In this Dec. 15, 2006, file photo, singer Brooke Hogan and her father Hulk Hogan pose in the press room at Z100’s Jingle Ball 2006 at Madison Square Garden in New York.Bryan Bedder/Getty Images, FILE
Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan, whose real name was Terry Gene Bollea, passed away last Thursday at the age of 71 after suffering cardiac arrest. While fans and fellow wrestlers around the world mourn his loss, his daughter Brooke Hogan shared a deeply personal tribute that’s touching hearts everywhere.
On Tuesday, Brooke posted two emotional messages on Instagram reflecting on her powerful connection with her father. In her first post, she spoke of their “sacred bond,” writing:
“My dad’s blood runs through my veins. His eyes shine through my children. Our bond has never been broken — not even in his final moments. It was a connection deeper than words, one that spanned lifetimes.”
Brooke revealed that she always saw a side of her father the public didn’t — beyond the fame, the muscle, and the showbiz.
“I knew the real him,” she said. “Not just the version the world saw through a curated lens. What we had could be felt by anyone who saw us together.”
She also addressed recent media reports suggesting a rift between them.
“We never had a ‘big fight,’” she clarified. “What we had were personal, private conversations that the world will never hear. He confided in me — about his struggles, about business, and about his heart.”
Brooke added that she and her husband, Steven Oleksy, moved to Florida to be closer to her dad as he got older. But in time, her father became more withdrawn.
“There came a point when he didn’t want me around for his surgeries. It was like a force field went up. I had to step away to protect my heart.”
Despite the distance, she said her love never wavered.
“I did everything I could. He knew I would run through a burning building for him. And I did — more than once.”
Her second Instagram post featured a heartfelt photo slideshow of their memories together, set to Stevie Nicks’ song “Crystal.”
In her caption, Brooke wrote:
“I’m PROUD to be your daughter. Thank you for choosing me in this lifetime and loving me so deeply. Our bond is eternal. That truth brings me comfort and hope, even in your absence.”
She ended with a final message full of love:
“I love you more than the stars in the sky. 4LifeAfterLife.”
#HulkHogan #BrookeHogan #WWEFamily #RestInPeace #EternalBond