Conrad Thompson comments on the “surreal, weird experience” of attending Hulk Hogan’s funeral
The funeral of Hulk Hogan (Terry Bollea) took place on Tuesday, August 5th 2025. During Jim Ross’ podcast, Conrad Thompson commented on attending the service…
“It was surreal, man. I couldn’t tell you how many dozens of police officers were there. They had to make sure you were on the list before you even got into the parking lot. When you went to the front, they checked you off a list, gave you a ticket, and that dictated where you sat. It was a crazy, surreal deal. I guess I was in the center. They didn’t allow any media in that I know of. The local church filmed it—Indian Rocks Christian was the name of the facility.
They had a nice digital invite you were supposed to RSVP to. When I got mine, I hesitated. I only had like 30 interactions with the guy. I didn’t really know the family, and I felt out of place. But I was pressured and insisted upon, so I said, ‘Okay, I get it.’ I even talked to my wife, telling her, ‘I don’t know. I’m not a funeral guy. This feels weird.’ She said, ‘If Eric wanted you to go, would he go?’ I said, ‘Yeah, you’re right. I’m there to support. I’m there to show respect.’
It was surreal, man. I was seated next to Jeff and Karen Jarrett. Right in front of me was Matt Riddle and his wife. Behind me were Dory and Marty Funk. Just past Jeff was Kevin Nash and Sean Waltman. Behind them was Kevin Owens. Next to him was Bill Alfonso. It was like walking into the Star Wars bar—Dennis Rodman up front wailing by the casket, Brian Knobs in the back boo-hooing, and then out saunters Vince McMahon. I never saw Vince in the crowd. Everyone else entered from the front steps, but Vince came from stage left in the background. It was a performance—Vince McMahon knows how to captivate an audience.
Triple H came up a bit later—after a video, a pastor’s speech, and a song—and joked, ‘You think by now I would have learned not to follow Vince McMahon?’ Everyone laughed. He gave a really nice speech. I felt so bad for Jimmy Hart. There were so many people you’ve never seen in an emotional state. I probably shouldn’t talk too much about private moments, but it was a surreal, weird experience. I was surprised pictures leaked out—it didn’t feel like the kind of place to take photos.
I don’t deal well with funerals and the finality of them. Even for a star the magnitude of Hulk Hogan—in my lifetime, probably one of the top ten most famous people in my sphere—the idea that you do all this, people come to pay respects, and two hours later it’s ‘Where are we going for dinner?'”