The wrestling world lost an icon Thursday.
Superstar wrestler Hulk Hogan died at 71 years old, WWE confirmed.
Medics were dispatched to the WWE’s legend’s Florida home for a reported cardiac arrest before Hogan was taken on a stretcher and into an ambulance, per TMZ.
Hogan, real name Terry Bollea, was one of the most influential wrestlers of all time, and plenty took to X to remember the former champion.
“I Am Absolutely Shocked To Hear About The Passing Of My Close Friend,” fellow WWE and WCW legend and longtime industry rival Ric Flair posted to X on Thursday.
“Hulk Has Been By My Side Since We Started In The Wrestling Business. An Incredible Athlete, Talent, Friend, And Father! Our Friendship Has Meant The World To Me.
“He Was Always There For Me Even When I Didn’t Ask For Him To Be. He Was One Of The First To Visit Me When I Was In The Hospital With A 2% Chance Of Living, And He Prayed By My Bedside. Hulk Also Lent Me Money When Reid Was Sick. Hulkster, No One Will Ever Compare To You! Rest In Peace My Friend!”
Flair’s daughter, Charlotte, echoed similar sentiments.
“When I nearly lost my dad 8 years ago, one of the few people who was there for all of it was Hulk Hogan,” the WWE star said on X. “Rest in peace, brother.”
Hogan, a WWE Hall of Famer, rose to stardom in the 1980s with his All-American “Hulkamania” persona and helped transform then-WWF into a national powerhouse.
He later helped WCW reach new heights with the heel NWO stable.
“He is probably the most famous pro wrestler who ever lived and more people paid to see him perform over the course of his career than any other person,” longtime wrestling reporter Dave Meltzer said of Hogan. “Thanks for the memories.”
Former friend and fellow WCW and WWE wrestler Brutus Beefcake also praised Hogan.
“Through the good times and the bad, I always loved my brother Terry!” he wrote. “I am devastated by the loss of my friend, I only wish we had time to mend our broken friendship before his passing. Until I see you Brother, in the big squared circle in the sky! I love you #hulkhogan #RIP.”
In June, Hogan was rumored to have been in a coma, which his representatives denied, saying he was “by no means on his deathbed.”
Sylvester Stallone, who starred with Hogan in Rocky III, gave his thoughts on their time together.
“I had the pleasure of meeting this brilliant personality and showman when he was 26 years old,” Stallone wrote on Instagram. “He was absolutely wonderful and his amazing skill made Rocky three incredibly special. My heart breaks. I think that he’s gone…”
Hogan’s legacy in recent years faced some scrutiny after he was exposed in 2015 for racist comments while being secretly recorded during a sexual encounter.
“The Hulkster was a true 1 of 1 American icon. A part of America died today,” Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy tweeted. “Rip to a true legend.”
Those in the political sphere also offered their condolences, with Hogan having previously campaigned for President Donald Trump at the Republican National Convention last year.
“R.I.P to a legend,” Donald Trump Jr. wrote on X.
Added Vice President JD Vance: “Hulk Hogan was a great American icon. One of the first people I ever truly admired as a kid. The last time I saw him we promised we’d get beers together next time we saw each other. The next time will have to be on the other side, my friend! Rest in peace.”
