Loved ones gathered quietly behind closed doors as the wrestling icon’s final chapter unfolded away from the spotlight, marked more by memories than by spectacle.

Hulk Hogan, the iconic WWE superstar whose towering presence defined an era of wrestling, was quietly laid to rest in Clearwater, Florida, on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, following a private funeral ceremony attended by close family members and a select group of celebrity friends.

The event, though discreet, was rich in symbolism and raw emotion — a reflection not only of Hogan’s enormous influence in pop culture, but also of the complicated personal dynamics that surrounded him in his final years.

Pallbearers adorned with yellow boutonnieres — a tribute to Hogan’s trademark yellow ring attire — solemnly carried his casket into the chapel. There were no public speeches, no television crews.

Instead, the somber gathering honored Hogan’s life through quiet reflection, private eulogies, and an unspoken understanding that the man known to millions as “The Immortal” had left a legacy far deeper than just scripted victories and larger-than-life poses.

Among those present were longtime wrestling colleagues, including Triple H and former WWE co-CEO Stephanie McMahon, who reportedly shared a brief emotional embrace outside the church.

Wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, though not in attendance, sent a lengthy handwritten note that was read during the ceremony.

“We were never in the same ring, but you taught me how to stand tall outside of it,” Johnson’s note said, according to a guest who asked to remain anonymous.

Also in attendance were musician Kid Rock, known for his long-time friendship with Hogan, and comedian Theo Von, who reportedly exchanged quiet stories with guests about Hogan’s off-camera warmth.

Notably, Bam Margera, the Jackass star whose career once intersected with Hogan’s during the 2000s MTV era, was seen wiping tears during the recessional.

Despite the gathering of close friends and fans, one figure was conspicuously absent: Brooke Hogan, Hulk’s daughter.

Brooke, who had a famously close relationship with her father throughout the 2000s and even starred alongside him in their VH1 reality series “Hogan Knows Best,” chose not to attend the funeral.

Instead, she was spotted that same day on a Florida beach, cradling her infant twins. Later that evening, she posted a cryptic message on Instagram: “Sometimes peace means staying away.”

Sources close to the family confirmed that Brooke and Hogan had been estranged since September 2023, due to unresolved family tensions that had reportedly deepened after her second marriage, which Hogan allegedly disapproved of.

A family friend shared, “He never got the chance to meet his grandchildren. That weighed heavily on him during his last year.”

Hogan, born Terry Gene Bollea, died on July 24 at age 71 after suffering a sudden heart attack at his Clearwater home. He was rushed to the hospital but could not be revived.

His passing sent shockwaves across both the wrestling world and mainstream media, with fans sharing countless clips of his most legendary moments — from body-slamming André the Giant at WrestleMania III to ripping his shirt to thunderous applause.

The WWE paid tribute to Hogan at SummerSlam on August 2 with a montage of his greatest matches and behind-the-scenes moments.

The video played to a packed arena, during which Hogan’s son Nick Hogan was seen in the front row, wiping tears and mouthing along to his father’s old catchphrase: “Whatcha gonna do when Hulkamania runs wild on you?”

Nick, 34, has largely stayed out of the spotlight in recent years following legal troubles in the late 2000s.

But insiders say he had reconnected with his father in the last few years, spending time together in Clearwater and accompanying him to several fan conventions and charity events. “Nick was there for his dad at the end,” a friend close to the family said. “They talked every day.”

Hogan is survived by his wife Sky Daily, whom he married in 2022 after three years of dating. Though their wedding was a quiet affair, friends described Sky as “his rock” during his final years.

“She brought a lot of peace into his life,” said another source. “He had a lot of regrets, but he found some joy again with her.”

In a surprising gesture, the White House also issued a brief statement the day after Hogan’s death, calling him “an American original whose energy and charisma transcended the ring.”

The statement made no reference to Hogan’s previous controversies, which had led to temporary estrangement from WWE in the mid-2010s, but insiders say that behind closed doors, even critics acknowledged his unmatched contributions to pop culture.

Though the service was meant to be private, a small group of fans gathered outside the funeral home, holding signs and wearing vintage Hulkamania gear.

One woman, a lifelong fan in her 60s, stood quietly with tears in her eyes. “He raised a whole generation of kids to believe in themselves,” she said. “He was more than a wrestler — he was a symbol.”

The hearse carrying Hogan’s body left the memorial site just before sunset, passing quietly through the streets of Clearwater, where he had lived for much of his later life.

As it drove off, a few mourners clapped softly — a final salute to a man who lived loudly, loved imperfectly, and left behind a legacy that no one could ignore.