“My dad was the most incredible person I’ve ever known and will always be my hero.”

That’s how Nick Hogan opened his emotional tribute to his father, the late wrestling icon Hulk Hogan, following his sudden death at 71. And if that one sentence doesn’t hit you in the gut, the rest of what Nick shared will.

Nick, who just turned 35, posted a raw and heartfelt message on Instagram, accompanied by a carousel of photos from his childhood to recent moments with his dad. It wasn’t some polished PR statement. It was the kind of message only a grieving son could write, the kind of message that reminds you even the biggest legends are someone’s dad first.

Hulk Hogan, real name Terry Bollea, passed away on the morning of July 24 after going into cardiac arrest at his Clearwater, Florida home. Though fans had speculated about Hogan’s health for months, his family had pushed back against reports of him being seriously ill. When the end came, it was quick and unexpected. Police found no signs of foul play. Just loss. A big, gaping loss.

Nick spoke about the memories that mattered most to him, not the ones in the spotlight or at the height of Hogan’s wrestling fame, but the quiet, personal ones they built in recent years. He’d moved back to Florida to be closer to his dad, not knowing how crucial that time would be.

“I am so grateful for those memories,” he wrote. “They are the best moments of my life.”

He talked about hugging his dad, thanking him, telling him he loved him. If there’s anything to pull from this tragedy, it’s that Nick doesn’t have to live with regret. He didn’t leave anything unsaid.

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

That might be the most powerful thing a son can say.

Nick’s tribute wasn’t the only message that showed how deep this loss cuts. Hulk’s wife, Sky Daily, who married him in 2023, shared a gut-wrenching message of her own. “To the world, he was a legend… but to me, he was my Terry,” she wrote. “My partner. My heart.” The couple had only been married for 10 months, and Sky had been caring for him through a string of health challenges, including several surgeries tied to decades of damage from his time in the ring.

Hogan’s daughter, Brooke, hasn’t commented publicly and made her Instagram private shortly after his passing. TMZ reported the father-daughter relationship had its rocky patches, but their last conversation, two weeks before his wedding, ended with “I love you.” Sometimes, that’s all you need.

For fans, Hulk Hogan was the larger-than-life wrestler who tore his shirt, slammed giants, and had an arena of fans chanting his name. For Nick, he was “Big Dog.” A teacher. A best friend. A father who stayed that way through thick and thin.

Now, Nick faces life without him, holding tight to the memories, the lessons, and the pride of being his son.

“I love you so much Big Dog and I will miss you forever,” he wrote.

It’s easy to forget the human behind the headlines, the legend behind the legacy. But Nick reminded everyone that Hulk Hogan wasn’t just a wrestling god. He was a dad. And for at least one man, that was always the title that mattered most.