Ric Flair Pays Emotional Tribute After WWE Rival Hulk Hogan's Death

Yahoo

26-07-2025

Ric Flair Pays Emotional Tribute After WWE Rival Hulk Hogan's Death originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Wrestling icon Terry "Hulk Hogan" Bollea died Thursday at age 71 in Clearwater, Florida, TMZ has confirmed.
Emergency responders were called to Hogan's home Thursday morning. Police vehicles and EMTs arrived shortly after a 911 call reporting a cardiac arrest, and Hogan was loaded onto a stretcher and whisked away by ambulance. He was later pronounced dead at a hospital, according to TMZ.
Among the first to react to the news was WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair, who posted on X, "I am absolutely shocked to hear about the passing of my close friend @HulkHogan! 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! 🙏🏻."
Bollea Ushers in 'Hulkamania' Era of Wrestling
Adopting the moniker Hulk Hogan and donning yellow-and-red gear, Bollea ushered in the "Hulkamania" era that propelled professional wrestling into mainstream pop culture.
Hogan headlined eight of the first nine WrestleMania events, and his record 1,474‑day WWF Championship reign remains the longest of the WrestleMania era.
He was the first wrestler to win back‑to‑back Royal Rumble matches (1990 and 1991) and starred in Saturday Night's Main Event television specials that drew record Nielsen ratings (15.2) and 33 million viewers.
Hulk Hogan Leaves WWF for Rival WCW
In the mid‑1990s, Hogan jumped to rival promotion WCW, capturing the WCW World Heavyweight Championship six times and, as "Hollywood" Hogan, leading the New World Order (nWo) stable.
The nWo storyline was instrumental in sparking the Monday Night Wars and remains a touchstone of '90s wrestling lore.
Inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 (and again in 2020 as part of the nWo), Hogan's influence extended far beyond any single promotion.
Reports of Hogan's Failing Health Earlier in 2025
In May, rumors circulated that Hogan was in critical condition (even in a coma) following a four‑level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) to address chronic spinal issues.
His wife, Sky Daily, whom he married in September 2023, publicly denied the most dire speculation, stating that although his rehabilitation was slow, his heart remained strong and he was "on a steady path to recovery."
As the face of an entire generation's introduction to sports‑entertainment, Hogan's death marks the end of an era.This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 24, 2025, where it first appeared.