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Nick Hogan appeared on stage at the top of WWE’s Monday Night RAW program and stood side-by-side with the show’s wrestling roster as they paid tribute to his late father Hulk Hogan.
Nick, 35, appeared to wipe away tears at certain points during the tribute on Monday, July 28 and clapped along with fans who appeared to give the moment an overwhelmingly positive applause.
Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, died last Thursday at the age of 71.
“Ladies and gentleman, we lost one of the biggest and most globally recognized icons in the world, a man I grew up watching, was fortunate enough to share the ring with, and like so many of us were honored to call a friend,” WWE’s Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque said in a rehashed and slightly edited prerecording of a speech he initially gave at the top of WWE SmackDown on Friday night.
Levesque, 56, was not on stage with the rest of the WWE roster, many of whom stood with their hands folded and heads down as the company paid tribute to the controversial pro wrestling star. Nick stood at the center of the group alongside his wife Tana Lea, who held his arm and wiped away her own tears throughout the tribute.
Nick Hogan/Instagram
“The truth is, he captivated millions of people and inspired them around the globe,” the recording of Levesque’s speech said. “We would not be standing here right now, all of us together, if it was not for him.”
The arena then shared a moment of silence as the WWE gave Hogan a “10-bell salute,” a long-held tradition in professional wrestling to pay tribute to a late performer.
Hogan died last Thursday, July 24 after first responders were called to his home in Clearwater, Fla., for a cardiac arrest incident.
Jimmy Hart, a close friend and longtime on-screen manager for Hogan, told PEOPLE on Friday that he heard Hogan was “doing great” in the days leading up to his death but that his health seemed to take a turn “overnight.”
“It just hits so fast,” Hart said. “It was like, ‘Oh my God.’ We thought he was doing so well, you know?”
Nick Hogan/Instagram
Hogan’s son Nick, who appeared alongside his father on their family reality show Hogan Knows Best, said on social media that his father was his “best friend.”
“He was not only the best dad but also my mentor and my best friend. He always has been my best friend and I love him and miss him more than I could ever explain,” Nick wrote in the emotional memorial for his father. “I thanked him for everything he has ever done for me and told him how much I loved him and hugged him every chance I got. 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.”
