Star wrestler and actor Dwayne Johnson, known to many as The Rock has joined millions of people across the world in mourning fallen wrestling legend, Terry Bollea aka Hulk Hogan.
As earlier reported by this publication, Hulk Hogan died in the early hours of Thursday, July 24, 2025, morning.
News of Hogan’s demise was first made public by TMZ.
According to the gossip site, medics were dispatched to the legend’s home in Clearwater, Florida on Thursday morning and was taken in an ambulance but it was later reported that he had succumbed to cardiac arrest.
Hulk Hogan’s death left many wrestling fans in mourning, among them The Rock who took to social media to mourn him.
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In his post, Rock described Hulk as his childhood hero, recalling meeting him at the age of 12 before going on to face him in the WrestleMania ring years later.
According to The Rock, he caught Hulk Hogan’s ‘Hulkster’ headband in the crowd as a young fab at Madison Square Garden in 1984 and later met him in what meant to be the world for that ‘little 12-year-old Boy’.
The two would then meet up in a bout dubbed “Icon Vs Icon” at WrestleMania X8 in 2002.
“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,” Rock wrote.
“Rest in Peace, Terry Bollea aka The Immortal Hulk Hogan. 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. 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. 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,” he added.
The Rock, who is the son of wrestler Rocky Johnson, made a debut into the WWF/WWE ring himself as The Rock in 1996, and rose to the ranks to face a then 48-year-old Hogan at Wrestlemania 18.
“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,” Johnson’s tribute read.
“The match was to decide who would go down in history, as The Greatest of All Time. 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,” Rock stated in his post.
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The match ended with The Rock defeating Hogan – but the pair shook hands and left the ring together.
“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. 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. RIP Terry Bollea aka Hulk Hogan #goat,” Rock noted.
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