Nick Hogan Pays Silent Tribute to His Father
The July 28 episode of WWE Monday Night Raw carried a heavy emotional tone as the company continued paying homage to Hulk Hogan, whose death earlier this week left an unmistakable void in the wrestling world. This latest tribute featured an unexpected yet touching moment when Nick Hogan, the son of the late wrestling icon, appeared backstage during the show in Detroit.
Hogan, born Terry Bollea, passed away on July 24 at the age of 71. WWE began honoring his memory on Friday Night SmackDown with a series of tribute segments including video montages and messages from wrestling legends. Monday’s Raw followed suit but added a deeply personal element with Nick’s presence in the arena.
Earlier in the day, a photograph of Nick was shared on the Instagram account of Real American Beer, a brand his father helped launch. The image captured Nick backstage with WWE superstar Jey Uso along with Chad Bronstein and Chris Volo, both business associates of the brand. It marked Nick Hogan’s first public appearance since releasing an emotional tribute to his father, in which he described him as both his best friend and his hero.
While the tribute on Raw focused on Hulk Hogan’s immense impact on the industry, the choice of Detroit as the location added another layer of significance. The city is forever linked to one of Hogan’s most legendary in-ring moments. Back in 1987 at WrestleMania III, held in the Pontiac Silverdome just outside Detroit, Hogan faced Andre the Giant in what would become one of the most iconic matches in wrestling history. That night he performed the now-legendary bodyslam on the undefeated giant, igniting a roar from more than 93,000 fans and solidifying Hulkamania as a cultural force.
WWE’s tribute on SmackDown set the tone with a ten-bell salute and appearances from some of Hogan’s closest friends and longtime colleagues including Jimmy Hart and Ted DiBiase. These moments captured the emotional weight of his passing and highlighted the deep personal connections he maintained throughout his career.
Monday’s Raw was expected to continue in that spirit, and it did so by embracing both the larger-than-life legacy of the wrestler and the more intimate stories that shaped the man behind the name. The presence of Nick Hogan was not part of any televised segment, but his appearance backstage served as a quiet and powerful reminder of the family mourning behind the spectacle.
The emotional energy of the night could be felt throughout the arena. Fans paid tribute with cheers, chants and signs, each one a small piece of the massive cultural footprint Hogan left behind. While the spotlight shined on his achievements inside the ring, the moments shared between family and friends backstage showed the real human cost of losing a legend.
As the WWE Universe continues to remember Hulk Hogan, the tributes will likely continue across shows and platforms. But Monday’s Raw offered more than a scripted homage. It was a night where legacy, family and memory converged under the lights of a city forever linked to one of wrestling’s greatest moments.