Professional wrestling is arguably as massive as its ever been, with Monday Evening Uncooked topping Netflix’s TV charts on a weekly foundation, AEW’s two-network push, and the continued reemergence of the NWA. It is inconceivable to place all of that success on only one particular person’s again, it is also inconceivable to suppose wrestling can be the place it’s with out Hulk Hogan taking up popular culture within the Nineteen Eighties. Now, WWE superstars and extra are paying tribute after the surprising information of Hogan’s dying.
In his many many years of entertaining within the ring, Hulk Hogan will lengthy be remembered for as lots of the greatest heel strikes that he pulled with the nWo as any of his accomplishments as a babyface. (Bodyslamming Andre the Big in all probability takes the cake there.) So it solely is smart to start out with a tribute from one other beloved athlete with a High 5 most surprising heel flip.
Sting
Fellow nWo member and former yellow-haired Sting shared this on X:
HULK HOGAN – THE GREATEST OF ALL Can’t thanks sufficient for all that you just did for me and for wrestling followers everywhere in the world. I beloved you and I’ll miss you. My pal, Terry Bollea, RIP
Kevin Nash
Holding the nWo practice going, Kevin Nash shared his personal mournful message on X that namechecked the villainous faction that the pair co-created together with the late Scott Corridor, who handed away in 2022.
I misplaced one other brother. Icon would not even contact it. Relaxation in energy my pal. NWO 4 Life….and past.
Nash shared an extra publish on Instagram that namechecked Brooke and Nick Hogan, the Hulkster’s two children with ex-wife Linda.
Vince McMahon
Maybe the one who owes extra of his profession success to Hulk Hogan than anybody else, former WWE CEO Vince McMahon additionally paid respects with some very complimentary phrases on X.
The world misplaced a treasure immediately. Hulk Hogan was the best WWE Celebrity of ALL TIME, somebody who was beloved and admired around the globe. He was a trailblazer, the primary performer who transitioned from being a wrestling star into a worldwide phenomenon. His grit and unbridled thirst for fulfillment have been unparalleled – and made him the consummate performer. He gave all the pieces he needed to the viewers whom he appreciated, revered and beloved. He leaves us with certainly one of his favourite expressions, “Practice, take your nutritional vitamins and say your prayers.”
Vince McMahon
The Undertaker & Kane
The polar reverse of Hulk Hogan tanned and brightly coloured aesthetic was The Undertaker’s pallour and all-black apparel. However such a gimmick would possibly by no means have caught on with out the surge in reputation that led to so many quirky personas within the ’90s, which essentially means the Taker’s fake brother Kane would not have been created. The 2 athletes each paid respect on social:
- THE UNDERTAKER: The wrestling world has misplaced a real legend. His contributions to our enterprise are immeasurable and for that I’m appreciative. Thanks, Hulk Hogan.
- KANE: Hulk Hogan was a real legend. I used to be lucky to work with him a few instances, together with this memorable one. It was simple to do a Hulkster impersonation when, like hundreds of thousands of fellows my age, I might practiced it within the mirror a thousand instances rising up. #RIPHULKHOGAN
Shawn Michaels & Triple H
Two of the largest WWE headliners whose names weren’t Hulk Hogan, although certainly one of them does keep on the identical alliterative naming, Shawn Michaels and Triple H grew as Superstars within the wake of Hogan’s reign, and who is aware of if Degeneration X would have ever existed if not for the nWo’s antagonistic and anarchic run.
- SHAWN MICHAELS A legend. A bigger-than-life presence. Hulk Hogan didn’t simply work on this enterprise… he remodeled it. Relaxation in peace, Hulkster.
- TRIPLE H: WWE wouldn’t be the place it’s immediately with out the larger-than-life characters that compete within the ring … and few, if any, loomed bigger than Terry ‘Hulk Hogan’ Bollea. He was the archetype of what it meant to be a ‘Celebrity’ – a worldwide sensation that impressed hundreds of thousands to work exhausting at no matter it was they needed to perform and a glance that made him recognizable to followers around the globe. . . . There was nobody like The Hulkster and there very nicely might by no means be one other.
Ric Aptitude, Kurt Angle & Matt Cardona
Whereas not as marketable as an motion star or vitamin bottle mascot, Ric Aptitude has been each bit as profitable a professional wrestler as Hogan, and has had his personal share of well being scares over time, which he refers to in his message. Superstars Kurt Angle and Matt Cardona each credited Hogan with inspriing them to develop into wrestlers within the first place.
- RIC FLAIR: I Am Completely Shocked To Hear About The Passing Of My Shut Good friend @HulkHogan! Hulk Has Been By My Aspect Since We Began In The Wrestling Enterprise. An Unimaginable Athlete, Expertise, Good friend, And Father! Our Friendship Has Meant The World To Me. He Was All the time There For Me Even After I Didn’t Ask For Him To Be. He Was One Of The First To Go to Me After I Was In The Hospital With A 2% Likelihood Of Dwelling, And He Prayed By My Bedside. Hulk Additionally Lent Me Cash When Reid Was Sick. Hulkster, No One Will Ever Evaluate To You! Relaxation In Peace My Good friend!
- KURT ANGLE: R.I.P Hulkster, thanks for opening up doorways for thus many individuals within the enterprise together with myself. There wouldn’t be a Kurt Angle, with out the American Made, Hulk Hogan. My coronary heart and prayers exit to his household. We misplaced an actual icon immediately.
- MATT CARDONA: If it wasn’t for Hulk Hogan, I don’t know if I’d be a professional wrestler or perhaps a professional wrestling fan. RIP Hulkster. Hulkamania will reside FOREVER!!!
Sylvester Stallone & George St. Pierre
Tributes have been after all shared by excess of simply professional wrestlers, with a pair of notable posts shared by Sylvester Stallone, who labored with Hogan on arguably the franchise-best Rocky III, and former UFC champion George St. Pierre, who had one thing of a Hogan-esque influence on popularizing MMA.
- SYLVESTER STALLONE: I had the pleasure of assembly this sensible character and showman when he was 26 years outdated. He was completely fantastic and his superb talent made Rocky three extremely particular. My coronary heart breaks. I believe that he’s gone…
- UFC VET GEORGE ST. PIERRE: They are saying it’s best to by no means meet your idols, however assembly Hulk Hogan made me admire him much more. He was so beneficiant together with his time and an inspiration not solely as an athlete and entertainer, but additionally as a human being. He will likely be missed by us all. RIP Hulk Hogan 🙏
Loads of different tributes (and unsurprisingly a ton of non-tributes) are nonetheless being shared throughout the web because the information of Hogan’s dying continues making the rounds.
R.I.P. to the Hulkster, and finest needs to all of the mourning Hulkamaniacs on the market.