The Wrestling Icon Who Changed Everything Shared a Final Farewell That Left Fans in Tears
When wrestling legend Hulk Hogan, born Terry Bollea, passed away at the age of 71 from cardiac arrest earlier this week, his final messages to fans and loved ones revealed the heart behind the hype. In various interviews, statements, and private moments shared with close friends and family, the man who once led “Hulkamania” embraced a truth far deeper than any championship belt could capture.
In his last live TV interview—filmed just weeks before his passing—Hogan delivered a classic rant with all the bold confidence fans remember. Yet the energy felt different. It wasn’t forced. It sounded reflective, even humble, as though he knew the curtain was quietly closing on his greatest act.
Behind the scenes, Hogan’s longtime manager and close friend Jimmy Hart revealed a heartbreaking truth. Hart called Hogan just one night before his passing and was told by his assistant that Terry was “doing great.” That very morning, medical personnel rushed to his Clearwater home, but Hogan was pronounced dead at the hospital. Hart—who had visited only a month earlier and says Hogan seemed in good spirits—recalls their last message:
“Well, tell him I love him.” These final words now echo like a quiet goodbye between lifelong friends.
Hogan’s wife, Sky Daily, issued a gut‑wrenching statement that added layers of sorrow and love to his legacy. “I wasn’t ready for this… my heart is in pieces,” she wrote. She explained that Hogan had been recovering from surgeries, and she truly believed they would face the health challenges together. “I thought we still had more time,” she admitted. To the world he was Hulk Hogan—but to her, he was simply Terry, her partner and greatest love.
Through all his boldness in the ring and flamboyant persona outside of it, Hogan quietly held onto his faith. In 2023 he was baptized alongside Sky, calling it the “greatest day of my life” and a moment of “total surrender and dedication to Jesus.” He declared, “I accepted Christ as my Savior… and now I live by faith, not by sight.” That faith stayed with him until the very end.
Public tributes poured in across the world of sports and beyond. WWE hosted a deeply emotional tribute during SmackDown, led by Triple H, who described Hogan as “immortal.” The program included a 10-bell salute, video highlights of Hogan’s career, and standing ovations from fans chanting “Hogan! Hogan!” Ric Flair—one of his closest friends in wrestling—called him irreplaceable, recalling times Hogan visited him in the hospital and offered support during his son’s illness. Charlotte Flair, Ric’s daughter, shared gratitude for Hogan’s role in loving her father through his darkest days. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson paid tribute as well, calling Hogan a childhood hero and close friend whose influence helped launch his own ascent in wrestling.
Even former President Donald Trump weighed in, calling Hogan “a great friend” and praising him as “MAGA all the way,” recalling Hogan’s iconic speech at the 2024 Republican National Convention.
Looking back over Hulk Hogan’s journey, we see a man who built wrestling into global pop culture during the 1980s and 1990s, helped revitalize WCW in the ‘Monday Night Wars,’ and left a lasting mark beyond the ring in film, television, and philanthropy. Yet his final real legacy may be found in quieter moments: the love he shared, the faith he embraced, and the memories he gave fans that went beyond body slams.
For wrestling fans—young or old—the impact cuts deep. In his own words, his mantra “Take your vitamins and say your prayers” wasn’t just for show. It was a creed he passed on to generations of Hulkamaniacs. His wife Sky reminded fans of that personal side, asking them to lift the family in their prayers and remember the man behind the legend.
In the final interviews and heart‑felt tributes, Hogan made it clear: his message wasn’t just for the ring.
It was for the heart.
