For decades, Hulk Hogan was a larger-than-life figure both in and out of the wrestling ring. But behind the roar of the crowds and the bright lights, the legendary WWE superstar’s family life was far more complicated—and, as his daughter Brooke Hogan now reveals, heartbreakingly distant in his final years.

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Brooke’s husband, Steven Oleksy, opened up about the emotional chasm that separated Hogan from his daughter and, ultimately, from meeting his newborn grandchildren, Oliver Andrew and Molly Gene.

A Grandfather’s Absence

When Brooke, 37, and Steven, 39, welcomed twins into their family in January, it should have been a time of celebration and new beginnings. Instead, it was marked by silence from one of the most iconic figures in wrestling history.

According to Oleksy, he reached out to Hulk Hogan, born Terry Bollea, “about a month and a half after” the twins were born. Oleksy hoped the birth of the twins might bridge the distance between father and daughter. But, he says, there was “no interest” from Hogan.

“I sent text messages once again to kind of gauge where he was at, but there was no interest,” Oleksy told PEOPLE. “We tried, but the door just didn’t open.”

Even Brooke’s brother, Nick, suggested at one point that he and Hulk would come over to meet the babies, but that meeting never happened.

A Daughter’s Devotion—And Heartbreak

The story of Brooke and Hulk’s relationship is one of deep devotion, followed by a painful unraveling. Oleksy shared that Brooke was by her father’s side through years of health struggles, surgeries, and personal challenges.

“She was there for every surgery leading up to the last two years,” Oleksy said. “She would fly down on her own dime, take care of her dad, and it just made a lot of sense. No one understood his body, procedures, medications and everything else more than my wife.”

Brooke’s commitment to her father was unwavering. She took meticulous notes from every doctor, made herself available at a moment’s notice, and tried to be the support system Hogan needed. Despite it all, something changed in the last two years.

The Rift No One Saw Coming

In a heartfelt Instagram post five days after her father’s death, Brooke broke her silence about the estrangement. She explained that there was no single fight or dramatic moment that caused the rift, but rather “a series of private phone calls no one will ever hear, know, or understand.”

“My father was confiding in me about issues weighing on his heart, both personal and business. I offered to be a life raft in whatever capacity he needed. I told him he had my support. I begged him to rest, to take care of himself,” Brooke wrote.

But as time went on, Brooke realized she needed to set boundaries to protect her own heart. “I had to step away from the relationship with my father over the last two years, to protect my heart,” she shared.

A Husband’s Role as Mediator

Throughout the family’s struggles, Steven Oleksy found himself in the difficult position of trying to keep the lines of communication open. As a former NHL player, he understood the pressures of public life, but nothing could prepare him for the emotional toll of watching his wife navigate such a painful situation.

“I remained in contact with members of her family to try to keep that door open and understand if I should protect my wife or try to mend the relationship,” Oleksy said.

He continued to reach out, hoping for reconciliation, but ultimately, the gap remained.

Life After Loss

On July 24, Hulk Hogan died of a heart attack in Clearwater, Florida, at the age of 71. His death brought an outpouring of tributes from fans and fellow wrestlers around the world. But for Brooke and her young family, it also brought a wave of reflection and closure.

“We’ve built a beautiful life here together,” Oleksy said, referring to their home in Florida, where they moved to be closer to Hogan as he aged. Despite the heartbreak, the family plans to stay in Florida, a place that now feels like home.

Brooke’s Instagram tribute to her father was both a farewell and a declaration of peace. She revealed that after Hogan’s death, she read through the messages between her husband and her father—“some answered, some ignored… but all of them broke my heart.”

“I know in my heart I did everything I could,” Brooke wrote. “He knew I would run through a burning building for him. And in many ways, along the path of life, I did. He knows how deeply, how hard and how purely I loved him. I am at peace knowing this.”

A Tumultuous Relationship in the Public Eye

Brooke and Hulk Hogan’s relationship has played out in the spotlight for years, from their reality show days to public appearances and red carpets. But as with many families, what the world saw was only part of the story.

Brooke’s decision to step away was not made lightly. It was a choice to prioritize her own well-being and that of her children. Oleksy’s efforts to mediate—sometimes acting as the only bridge between Brooke and her father—underscore just how complex and painful family estrangement can be, even for those in the public eye.

A Legacy of Love and Lessons

As the Hogan family moves forward, they do so with a mix of sorrow and gratitude—for the good times, the lessons learned, and the memories that remain. Brooke’s story is a powerful reminder that even the strongest family bonds can be tested, and that sometimes, love means letting go.

While Hulk Hogan’s legacy in wrestling is secure, the story of his final years serves as a poignant lesson about the importance of connection, forgiveness, and the courage it takes to set boundaries.

For Brooke, Steven, and their twins, the future is unwritten—but it is theirs to shape, with hope, resilience, and the knowledge that they did everything they could.