The ex-wife of the late Hulk Hogan is calling out Sunday’s broadcast of the 2025 Emmy Awards for excluding the WWE legend in the “In Memoriam” package.
Speaking to “Entertainment Weekly,” Linda Hogan — who was married to Hogan for 26 years and shared daughter Brooke and son Nick with him — speculated the move was due to the wrestler’s political affiliations as he supported President Donald Trump in the run-up to the 2024 presidential election.
“I can’t prove that,” she stated. “It’s just a guess, but they should have named him!!”
Hulk, whose real name was Terry Bollea, died July 24 at the age of 71.
One year before his death, Hulk spoke at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where he tore open his shirt to reveal another shirt in support of the Trump-JD Vance ticket.
He previously backed former President Barack Obama, but felt slighted after Obama used Hulk’s “Real American” theme song during an intro at the 2011 White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
“WWF at the top of the hour when he came on to wrestle…[Hulk] had the highest ratings on NBC, beating all other competition for that time slot for years!” Linda told “Entertainment Weekly.”
She also seemingly referenced Hogan’s appearance on “Monday Night Raw” in Los Angeles this past January, when he was welcomed with boos.
“I really can’t tell you why they left him out… just a guess considering the way he was treated at his last appearance in LA,” Linda said.
Hogan’s name did appear in a lengthier “In Memoriam” video posted online.
Hogan died of a heart attack, according to the Pinellas County Forensic Science Center records obtained by Page Six in late July.
Linda paid tribute to Hulk on social media following his death.
“I’ve been weeping all day . The finality . It’s just shocking . We spent every minute together for so many years . I’ve known him since he was 28 yrs old ! I was 22. I still love him . Even tho I never spoke or saw him , Nick did .. and Nick would tell me things and vice versa . Just news about life . I still felt .. although broken .. we still were a family . It’s so hard to know he’s just gone . I tried to stay strong for Nick .. but I’m melting down now . It’s very sad . I love you Hulkster . You were my man . The only man for me . RIP,” she wrote.
Hulk and Linda were married from 1983 to 2009.