If you spent any time on social media in mid-2025, you probably saw a headline that made your heart skip a beat. People were sharing images of Hulk Hogan in a casket, claiming the Immortal one had finally met his match. The internet has a weird way of making things feel real, even when they’re total nonsense—or, in this case, a strange mix of history, a very real tragedy, and some pretty gross AI hoaxes.
Honestly, the "Hulk Hogan in a casket" search trend blew up for a few reasons. First, there was the actual passing of Terry Bollea (the man behind the red and yellow) on July 24, 2025. That was real. But then the vultures came out. Fake videos started circulating, weird AI-generated clips of his daughter Brooke surfaced, and fans started digging up 30-year-old wrestling clips. It’s been a mess.
Let’s actually break down what’s real, what’s a "work," and what’s just internet garbage.
The Reality of July 2025: When the Legend Passed
It’s weird to talk about the Hulkster in the past tense. For decades, the guy seemed invincible, despite the fact that his body was basically held together by surgical screws and sheer willpower. But on July 24, 2025, the news broke that Hogan had passed away at his home in Clearwater, Florida, at the age of 71.
The official cause was acute myocardial infarction—a heart attack.
It wasn't entirely a shock to those paying close attention. He’d had a rough few years. We’re talking 25 surgeries in a decade. Ten back surgeries alone! He’d been open about his struggles with leukemia and atrial fibrillation (A-fib). By the time he passed, his back was so shot from thousands of leg drops that he could barely walk without a cane or a walker.
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But here is where the "casket" part gets controversial. Hulk Hogan didn’t actually have a public "open casket" funeral that the world saw. He was cremated.
Why the confusion about the funeral?
His daughter, Brooke Hogan, actually skipped the private service. She posted on Instagram that her dad hated the "morbidity of funerals" and that she chose to honor him at the beach—his favorite place.
Because there was no massive, televised "WWE-style" funeral, the internet did what it does best: it filled the void with fake images. If you saw a high-res photo of Hulk Hogan lying in state in a casket, you were looking at a "Deepfake" or a manipulated image from an old wrestling storyline.
The Old School "Casket" Moments That Still Confuse Fans
Wrestling fans have long memories, but sometimes they get a little fuzzy. If you're searching for "Hulk Hogan in casket," you might be remembering a specific storyline from the early '90s or the WCW era.
- The Undertaker and The Funeral Parlor (1991): This is the big one. Back when The Undertaker was still a terrifying "deadman" and not a locker room leader, he and Paul Bearer had a segment called The Funeral Parlor. They actually brought Hogan onto the set, attacked him, and tried to stuff him into a casket. It was classic 90s theatrics.
- The 1990 Earthquake Attack: This didn't involve a casket, but it's the reason people associate Hogan with "deathbeds." Earthquake (John Tenta) crushed Hogan’s ribs on the Brother Love Show. The WWF (now WWE) actually asked kids to send "get well" cards to a P.O. Box. It was so convincing that half the country thought Hogan was actually dying.
- The Big Show (The Giant) Incidents: In WCW, there was always some weirdness involving caskets and graveyards. People often confuse Hogan with the infamous "Big Show’s dad" funeral segment where Boss Man towed the casket away. Hogan was involved in so many "life or death" matches that the imagery just sticks.
The AI Controversy: Fake Brooke Hogan Videos
The most "2026" part of this whole story is the drama involving Linda Hogan (Hulk's ex-wife) and a series of fake videos.
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Shortly after Hogan passed, a video went viral where "Brooke Hogan" appeared to be blasting her father, saying she wouldn't attend his funeral because of past trauma and even accusing him of more racist outbursts. It was brutal. It was also totally fake.
The video was an AI-generated deepfake. The voice was slightly off, and the lip-syncing was just "uncanny valley" enough to be suspicious. But it didn't matter—it got millions of views. It created this narrative of a family at war over a casket that didn't even exist (since he was cremated).
Linda later posted her own tribute, saying she was "devastated" and that she "loved the Hulkster more than he loved me," which just added more fuel to the tabloid fire.
Why the "Hulk Hogan in Casket" Image Won't Go Away
Basically, we live in a world where people want to see the "end" of an icon. Hogan was larger than life. Seeing him in a casket—even a fake one—is the ultimate "humanizing" moment for a guy who once claimed he could slam a 600-pound giant in front of 90,000 people (even if the numbers changed every time he told the story).
There’s also the "Mandela Effect" happening. Some people swear they remember a "Casket Match" between Hogan and The Undertaker. They didn't have one. Their famous matches at Survivor Series '91 and Tuesday in Texas were standard matches (well, as "standard" as a match with Ric Flair hitting people with chairs can be).
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What You Should Actually Know
If you are looking for closure on the Hulk Hogan story, don't look for a casket photo. It's not out there.
- He was a physical marvel: Despite the 25 surgeries, he stayed in the gym until the very end.
- The heart attack was the end: Medical records from July 2025 confirmed it was natural causes related to his long-term heart issues.
- The legacy is complicated: Between the 80s boom, the nWo heel turn, and the later-life controversies, there’s no one like him.
Actionable Steps for Fans
Instead of falling for clickbait "funeral" videos, here is how you can actually engage with the history:
- Watch the 1991 Funeral Parlor segments: If you want to see the "theatrical" Hogan in a casket, find the November 16, 1991, episode of Superstars. It’s peak wrestling drama.
- Check the sources: If you see a "leaked" photo of the funeral, check the hands and the hair. AI still struggles with the specific texture of Hogan’s signature bleached-blonde hair and his "hot dog" skin tone.
- Respect the privacy: The family has kept the actual memorial details under wraps for a reason.
Hulk Hogan's life was lived in the loudest way possible. It’s only fitting that his actual "casket" moment was something the public never got to see, leaving us only with the memories of the guy who told us to train, say our prayers, and eat our vitamins.
The "Immortal" one is gone, but the rumors? Those will probably live forever.