Brooke Hogan Explains Why She Skipped Hulk Hogan’s Funeral

Hulk Hogan’s private funeral on Tuesday drew a crowd of wrestling and entertainment royalty — from Vince McMahon and Triple H to Kid Rock and Bam Margera. But one name noticeably absent was his daughter, Brooke Hogan.

While many were surprised by her absence, Brooke has now broken her silence, offering a deeply personal explanation that sheds light on her decision. In an Instagram post, Brooke shared that her father wasn’t one for funerals and that her tribute came from a more personal place.

“My father hated the morbidity of funerals. He didn’t want one. And although I know people grieve in many ways — and I’m so grateful for all celebrations and events organized to honor him — as his daughter, I had to make my own decision to honor him the best and most genuine way I knew how…privately…the way that made me feel the closest to him.”

Instead of attending the memorial, Brooke took her children and husband to the beach — the very place her father loved most. She described their visit in poetic detail, connecting the ocean with memories of being “his beach baby.”

“The only thing missing today was him in his pop up lawn chair watching the waves… and the sunset. Daddy, we honored you in the simplest way that agreed with my soul. We took our babies to the beach, and put them in the same salty waters you loved. Molly loved the water. I think she’ll be a ‘little fish’ as you called me. We love you and honor the things that made you so special. Every grain of sand and every wave reminded me of being your beach baby, and brought us closer to you. I pray you are at peace and know how dearly I love you. Rest in heaven, Daddy.”

Just days earlier, Brooke had hinted at her distance from WWE’s televised tributes, claiming she wasn’t even invited to participate.

“I had not been invited in the first place,” she wrote about her absence from RAW and SmackDown’s on-air memorial segments.

Meanwhile, photos from the official memorial at Indian Rocks Baptist Church showed Hogan’s casket being carried by pallbearers wearing yellow boutonnières — a subtle nod to his iconic wrestling gear. Celebrities in attendance included WWE executives, Kid Rock with a yellow feather in his hat, Theo Von, and Chuck Liddell.

Though Brooke may have grieved differently, her tribute clearly struck a chord with fans who connected with the raw emotion of a daughter honoring her father in her own way.

The Hulkster may be gone, but moments like these prove that his memory lives on — not just in the ring or under bright lights, but in every quiet moment with loved ones by the sea.

Do you think Brooke Hogan made the right call by honoring her father her own way? How would you choose to remember someone so close to you? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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