Nick Hogan broke down in tears during an emotional WWE tribute to his late father, Hulk Hogan, whose death at 71 from a sudden medical incident has left fans and family devastated, marking a somber farewell to a wrestling icon who shaped an entire generation.

On Monday night, the roar of the WWE Universe inside Little Caesars Arena in Detroit turned into a solemn silence, followed by a thunderous chant that echoed through generations of wrestling fans: “Hogan! Hogan!”

At the center of it all was Nick Hogan, the 35-year-old son of wrestling legend Hulk Hogan, who stood visibly shaken, surrounded by the entire WWE locker room as he honored his father’s extraordinary legacy in an emotional public appearance.

It was the opening segment of “Monday Night Raw,” but for many watching live and on Netflix, it was more than just the beginning of a wrestling show—it was the end of an era.

The WWE paid tribute to Terry Bollea, better known to the world as Hulk Hogan, with a traditional 10-bell salute followed by a powerful video montage of his most iconic moments, set to images that spanned from WrestleMania slams to behind-the-scenes glimpses of the man behind the myth.

Hogan, who passed away last week at age 71 after a sudden medical incident at his home in Clearwater, Florida, was remembered not only as a titan of the squared circle but as a father, a friend, and a pop culture icon whose legacy reshaped the landscape of American entertainment.

Nick Hogan—accompanied by his wife Tana Lea, as well as his father’s business partners from the “Real American Beer” venture and longtime friend and fellow Hall of Famer Eric Bischoff—stood on the stage in silence during the ceremony.

It was his first public appearance since Hulk Hogan’s death, and every second of it revealed the weight of personal loss beneath the public pageantry.

As the tribute video concluded and the crowd erupted into cheers, Nick visibly fought back tears. When asked about the moment afterward, someone close to the family said, “He could barely hold it together. The crowd’s energy, the memories—it all came rushing in at once.”

The heartbreak was echoed the day before in Nick’s Instagram post, where he called his father his “best friend” and “hero.”

The caption read like a farewell letter: “Hearing so many kind words and stories about my dad’s life, interactions and experiences with everyone has been incredible and comforting. My dad was the most incredible person I’ve ever known and will always be my hero.”

Nick continued, “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. I would do anything to have him back but I know now that he will always be watching over me.”

The emotional gravity of the moment extended far beyond Detroit. Fans around the world were reminded of Hulk Hogan’s unmatched legacy in professional wrestling.

Bursting onto the scene in the late 1970s and exploding in popularity through the 1980s, Hogan became the face of the then-WWF and was instrumental—alongside Vince McMahon—in launching wrestling into the mainstream.

His larger-than-life persona, unforgettable promos, and signature leg drop made him a household name. Hogan transcended the ring, starring in films, cartoons, and even launching his own reality show, “Hogan Knows Best.”

The 1990s brought a shocking career twist when Hogan turned heel and joined the infamous nWo faction in WCW, revitalizing his career and becoming the centerpiece of the legendary “Monday Night Wars.”

Few wrestlers have left such a multifaceted impact—not just as a hero, but also as a villain, redefining how characters evolve in wrestling.

Yet amid the accolades, his personal life has often been just as turbulent. His reality show once portrayed a close-knit family, but recent years told a different story.

Notably absent from the Monday Night Raw tribute was his daughter, Brooke Hogan, who has reportedly been estranged from her father. Though no official statement has been released from her side since his death, the silence has not gone unnoticed by fans.

Meanwhile, Nick Hogan’s renewed closeness with his father over the past few years had brought a quiet joy to the Hulkster’s later life.

In interviews leading up to his passing, Hulk Hogan often talked about reconnecting with Nick, calling him “a good man, and someone who really knows my heart.”

That heart, and the indelible mark it left on millions, was at the core of Monday night’s tribute.

“You could feel the love in the air,” one WWE staffer commented backstage. “It wasn’t just a moment of silence—it was a shared memory. A collective thank-you.”

As the Raw episode moved forward, the energy remained somber but electric. Superstars paid quiet respect throughout the night. Some wore Hulkamania colors, others quoted him in backstage segments. The memory of the man who once told fans to “say your prayers and take your vitamins” lingered in every chant and cheer.

And as Nick Hogan exited the arena hand-in-hand with his wife, escorted past posters of his father flexing under arena lights, he turned to someone nearby and said quietly, “He would have loved this. He would’ve smiled the whole time.”

For a man who lived for the crowd, who fed off their cheers, it was a fitting final bow—one filled with reverence, heartbreak, and the unmistakable echoes of a crowd that still believes in the power of Hulkamania.