Nick Hogan pays tribute to ‘best friend’ Hulk in heartbreaking post

Nick Hogan is trying to navigate his dad Hulk Hogan’s “overwhelming” and “extremely difficult” death.

On Saturday, the only son of the former pro wrestler took to Instagram to share a touching tribute to his father.

“Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me and comforted me over the last few days. It truly means a lot. I’m sorry to everyone I have not responded to yet. This has been overwhelming and extremely difficult,” he captioned a carousel of throwback photos of him and Hulk.

“Hearing so many kind words and stories about my dad’s life, interactions and experiences with everyone has been incredible and comforting,” the 35-year-old added.

Nick said Hulk was “the most incredible person I’ve ever known and will always be my hero.”

“He was the most kind, loving and amazing father anybody could ask for. I feel so blessed to have had the greatest dad in the world,” he added.

“He was not only the best dad but also my mentor and my best friend. He always has been my best friend and I love him and miss him more than I could ever explain.”

The former reality star said he was able to thank his father and tell him how much he loved him before his passing.

“I spent a lot of time with him the past few years after moving back to Florida to be closer to him and I am so grateful for those memories. They are the best moments in my life,” he wrote.

“I would do anything to have him back but I know now that he will always be watching over me. I will always remember the lessons and advice he gave me and carry on in a way that I know would make him proud,” Nick added.

“Thank you for being the best dad in the world and thank you for being my best friend. I love you so much Big Dog and I will miss you forever.”

Hulk died on July 24 after going into cardiac arrest, Page Six can confirm. He was 71.

“Unfortunately, we must confirm that Terry Bollea, aka Hulk Hogan, passed away this morning,” his reps told us. “We are heartbroken. He was such a great human being and friend.”

Clearwater Fire & Rescue personnel were dispatched to the six-time WWE champion’s Clearwater, Fla., home that morning in response to a call about a “cardiac arrest,” the department announced in a press release.

He was pronounced dead at Morton Plant Hospital.

Nick and the wrestling legend had a very close relationship. Just weeks before Hulk’s death, Nick revealed that the two celebrated Father’s Day together with a touching tribute.

“Had a great Father’s Day with the goat! Happy Father’s Day to all the awesome dads! 💪💪” Nick captioned a throwback photo of him and his dad when he was a kid.

Nick’s wife, Tana Lea, was the first to subtly pay tribute to the “Hogan Knows Best” alum hours after the news of his death broke. Via Instagram Stories, she shared a series of snaps with Hulk from her wedding day, and reposted Nick’s Father’s Day message.

Unlike his bond with his son, Hulk had an estranged relationship with his daughter, Brooke.

The 37-year-old accused Hulk and her mom, Linda Hogan, of “vicious” abuse back in March.

“I have been EXTREMELY verbally and mentally abused since childhood,” she penned in a lengthy Instagram statement at the time. “Sadly, it would frequently turn physical. And sometimes it’s not by the person you would assume, abuse comes in all shapes and sizes.”

Hulk shared Nick and Brooke with ex-wife Linda. The two were married from 1983 to 2009.

They had an explosive divorce, with Linda accusing Hulk of cheating on her and physically abusing her throughout their marriage. The pro-wrestler vehemently denied all of her allegations and sued her for defamation.

Linda also blamed her ex-husband for the strained relationship she has with her daughter, leading to a nasty family feud between the three of them prior to Hulk’s death.

Nick was in attendance when Hulk wed Sky Daily in September 2023, while Brooke openly skipped the ceremony.

“Instead of leaving it to speculation, I decided it’s better to shut it all down here,” she posted to her Instagram, addressing her absence.

“For my own journey to healing and happiness, I have chosen to create some distance between myself and my family, and am focusing on people and things that heal my heart and align with my own personal beliefs, goals, and values.”

She concluded her statement by saying that she wishes her father “well” along with a red heart emoji.

It was later discovered that Brooke had a final conversation with Hulk two weeks before the wedding, when she told her father she loved him.