The Rock cooked up a heartfelt tribute to Hulk Hogan.
Millions of Hulkamaniacs mourned the loss of the wrestling legend on Thursday, and Dwayne Johnson was one of them.
The WWE star turned actor made a social media post to honor Hogan, who died at the age of 71.
“Rest in Peace, Terry Bollea aka The Immortal Hulk Hogan,” Johnson wrote in his post, which included a video of his match against Hogan at WrestleMania 18 in 2002. “To millions of little kids you were a childhood hero – myself included.”
Hogan paved the way for Johnson in more ways than one – first by helping wrestling reach its pinnacle and then by creating a path for wrestlers to make their way from the ring to the big screen.
Long before turning heel as Hollywood Hogan, Hogan went Hollywood by starring in movies. He was the lead in “No Holds Barred” in 1989, “Suburban Commando” in 1991 and “Mr. Nanny” in 1993 – and he, of course, made a “Rocky III” cameo in 1982 prior to the rise of Hulkamania.
Johnson, after becoming one of the biggest stars in wrestling during the WWE’s Attitude Era that began in the 1990s, became one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actors.
Hogan and Johnson squared off in the ring at WrestleMania 18, which was Hogan’s first match at the event since 1993. The Rock defeated Hollywood Hogan in what is considered one of the most iconic matches in WWE history.
“When you kick out of my Rock Bottom finisher – just listen and FEEL that crowd go ELECTRIC…
all for you,” Johnson wrote in his post. “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.
“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.”
Hogan praised The Rock during a 2023 interview with Sports Illustrated amid Johnson’s return to WWE.
“The Rock, he’s one of a kind,” Hogan said. “He’s on another level. That was noticeable right away. But one part stood out to me – and I thought it was very clear. Rock still has wrestling in his blood.”
Hogan recalled rehearsing for their WrestleMania match while Johnson’s father – Rocky Johnson, a former wrestler – looked on.
“I’d known Rocky Johnson for a long time, even before I started to wrestle,” Hogan told Sports Illustrated. “He was someone I looked up to. And that day, I can still remember standing in the ring talking with Dwayne, and all we could hear was Rocky Johnson yelling, ‘Dwayne, listen to Hogan!’”
Hogan and the Rock again shared the ring in 2014 at the opening of WrestleMania 30, this time with Stone Cold Steve Austin, uniting three of the biggest stars in wrestling history.
“Hulk Hogan kicked a lot of a– for a long time,” Austin said while in the ring with Hogan. “We’ve been very protective of our legacies. Sitting next to you, watching all the dues you paid, what you did for the business, I got nothing but respect for you. I’m here to say I appreciate the living hell out of what you’ve done for this business.”
The Rock then joined them.
“When I look across this ring, I don’t see just two of the biggest legends of all time. No, no, no, no,” The Rock said. “When I look across this ring, I don’t see just two of the biggest icons of all time. No, no, no, no. When I look across this ring, I see my good buddy Stone Cold Steve Austin, and I see my childhood hero the immortal Hulk Hogan. And without a shadow of a doubt, and I mean this from the heart, I look across this ring and I see, without question, the two biggest names in the history of the WWE.”
The three then exchanged their iconic catch phrases, shared an in-ring toast and chugged some beers in what would be their final time together in the ring.
“From deep in my bones, and on behalf of this wild and crazy world of professional wrestling that we love,” Johnson wrote in closing on his post, “I say to you now, and forever…
“Thank you for the house, brother…”
