WWE remembered Hulk Hogan on Friday Night SmackDown one day after the legendary wrestler’s death.
The Friday, July 25 show, held at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, opened with WWE’s Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque (a.k.a. Triple H) onstage surrounded by the entire SmackDown roster and WWE legends including Jimmy Hart, Ted DiBiase, Sgt. Slaughter and “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan.
“Ladies and gentleman, yesterday we lost one of the biggest and most globally recognized icons in the world,” Levesque, 55, said. “A man I grew up watching, was fortunate enough to share the ring with and like so many of us, was honored to call a friend. The truth is, he captivated millions of people and inspired them around the globe. We would not be standing here right now, all of us together, if it was not for him.”
Levesque then introduced a ten-ball salute, which was followed by the Cleveland crowd chanting “Hogan!” as a video montage of the wrestler’s career began to play.
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Hogan died on Thursday, July 24, after suffering cardiac arrest at his home, according to the Clearwater Police Department. He was transported to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
He was 71 years old.
One of the most prolific and popular professional wrestlers of all time, Hogan made his WWE debut in November 1979 and had a decades-long relationship with the company that was not without ebbs, flows and controversy.
Hogan made his final appearance on WWE programming in January, when he appeared in Los Angeles at Raw’s debut on Netflix.
After news of his death, Hogan was remembered by some of the biggest names in the wrestling business.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson called Hogan his “childhood hero” in a post via X on Friday, July 25, and reflected back on their classic match at WrestleMania X8.
“The match was to decide who would go down in history as The Greatest of All Time,” Johnson, 53, wrote. “When you kick out of my Rock Bottom finisher – just listen and FEEL that crowd go ELECTRIC…all for you. I’ve never felt anything like that in my entire wrestling career. It takes two to tango, but that historic crowd reaction was all for you.”
He continued, “You may have ‘passed the torch’ to me that night, but you, my friend….you ‘drew the house’ meaning you sold out every arena and stadium across the country in your prime as Hulk Hogan, on your way of becoming the greatest of all time.”
On social media, Levesque said nobody “loomed larger” than Hogan.
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“He was the archetype of what it meant to be a ‘Superstar’ — a global sensation that inspired millions to work hard at whatever it was they wanted to accomplish and a look that made him recognizable to fans around the world,” Levesque, 55, wrote via X on Thursday.
He added, “There was no one like The Hulkster and there very well may never be another. My family sends their condolences to his family, friends, and fans.”
WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker, who defeated Hogan for the WWE Championship at Survivor Series in 1991, expressed his condolences on social media.
“The wrestling world has lost a true legend. His contributions to our business are immeasurable and for that I am appreciative,” The Undertaker, 60, wrote via X. “Thank you, Hulk Hogan.”
