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“Linda Had Already…”: Despite His Best Efforts, WWE Legend Hulk Hogan Could Not Stop His First Ex-Wife From Taking a Bold Step

Published 01/14/2023, 1:30 PM EST

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For the world, Hulk Hogan was a WWE megastar, but outside the ring, he was a loving husband. He married Linda Marie Claridge in 1983 and were together for 24 years until announcing divorce in 2007.

The Hulkster loved his first wife and wasn’t prepared for a divorce. Once he shared what he thought about his marriage with Linda.

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In a resurfaced documentary of Hulk Hogan on YouTube, the WWE legend shares his thoughts about his first marriage. 

Hogan said, “Our marriage was uh pretty much already broken at that point. Linda had already rented a house in California and left. It was pretty much already over when the accident happened.”

He added, “I was one of those hopeless romantics that I thought no matter what happened, I thought I would be the one who is married forever.”

A 24-years marriage means both saw each other’s highs and lows throughout the prime of their life. While Hogan was wrestling in WWE and later in WCW, Linda supported him and looked after their family.

The former couple has two children, Brooke and Nick Hogan. In 1983 Andre the Giant, Vince McMahon, and many other top wrestling stars attended their wedding.

Also, after Hogan semi-retired from wrestling, his family was mainstreamed for a reality show Hogan Knows Best in 2005.

How Hulk Hogan reacted to the news of divorce from his first wife?

It is no secret how much Hogan loved Linda and was devastated by the news of the divorce. It took time to go through this period.

The Hulkster said, “It was shocking to have been told over the phone by my attorney. But she was divorcing me caught me really off guard. I didn’t know if I was gonna vomit or pass out or cry.”

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The WWE Hall of Famer added, “I kind of took a few moments and I was like I got kick by a mule. But I had to make that decision on the spot to move forward.”

via Imago

Hogan later was depressed and even had suicidal thoughts. Surprisingly, a call from Laila Ali saved his life and gave him a new direction.

When Did Hulk Hogan Start Wrestling?

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Brooke Hogan also never thought her parents separating soon

As Brooke tells in the documentary, she wasn’t expecting her mother to take this step quickly after Nick Hogan’s accident. 

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However, it even surprised her when Linda did it. Brooke states her mom was planning this but didn’t expect it at the time when it happened.

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Written by:

Tushar Deogharkar

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Tushar Deogharkar is a WWE writer at EssentiallySports. Tushar has done his Master's in Tourism Management and is an ardent fan of pro wrestling. He follows WWE and AEW very closely and wants to learn how the promotions are run.
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Edited by:

Debmallya Chakraborty