Hulk Hogan’s Son Nick Opens Up About Late Dad, Sister Brooke & What’s Next

Many within the pro wrestling and entertainment communities were shocked to find out in  July last year that Hulk Hogan had died after a heart attack. It was a devastating loss for his son Nick, who idolized his legendary father. Since then the 36-year-old felt a renewed calling to keep Hulkamania alive through numerous business ventures, Among them are Real American Beer, Real American Freestyle, and Hulk Hogan’s SLAM Sports Bar. 

The latter is a new wrestling-themed restaurant and entertainment establishment in the works a stone’s throw away from Madison Square Garden in New York City. Project partner Rich Rosen has high hopes for the venue, thinking about how excited Hulk would be knowing the vision was on the cusp of being realized. 

Here Nick opens up about his next chapter. Plus, Rosen reflects on last conversations with Hulk. 

We just had the one-year anniversary of Hulk’s passing. What has this time been like? 

Nick Hogan: There are two sides of the coin. It’s like you said, we marked the one year since his passing, but August 1 in Florida was Hulk Hogan Day when Governor Ron DeSantis made August 1 Hulk Hogan Day. So that month and you look back on the past year, and I would definitely say that the work and dedication to continuing on the legacy is really what has carried us through. There is a really good sense of purpose and also a direction for carrying on that legacy.

What do you remember about those last conversations with him?

Nick: The last time my dad and Rich spoke I was present. My dad was just so thrilled about SLAM. We have so many different projects that we’re working on that I’m continuing to see through now. But SLAM was at the forefront of a lot of that, and he was so thrilled and so excited and it really shows, especially when we went to New York. He was touring the venue, and we were inside, and he was just looking out at the Garden from the second floor and kind of reflecting. It was these lifelong moments that happened in Madison Square Garden. Taking it all in and thinking about the night that it all started and. having it all come full circle to planting his flag right there on the corner in New York, where it all started.

CULVER CITY, CA – August 1: Nick Hogan and Hulk Hogan attend the Comedy Central Roast of David Hasselhoff held at Sony Pictures Studios on August 1, 2010 in Culver City, California. (Photo by Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic)

Rich Rosen: The last time I spoke with Hulk, I thought he sounded great. And it’s funny because he said he was making the big comeback, just give him some time. Nobody would ever think anything, but that word, immortal. The “Immortal” Hulk Hogan. I had a lot of people asking me for those last six weeks, how is he doing? And is he okay? And we hear this, and we hear that. He’s Hulk Hogan. You think he is going to be fine because Hulk Hogan’s immortal. He sounded great, even the last time I was present for that call. He sounded great to me. If you look at the Netflix documentary and you look at the last part, you see him staring at Madison Square Garden. There’s a shot of him with his eyes just staring at the Garden. I’m going to tell you that night time stopped when he got out of the SUV. He walked to the bar, and he stopped in front of the corner and stared at Madison Square Garden. It’s like time really stopped. 

You know, it had a paralyzing effect. Both on me, on everybody around, just to see this immortal man come back 40 years later. He’s staring at the site that he created Hulkamania, where he was the champ, where he won the belt, and to watch these average New Yorkers on a regular night. Hot dog vendors and taxi cab drivers, everybody just stops, stares at him. Hulk Hogan’s on the corner in front of Madison Square Garden at 9.30 on an ordinary Tuesday night, staring at the Garden. It was just utterly paralyzing. That’s the effect he had on everybody, you know? Another reason why this project is so incredible is because you can never pair up an arena and a hero together, like you could with Hulk Hogan in front of Madison Square Garden.

Nick, what kind of pressure do you feel carrying on the weight of this legacy and all that was started. As a viewer of the Netflix docuseries, you could feel how close you and your dad were. But also that he had you by his side to be ready to take the torch whenever it was passed. 

Nick: That’s definitely true in that me and my dad were, first and foremost, extremely close. We were best friends. We spent a lot of time together, and the father-son dynamic was really unique for us because we were so close. He was my mentor. I went to him for guidance, but also he was a companion and best friend for me. We  worked together on everything. He had brought me into all of his businesses that he was operating and all of his ventures that he was doing. I was right there alongside him. I was in a position of operating them. Our retail stores, restaurants, you know, the Real American Beer and Real American Freestyle, I was involved since inception and  the growth of all of these projects. Pretty much from the ground up, I understood the inner workings of them. I was right there alongside him as he built all of these enterprises, not knowing what the future held. He just wanted me alongside him and, and he trusted me and that was one of the things that was so beneficial is that we had this trust where I was his inner circle and that anything that he needed, I was there to help. 

Then the unthinkable happened. 

Nick: It was a series of unfortunate events that unfolded and that led to his passing. I was just already in a position to continue that leadership. So the transition from him to me, continuing on all of these ventures that he started was really smooth because I was already involved. He would tell everybody you know more than understanding. I know his thought process and his mentality, and how he would go into things and problem-solving. I know how he felt about his brand. I think he felt really comfortable with me being in that position. I think it was just kind of something that I’m proud to have been put in that position with my dad, and I’m proud to be the one that can carry this forward. I feel a tremendous sense of duty and pride. As far as pressure. I wouldn’t say it feels so much like pressure because it’s something I want to do. I don’t feel like I’m being pressured to do it, or that I have some expectation. It’s just I know my dad and I were on the same page with everything…I think he had a good idea that he could trust me to carry forward his legacy and fulfill all of these business ventures that he had started. 

It’s a really rewarding thing to see these projects grow to completion and to see the growth of all of his other things that he started, like Real American Freestyle and Real American Beer and our retail stores are doing really well. I think there was a moment in time where people had questioned what’s going to happen with Hulk’s businesses, and what’s going to happen with all these things. I stepped into the leadership role. I let everybody know that we’re going to continue on the path of growth. We’re going to honor him in the way that he deserves. It’s just carrying forward the legacy in the same way that he would have done it.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 16: Nick Hogan on stage with the Hulk Hogan statue after a viewing of the “Hulk Hogan: Real American” Netflix documentary at WWE World at Las Vegas Convention Center on April 16, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Andrew Timms/WWE via Getty Images)

How has it been working with WWE? 

Nick: Our relationship with WWE is so fantastic. They are so gracious. They have been so kind and helpful through this process. The moment my dad passed, and even prior to that, they’ve always just embraced us with open arms. Nick Khan, Paul [Levesque], everybody in the company has just been so welcoming, and so helpful. Even at WrestleMania this year, they did so many things to honor my dad including the Hall of Fame “Immortal Moment,” and then the statue that they unveiled. It was a complete surprise to me. I was pretty strong through the whole WrestleMania weekend, and then when Paul had come out and surprised me with that statue, and they made that announcement, I cracked there. I definitely started shedding a few tears there. It was just a really beautiful moment. 

They continue to just support us and give us this embrace that we know that they’re there for us. They have shared some massive excitement for the opening of SLAM, especially because it’s right there at Madison Square Garden. We fully plan to allow them to use it as an auxiliary space. Anytime they have events there, anything they need, we’ll accommodate and make sure that they’re available to use the space. We’ll definitely be participating in having all the premium live events there. All the wrestling programming available for the fans to watch at SLAM,, and it’s going to be a pretty cool experience for people when they come in there.

Where are you on the opening date? 

Nick: We’re getting really close. A project of this magnitude has been no small lift. Something that took on even greater purpose, even after my dad passed. Before he passed, this was a massive project, but  to see this to completion in the way that he deserves takes incredible attention to detail. We’re hoping to have our opening date announcement sometime in the next week or two as construction is moving forward. We just completed our final designs and renderings for the look of the space, so that we can deliver those to our construction team. We’re starting to put together all the details, and all the things that will be interactive experiences. We have these really phenomenal statues that we have. We use them at our wrestling stores that my dad had molded himself a little under a decade ago. Walt Wizard, who is phenomenal, makes the most hyper realistic life-size statues. He flew in from Peru, and he molded my dad’s hands and his face. It’s so life-like. So we are going to be bringing some more of those for SLAM so that the fans will get that experience and that feeling of his presence there more than just the theme. 

We have plans for really cool memorabilia and to make it truly immersive. That’s the magic is feeling that spiritual birthplace of Hulkamania right there and being able to celebrate that and have that camaraderie among wrestling fans and sports entertainment in general. It’s not just a place for wrestling fans. It’s not just a wrestling attraction. This is going to be a sports bar that caters to everybody to have a great time there and feel welcome there. 

You’re in the best shape. Madison Square Garden is across from this new establishment. Are there any discussions now about you having a match of any kind? I feel there is the perfect scenario or story playing out there. 

You know what, we may have to make something happen. I didn’t get in shape for no reason, so we’ll see. I’m definitely feeling good right now, and I think that there’s going to be some really unique opportunities in the future, and especially being right there at Madison Square Garden. Something may happen, you never know.

Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

Where would you say things stand between you and your sister Brooke at this point?

I’m so proud of Brooke. I’m so excited for everything she has got going on. She’s just a phenomenal interior decorator. She has got this business that she started and she just did a new TV show, Rock the Block, and she was fantastic on that. This is just a really exciting time for her. She had twins. She got married. We’re just really excited for everything that’s going on for her. I’m so proud of her and, you know, everybody’s doing really well. My mom [Linda] is doing great right now. My entire family has been so supportive of everything that we’re doing. So, we’re in a really good place.

You’ve gone through your dark times, but made it to the other side. Put that into perspective. I feel that should be celebrated. 

Thank you. I appreciate that. My wife [Tana Lea] and I got married just over a year ago. And what was really cool about that and really special was that both my mom and dad were able to attend my wedding. My dad was my best man at my wedding, and that’s a moment that I will cherish forever and never take that for granted. That was just such a special thing for me to share with him. and be able to have him support me in that moment. My wife and I are really enjoying being married. We’ve been together for close to eight years now, and married for a little over a year. We’re really settling into our purpose and our life right now. It’s  just exciting to see everything coming together. We were just at the one year celebration for Real American Freestyle. And I believe we did like 10,000 tickets. We pretty much sold out Rocket Arena where the Cavs play in Cleveland. 

It’s those moments we share and we reflect on. It’s been a year since Real American Freestyle launched when my dad announced the company and seeing the growth is just so rewarding and knowing that it’s something that my dad would be so proud of and being able to share those moments with my wife. And being able to look back on this, appreciate everything that my dad did, and see it grow, and, um… To see everyone participate in this and see something that was conceptualized by him with Eric Bischoff and Izzy [Martinez] and Chad [Bronstein]. It’s really cool to see where it’s at now. And these are the moments that I like to soak in and take it all in and think about how proud my dad would be of these times.

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – AUGUST 2: Nick Hogan and Tana Lee in attendance during SummerSlam at MetLife Stadium on August 2, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Georgiana Dallas/WWE via Getty Images)

What’s the long-term plan for SLAM? 

Nick: Well, keep your eyes on SLAM. We’re planning a whole week of events for the grand opening. We believe it is going to be that big. We’re going to have  so many different things going on throughout the year for sports entertainment, for sporting events, music concerts, everything. So make sure that when you’re in New York, you come by and see us. And look for the growth there, because New York is just a starting point.

So, you’re looking at this model like Planet Hollywood? 

Rich: That’s the plan. Planet Hollywood Hogan. Yeah, that’s the plan. We thought very large on this, on this concept, and we brought in a company called I Crave Journey, who designed The Sphere for James Dolan in Las Vegas. And you know, it’s not easy and takes time. You know, it takes time for them to finish out a masterpiece design. And that’s exactly what they’ve done here. They’ve made the place a viable spot for everybody. It’s going to be an entertainment center with a podcast studio. You could count on a ton of celebrities and a ton of athletes being involved in this, both at the openings and other involvements as time grows with this brand. 

Hulk had every vision of this going in every major sports city in America and worldwide. And we’re keeping that same dream alive, and that’s the whole point of why this has taken a little time. We’re doing it the right way…it’s going to be extra special. I could guarantee you it’ll be the number one sports bar brand in America within a couple of years.