Inside Hulk Hogan’s Emotional Farewell — Vince McMahon’s Unexpected “Performance” Steals the Spotlight
The wrestling world came together in Florida last week to say goodbye to one of its biggest icons. Hulk Hogan — the two-time WWE Hall of Famer and pop culture megastar — passed away on July 24th at the age of 71 after suffering cardiac arrest, compounded by a battle with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
On a somber afternoon at Indian Rocks Baptist Church, the pews were filled with some of the most recognizable names in wrestling history. Ric Flair, Kevin Nash, Ted DiBiase, “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, Jimmy Hart, Paul “Triple H” Levesque, and even Dennis Rodman were among the many who gathered to pay tribute.
Security was tight, with dozens of officers ensuring that only those on the official list could enter. “It was surreal,” recalled Conrad Thompson on Grillin’ JR via AdFreeShows. Thompson, Flair’s son-in-law and a prominent figure in wrestling media, described a scene where fans would dream of sitting — between Jeff and Karen Jarrett, with Matt Riddle, Kevin Owens, Sean Waltman, Bill Alfonso, Dory Funk, Marty Funk, and Brian Knobbs all within view.
But the most talked-about moment didn’t come from any of Hogan’s closest friends — it came from the man who once made him the face of the WWF empire: Vince McMahon.
Instead of taking the front steps to the stage like everyone else, the former WWE Chairman emerged from stage left, commanding attention in a way only Vince could. “It was a performance,” Thompson said, noting how McMahon addressed the crowd with theatrical gravitas before calling for one final standing ovation for the Hulkster.
Triple H followed his father-in-law with a heartfelt tribute, opening with a laugh line — “You think by now I would have learned not to follow Vince McMahon” — before sharing his own memories and respect for Hogan.
Despite the star power and heartfelt speeches, Thompson admitted the day left him uneasy. “Even a star the magnitude of Hulk Hogan… you accomplish all this, and then two hours later, it’s like, ‘Where are we going for dinner?’ It’s weird,” he reflected.
One noticeable absence was Hogan’s daughter Brooke, who chose not to attend and instead honored her father by spending time with her family at the beach.
Wrestling.news | Backstage Take
Vince McMahon’s presence at Hogan’s funeral and his dramatic delivery — will be remembered just as much as the heartfelt tributes. In many ways, it felt like Vince was playing to both the room and the history books, aware that eyes and ears from across the wrestling world were on him. Behind the scenes, some are wondering if WWE and TKO were just as aware of the optics, given McMahon’s recent controversies. Regardless of how it’s viewed, his call for one last ovation ensured that Hulk Hogan’s send-off ended on a moment of collective respect.
