to sources close to Brooke, her final conversation with her father took place in September 2023, just weeks before Hulk’s marriage to his third wife, Sky Daily. During this call, Brooke, now 37 and a mother of twins, expressed deep concern for her father’s health, urging him to “slow down and enjoy life” given his ongoing issues, including a lingering back injury from his wrestling days. She told him, “I love you,” words that now carry profound weight given their estrangement. Hulk, reportedly distant during the conversation, offered an apology—though for what remains unclear—and expressed a desire to maintain their relationship on his terms. Despite Brooke’s efforts, facilitated by her husband, former NHL player Steven Oleksy, to mend their bond, Hulk’s response was often cold, particularly when informed of Brooke’s near-death experience during childbirth.

Brooke learned of her father’s death not directly from family but through a text from her brother, Nick, to Oleksy, underscoring the depth of their estrangement. Sources told TMZ that Brooke finds solace in having expressed her love in that final call, believing she did everything possible to maintain a connection despite their differences. Her husband’s attempts to bridge the gap, including outreach during her pregnancy, were met with indifference, with Hulk reportedly never meeting his grandchildren, twins Oliver and Molly, born in January 2025.

The Roots of the Family Feud

The Hogan family’s rift became public in March 2025, when Linda posted an emotional Instagram Story, lamenting that “my family is in the worst mess” and revealing that Brooke had cut off contact with both parents. Linda blamed Hulk, accusing him of being a “complete liar” and a “sex addict,” claims that reignited old wounds from their divorce. She noted that Brooke had married Oleksy in 2022 and welcomed twins without informing her parents, a point of pain for Linda, who felt unfairly excluded. Brooke responded sharply, clarifying that her decision to distance herself was based on separate issues with each parent, not solely her father’s actions. She alleged “extreme verbal and mental abuse” since childhood, sometimes escalating to physical abuse, though she did not specify the perpetrator.

Brooke’s statement was a raw reflection of her struggle: “I so badly wanted to see good in them, protect, help, and start anew—just to be disrespected again and again. I longed for a normal family, but it never came to fruition.” She also addressed her father’s second and third wives, indicating that her boundaries extended to them, particularly Sky Daily, whom Hulk married in 2023. Brooke’s absence from that wedding was a public signal of their fractured bond, with sources noting that Hulk was “heartbroken” but unsure why his daughter had pulled away.

Hulk’s own actions may have deepened the rift. In April 2025, Daily Mail reported that he was seeking to make amends, with an insider stating, “He’s heartbroken that he doesn’t have a relationship with his daughter and would love someday to rectify that.” Yet, his public behavior suggested otherwise. A video posted with Sky Daily, captioned about a new “HH TV show,” was criticized by fans as “poor taste” amid the feud, with comments like, “A real man would try and heal, not mock his family.”

Controversies and Their Impact

Hulk’s personal scandals also strained his relationship with Brooke. In 2015, a leaked audio from a 2007 sex tape revealed him using a racial slur while discussing Brooke’s then-boyfriend, leading to his temporary removal from the WWE Hall of Fame. Brooke defended him with a poem titled “If You Knew My Father,” but the incident damaged his reputation and, indirectly, their bond. His 2024 Republican National Convention speech, where he endorsed Donald Trump, further polarized public opinion, with some fans seeing it as a continuation of his controversial persona. These events, combined with the family’s public airing of grievances, created a complex backdrop to Brooke’s estrangement.

Linda’s accusations against Brooke, calling her a “narcissist just like her dad,” and Brooke’s counterclaims of abuse highlighted a family unable to reconcile. Linda’s assertion that she was forced to be the “bad cop” during their upbringing contrasted with Brooke’s narrative of seeking peace by stepping away from the spotlight, focusing on her interior design business, BB Designs by Brooke, and her family with Oleksy.

Tributes and Legacy

Hulk Hogan’s death prompted an outpouring of tributes from wrestling peers, celebrities, and political figures. WWE called him “one of pop culture’s most recognizable figures,” while Vince McMahon labeled him “the greatest WWE Superstar of all time.” Ric Flair, a close friend, shared a heartfelt post: “Hulk was one of the first to visit me when I was in the hospital with a 2% chance of living.” Donald Trump Jr. and Vice President JD Vance also paid respects, reflecting Hogan’s ties to Trump’s circle. Sylvester Stallone, who starred with Hogan in Rocky III, called him “absolutely wonderful.”

For Brooke, the loss is bittersweet. Her final “I love you” offers closure, but the unresolved feud underscores the personal cost of her father’s larger-than-life existence. As she navigates motherhood and her career, Brooke’s story is one of resilience, seeking peace away from the chaos that defined her family. Hulk Hogan’s legacy as a wrestling icon endures, but his daughter’s final words remind us of the human toll behind the spectacle.