Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is sharing his memories of working with the late Hulk Hogan.
The wrestler turned actor, 53, took to Instagram in the early hours of Friday, July 25, to mourn the WWE icon, with whom he famously shared the ring in a memorable “icon versus icon” match at WrestleMania 18 in 2002.
“Rest in Peace, Terry Bollea aka The Immortal Hulk Hogan 🕊️💐,” Johnson wrote alongside a video recap of his iconic match with Hogan, real name Terry Bollea.
“To millions of little kids you were a childhood hero – myself included. In 1984, I gave you your ‘HULKSTER’ headband back, in the locker room in Madison Square Garden – I was the lucky kid caught it when you threw it in the crowd,” Johnson wrote. “You were wrestling ‘Mr Wonderful’, Paul Orndorff that night in the main event. You were shocked and so happy after the match because you told me that was your very last headband and if it weren’t for me, you’d have no way of getting that exact one made again. You promised me that you would get more made and give me a Hulkster headband of my own as a thank you gift.”
He continued, “A month later in Madison Square Garden, you did just that. You kept your word, with a handshake and a ‘thanks kid’. And that meant the world to that little 12 year old boy.”
Johnson, a third-generation professional wrestler, stepped into the ring with Hogan back in 2002 after shooting to the top of WWE and becoming one of wrestling’s biggest stars. Like Hogan, he went on to become a movie and television star and is now one of the most famous men in Hollywood.
“Just 17 years later, and still a kid at the age of 29 years old — I’m standing in the middle of the ring and facing you – one of my wrestling heroes in the main event of WRESTLEMANIA,” he recalled. “The match was to decide who would go down in history, as The Greatest of All Time.”
Johnson shared, “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.”
“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,” the Smashing Machine actor wrote.
“From deep in my bones, and on behalf of this wild and crazy world of professional wrestling that we love, I say to you now, and forever… Thank you for the house, brother… Thank you, for the house,” he concluded.
Us Weekly confirmed Thursday, July 24, that Hogan died at age 71 after suffering a cardiac arrest at his home in Clearwater, Florida.
In June, a source exclusively told Us that the retired wrestler had been recovering from a major heart operation.
“Hulk had pretty serious heart surgery a few weeks ago and was doing well afterward,” the source said at the time.
In a statement on Thursday, WWE said, “WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away. One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends and fans.”
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