Dwayne Johnson, widely recognized in wrestling and Hollywood circles, shared his heartfelt message online to honor Hulk Hogan shortly after the wrestling icon passed away.
Coming from a family deeply rooted in professional wrestling, Johnson reflected on his first encounter with Hogan, which happened more than four decades ago.
He recalled how, as a young boy in 1984, he managed to return Hogan’s “HULKSTER” headband after catching it when the wrestler tossed it into the audience during a match at Madison Square Garden.
Johnson wrote that Hogan was surprised and thrilled, explaining that it was the last headband of its kind, and without that moment, he would have lost it forever. He then promised young Johnson that he would get more headbands made and would send him one as a gift.
Memorable WrestleMania Match
Years later, in 2002, Johnson and Hogan faced each other in the main event of WrestleMania X8. By this time, Johnson had become a major WWE figure. He described the match as one that would determine who deserved to be remembered as the greatest performer in the industry.
He highlighted a particular moment when Hogan kicked out of his finishing move, the Rock Bottom, and the audience erupted in response. Johnson mentioned how powerful that crowd reaction was, and said it was a moment unlike anything he had ever felt in his entire time inside the ring. Though both men were part of the event, he made it clear that the energy was generated purely by Hogan’s presence.
Although Johnson claimed victory in their nearly 20-minute bout, he acknowledged that Hogan was the one who consistently filled arenas throughout his wrestling peak.
Johnson shared that even though Hogan may have passed the torch that evening, he had already earned his place as a wrestling legend by being the one who attracted audiences and sold out venues everywhere during his run as Hulk Hogan.
Johnson wrapped up his tribute by expressing his gratitude on behalf of everyone who loves professional wrestling. He thanked Hogan for everything he contributed to the business and ended with the words, “Thank you for the house, brother.”
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Sylvester Stallone’s Tribute
Actor Sylvester Stallone, who acted with Hogan in Rocky III at the beginning of Hogan’s entertainment journey, also took to social media to express his thoughts. Stallone shared that he first met Hogan when the wrestler was just 26 years old.
He remembered Hogan as a gifted performer and described how his energy and talent added something truly unique to the film. Stallone admitted that the news of Hogan’s death left him heartbroken.
