Dwayne Johnson, often known as The Rock, has praised Hulk Hogan as a childhood hero in a heartfelt homage to his former opponent.
Dwayne Johnson issued a lengthy statement on Instagram after it was confirmed on Thursday that Hogan, also known as Terry Bollea, had died at the age of 71.
Dwayne Johnson revealed a childhood memory of returning Hogan’s “Hulkster” headband in the Madison Square Garden locker room, and then confronting him 17 years later at WrestleMania X8 in 2002.
“I‘m standing in the middle of the ring and facing you – one of my wrestling heroes in the main event of WRESTLEMANIA,” Dwayne Johnson posted on Instagram.
“When you kick out of my Rock Bottom finisher, just listen and feel the crowd go ELECTRIC… all for you.” I have never felt anything like that in my entire wrestling career. “It takes two to tango, but that historic crowd reaction was entirely 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 to becoming the greatest of all time.”
The speaker stated, “On behalf of this wild and crazy world of professional wrestling that we love, I say to you now, and forever…” “Thanks for the house, brother.”
Dwayne Johnson Reflects on Hulk Hogan’s Controversy and Legacy
Outside the ring, Dwayne Johnson and Hogan were not always in agreement. When Hogan was mired in a dispute over racially incendiary comments recorded on a 2012 sex tape, Dwayne Johnson felt “disappointed” in his former colleague.
“I‘ve known Terry for years,” Dwayne Johnson said. “My father and uncle helped train him in Florida in the 1970s. I come from a long line of professional wrestlers. I was unaware that [Hogan] was racist. It’s one of those occasions when he didn’t say anything definitively. We’ve all talked trash. “He said what he said, and he is paying the price.”
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