The sudden passing of wrestling icon Hulk Hogan, born Terry Gene Bollea, at age 71 on July 24, 2025, has left the world mourning a pop culture titan. For his daughter, Brooke Hogan, the loss is deeply personal, compounded by an eight-year estrangement and a poignant final conversation that left her in tears, wishing she had expressed her love more fully. In a tearful reflection shared with close friends and reported by outlets like TMZ, Brooke revealed her regret over their last phone call, where she urged her father to “slow down” but now wishes she had said, “I love you” with greater depth. This article explores the emotional weight of their final exchange, the context of their strained relationship, and the broader legacy of Hulk Hogan, drawing on recent reports and public sentiment.

The Final Call: A Daughter’s Plea and Unspoken Love

Two weeks before Hulk Hogan’s third marriage to Sky Daily in September 2023, Brooke, 37, reached out to her father in a final attempt to mend their fractured relationship. According to sources close to Brooke, cited by TMZ, the call was emotionally charged. “Dad, I love you,” she told him, urging him to slow down after years of health struggles, including a four-level cervical spine fusion surgery in early 2025 that left him reliant on a cane. Brooke’s husband, former NHL player Steven Oleksy, had long encouraged reconciliation, but Hogan insisted on resolving their rift on his terms, a stance that left Brooke feeling unheard.

In the wake of Hogan’s death from cardiac arrest at his Clearwater, Florida, home, Brooke confided to friends that she felt “at peace” for having expressed her love, but her heart was heavy with regret. “I wish I could’ve told him how much I loved him,” she reportedly said through tears, lamenting that their brief call didn’t fully convey the depth of her feelings. The news of Hogan’s passing reached Brooke via a text from her brother, Nick, to Oleksy, underscoring the distance that had grown between father and daughter. Despite the pain of their estrangement, Brooke’s gratitude for that final “I love you” has resonated with fans, as seen in X posts like those from @TMZ and @CherylSkaggs7, which highlighted her emotional reflection.

A Fractured Family: The Roots of Estrangement

The Hogan family’s turmoil has been well-documented, particularly through their VH1 reality show Hogan Knows Best, which aired from 2005 to 2007 and showcased the dynamics between Hulk, his ex-wife Linda, Brooke, and Nick. The show ended just before Hulk and Linda’s contentious 2007 divorce, which Linda attributed to Hulk’s alleged infidelity with a friend of Brooke’s, a claim he denied. The split, finalized in 2009, saw Linda awarded over 70% of their liquid assets and 40% ownership of Hulk’s companies, intensifying family tensions.

Brooke’s estrangement from both parents began around 2017, driven by what she described as a desire to “create some distance” for her own healing. In a 2023 Instagram post, she explained her decision to skip Hogan’s wedding to Sky Daily, stating, “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.”

Linda, in a March 2025 Instagram Stories video, claimed Brooke had cut ties with her due to Hulk’s influence, calling him a “sex addict” and “liar” who left their family “in the worst mess.” Brooke refuted this, insisting the rift was not solely her father’s fault and sharing a family photo to counter Linda’s narrative. The public feud escalated when Linda told TMZ that Brooke’s actions, including not inviting her parents to her 2022 wedding to Oleksy or introducing them to her twins, were “unprecedented, unexpected and unfair.”

Steven Oleksy’s attempts to broker peace were rebuffed by Hogan, with sources telling Us Weekly that the wrestler’s refusal to compromise deepened the “very, very heavy” hurt felt by Brooke and her husband. This complex backdrop made Brooke’s final call with her father all the more significant, as it represented a last chance to bridge a gap that had widened over years of unresolved pain.

Hulk Hogan’s Health Struggles and Final Days

Hogan’s death followed a period of declining health. In early 2025, he underwent a major cervical spine fusion surgery to address chronic neck pain and nerve issues, a procedure that temporarily limited his mobility. Despite these challenges, Hogan remained active, promoting his Real American Beer and making a high-profile appearance at the 2024 Republican National Convention, where he endorsed Donald Trump with his signature shirt-ripping flair. Just weeks before his death, Sky Daily dismissed rumors of serious health issues, insisting, “His heart is strong, and there was never any lack of oxygen or brain damage.”

On July 24, 2025, Clearwater Fire & Rescue responded to a cardiac arrest call at Hogan’s home at 9:51 a.m. Despite 30 minutes of attempts to revive him, he was pronounced dead at Morton Plant Hospital at 11:17 a.m. Police reported no signs of foul play, and Hogan’s representatives issued a statement mourning the loss of a “great human being and friend.”

Hulk Hogan’s Legacy: Wrestling Icon and Controversial Figure

Hulk Hogan’s impact on professional wrestling is undeniable. As the face of WWE (then WWF) in the 1980s, he transformed the industry into a global phenomenon, headlining seven of the first eight WrestleManias and drawing millions with his feud against André the Giant. His 1996 heel turn as “Hollywood” Hogan in WCW’s New World Order (NWO) revitalized wrestling’s popularity, helping WCW outpace WWF in ratings for 83 weeks. Tributes from peers like Ric Flair, who recalled Hogan’s support during his son’s illness, and Vince McMahon, who called him “the greatest WWE Superstar of ALL TIME,” underscored his influence.

Yet, Hogan’s legacy is marred by controversies. In 2015, a leaked audio recording captured him using racial slurs while discussing Brooke’s dating life, leading to his temporary removal from WWE’s Hall of Fame. Hogan later apologized, admitting to PEOPLE that it was “one huge mistake,” but the incident, coupled with a sex tape scandal and a $31 million lawsuit against Gawker, tainted his public image. His reinstatement in 2018 was met with mixed reactions, with some wrestlers noting his apology focused more on being caught than genuine remorse.

Public and Industry Response

The news of Hogan’s death prompted an outpouring of grief from fans and wrestlers alike. WWE’s statement on X called him “one of pop culture’s most recognizable figures,” while Donald Trump Jr. and former President Donald Trump praised his “MAGA” loyalty and cultural impact. However, some, like Andscape’s commentary, argued that Hogan’s racist remarks overshadow his wrestling achievements, defining him as “a racist who also became famous as a professional wrestler.”

Brooke’s emotional reflection resonated widely, with X posts from @nodqdotcom and @BrunelShawn amplifying her gratitude for their final conversation. Yet, sentiments like @MacFamilyOnline’s harsh comment, “She deserves every single heartbreak,” reflect the polarized views surrounding the Hogan family’s drama.

The Power of “I Love You”

Brooke’s regret over not fully expressing her love highlights the universal weight of unspoken words. Her decision to step back from her music and TV career to avoid the “public negativity” surrounding her family, as noted in a March 2025 statement, underscores the toll of their estrangement. The final call, though imperfect, offered a moment of connection that Brooke now cherishes, as reported by News18 and TMZ.

For Brooke, the loss of her father is compounded by the knowledge that their rift was never fully healed. Her husband’s efforts, her own outreach, and the public’s scrutiny could not bridge the gap in time. Yet, her tearful wish to have said “I love you” more deeply serves as a reminder of the fragility of relationships and the importance of expressing love while there’s still time.

Conclusion

Hulk Hogan’s death at 71 marks the end of an era for wrestling and pop culture, but for Brooke Hogan, it is a deeply personal tragedy marked by regret and reconciliation. Her final call with her father, filled with love and a plea to slow down, was a fleeting chance to reconnect after years of estrangement. As the world remembers Hogan for his larger-than-life persona and complex legacy, Brooke’s tears and words resonate as a poignant reminder to cherish loved ones. The Hogan family’s story, fraught with public drama and private pain, underscores the power of saying “I love you”—and the heartbreak of wishing you had said it more.