Latest news with #RockBottom
Pink Villa
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Dwayne Johnson recalls childhood encounter with Hulk Hogan in moving farewell: ‘I've never felt anything like that…'
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson took to Instagram with a tribute today, July 25, that hit wrestling fans straight in the chest. In a post packed with throwback vibes and raw emotion, Johnson honored Hulk Hogan, the larger-than-life icon who passed away on Thursday at the age of 71. Alongside a video of their legendary WrestleMania 18 match playing on an old-school box TV, Johnson walked fans through a full-circle moment that began when he was just a kid with a front-row seat to history and ended with him sharing the ring with his childhood hero. From headband to headliner Before he was The Rock, 12-year-old Dwayne Johnson was just another kid in the crowd at Madison Square Garden. That night in 1984, he caught Hogan's 'HULKSTER' headband and gave it back to him backstage. Hogan was stunned, as it had been his last one: '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.' The wrestler-turned-actor revealed that Hogan had also promised his young self a thank-you gift in return. A month after the event, Hogan kept his promise: he handed young Johnson his own headband with a smile and a 'thanks, kid.' Seventeen years later, they were face-to-face in the ring at WrestleMania. 'Still a kid at the age of 29,' Johnson wrote, remembering the electricity when Hogan kicked out of his Rock Bottom finisher. 'I've never felt anything like that in my entire wrestling career.' A torch passed, but a legacy cemented The Rock made it clear: Hogan did not just pass the torch—he lit the whole arena. 'You drew the house,' Johnson wrote, nodding to Hogan's unmatched star power. 'You sold out every arena and stadium across the country.' '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…,' he closed, 'thank you for the house, brother... Thank you for the house.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dwayne ‘The Rock' Johnson pays tribute to ‘childhood hero' Hulk Hogan
Wrestler and actor Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson has paid tribute to his 'childhood hero' Hulk Hogan after he died at the age of 71. The 53-year-old spoke about meeting Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, for the first time in 1984 as a fan aged 12 when he handed him back his 'Hulkster' headband after it had been thrown into the crowd. In an Instagram post paying tribute to Hogan, who was a leading figure in wrestling during the 1980s and won six WWE Championships, Johnson said: '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.' Johnson, who is well known for his appearances in the Fast And Furious film series, went on to speak about how at the age of 29 he faced his hero in the ring at Wrestlemania. He added: '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. '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.' US President Donald Trump also paid tribute, posting on his Truth Social platform: 'We lost a great friend today, the 'Hulkster', Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way — strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart. 'He gave an absolutely electric speech at the Republican National Convention, that was one of the highlights of the entire week. 'He entertained fans from all over the world, and the cultural impact he had was massive. 'To his wife, Sky, and family, we give our warmest best wishes and love. Hulk Hogan will be greatly missed!' Former WWE star Hogan was found 'experiencing a serious medical-related issue' in a house on Eldorado Avenue and he was taken to Morton Plant Hospital, after Clearwater police department in Florida said officers and fire crews responded to a 'medical-related call' shortly before 10am on Thursday. Hogan died at 11.17am in hospital and there are 'no signs of foul play or suspicious activity', Major Nate Burnside said. WWE star John Cena also paid tribute to Hogan, posting a picture of the wrestler with Andre The Giant on Instagram. His death was confirmed by the WWE, who posted a statement on X saying: 'WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away. 'One of pop culture's most recognisable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. 'WWE extends its condolences to Hogan's family, friends, and fans.' Hogan headlined the first Wrestlemania in 1985, and his last WWE match was against Randy Orton at SummerSlam in 2006. Hogan's friend and fellow former professional wrestler Ric Flair wrote 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!' Hulkamania was coined in the mid-1980s, as he pushed professional wrestling into the mainstream. He was known for his large muscles, with arms he called his 24-inch pythons, along with his bright blond hair and handlebar moustache. Fellow wrestler Triple H said: 'WWE would not be where it is today without the larger-than-life characters that compete in the ring… and few, if any, loomed larger than Terry 'Hulk Hogan' Bollea.' The former professional wrestler, whose real name is Paul Michael Levesque, described Hogan as 'the archetype of what it meant to be a 'Superstar' – a global sensation that inspired millions to work hard at whatever it was they wanted to accomplish'. His look 'made him recognisable to fans around the world' and 'was simply put, iconic', said the now-chief content officer at WWE. Triple H, 55, added: 'As a Real American or the leader of one of the industry's biggest factions, he transcended and elevated the entire business to heights never before seen – in every country and on every continent. 'There was no-one like The Hulkster and there very well may never be another. My family sends their condolences to his family, friends, and fans.' Major Burnside said: 'Our personnel is providing the family with the necessary resources. I'm strongly encouraging everyone to keep the family in their thoughts and respect their privacy during this difficult time.' Police are 'conducting a death investigation, which is standard in these types of cases', he added.
RTÉ News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson pays tribute to 'childhood hero' Hulk Hogan
Wrestler and actor Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson has paid tribute to his "childhood hero" Hulk Hogan after he died at the age of 71. The 53-year-old spoke about meeting Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, for the first time in 1984 as a fan aged 12 when he handed him back his "Hulkster" headband after it had been thrown into the crowd. In an Instagram post paying tribute to Hogan, who was a leading figure in wrestling during the 1980s and won six WWE Championships, Johnson said: "Rest in peace, Terry Bollea aka the immortal Hulk Hogan. "To millions of little kids you were a childhood hero – myself included." He continued: "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." Johnson, who is well known for his appearances in the Fast And Furious film series, went on to speak about how at the age of 29 he faced his hero in the ring at Wrestlemania. He added: "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. "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." Former WWE star Hogan was found "experiencing a serious medical-related issue" in a house on Eldorado Avenue and he was taken to Morton Plant Hospital, after Clearwater police department in Florida said officers and fire crews responded to a "medical-related call" shortly before 10am on Thursday. Hogan died at 11.17am in hospital and there are "no signs of foul play or suspicious activity", Major Nate Burnside said. Police are "conducting a death investigation, which is standard in these types of cases", he added. Hogan headlined the first Wrestlemania in 1985, and his last WWE match was against Randy Orton at SummerSlam in 2006. Hulkamania was coined in the mid-1980s, as he pushed professional wrestling into the mainstream.
BreakingNews.ie
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
Dwayne ‘The Rock' Johnson pays tribute to ‘childhood hero' Hulk Hogan
Wrestler and actor Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson has paid tribute to his 'childhood hero' Hulk Hogan after he died at the age of 71. The 53-year-old spoke about meeting Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, for the first time in 1984 as a fan aged 12 when he handed him back his 'Hulkster' headband after it had been thrown into the crowd. Advertisement In an Instagram post paying tribute to Hogan, who was a leading figure in wrestling during the 1980s and won six WWE Championships, Johnson said: '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. Advertisement '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.' Johnson, who is well known for his appearances in the Fast And Furious film series, went on to speak about how at the age of 29 he faced his hero in the ring at Wrestlemania. He added: 'The match was to decide who would go down in history, as the greatest of all-time. Advertisement '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. '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.' US President Donald Trump also paid tribute, posting on his Truth Social platform: 'We lost a great friend today, the 'Hulkster', Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way — strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart. Advertisement 'He gave an absolutely electric speech at the Republican National Convention, that was one of the highlights of the entire week. 'He entertained fans from all over the world, and the cultural impact he had was massive. 'To his wife, Sky, and family, we give our warmest best wishes and love. Hulk Hogan will be greatly missed!' Former WWE star Hogan was found 'experiencing a serious medical-related issue' in a house on Eldorado Avenue and he was taken to Morton Plant Hospital, after Clearwater police department in Florida said officers and fire crews responded to a 'medical-related call' shortly before 10am on Thursday. Advertisement Hogan died at 11.17am in hospital and there are 'no signs of foul play or suspicious activity', Major Nate Burnside said. WWE star John Cena also paid tribute to Hogan, posting a picture of the wrestler with Andre The Giant on Instagram. His death was confirmed by the WWE, who posted a statement on X saying: 'WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away. 'One of pop culture's most recognisable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. 'WWE extends its condolences to Hogan's family, friends, and fans.' Hogan headlined the first WrestleMania in 1985, and his last WWE match was against Randy Orton at SummerSlam in 2006. Hogan's friend and fellow former professional wrestler Ric Flair wrote 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!' The legendary Hulk Hogan ❤️💛 — WWE (@WWE) July 24, 2025 Hulkamania was coined in the mid-1980s, as he pushed professional wrestling into the mainstream. He was known for his large muscles, with arms he called his 24-inch pythons, along with his bright blond hair and handlebar moustache. Fellow wrestler Triple H said: 'WWE would not be where it is today without the larger-than-life characters that compete in the ring… and few, if any, loomed larger than Terry 'Hulk Hogan' Bollea.' The former professional wrestler, whose real name is Paul Michael Levesque, described Hogan as 'the archetype of what it meant to be a 'Superstar' – a global sensation that inspired millions to work hard at whatever it was they wanted to accomplish'. His look 'made him recognisable to fans around the world' and 'was simply put, iconic', said the now-chief content officer at WWE. Triple H, 55, added: 'As a Real American or the leader of one of the industry's biggest factions, he transcended and elevated the entire business to heights never before seen – in every country and on every continent. WWE would not be where it is today without the larger-than-life characters that compete in the ring … and few, if any, loomed larger than Terry 'Hulk Hogan' Bollea. He was the archetype of what it meant to be a 'Superstar' - a global sensation that inspired millions to work… — Triple H (@TripleH) July 24, 2025 'There was no-one like The Hulkster and there very well may never be another. My family sends their condolences to his family, friends, and fans.' Major Burnside said: 'Our personnel is providing the family with the necessary resources. I'm strongly encouraging everyone to keep the family in their thoughts and respect their privacy during this difficult time.' Police are 'conducting a death investigation, which is standard in these types of cases', he added.
The Citizen
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
IIE-Vega Durban students get creative at Ludum Dare
IIE-VEGA Durban Bachelor of Computer and Information Sciences in Game Design and Development students were a force to be reckoned with at this year's Ludum Dare – an international game jam where participants have 48 to 72 hours to create a game from scratch. The first, second and third year students worked individually and in teams to create their game, with lecturers on hand to guide and support them during the process. This year's event was held under the theme 'Depths', and formed part of the second and third year students' academic assessment – offering real world experience in teamwork, creativity, time pressure and problem solving. First year student and solo entrant, Asher Gray, who created Animalia Memories, a PlayStation 1 style horror and walking simulator, said he enjoyed the challenge. 'I've been making game demos since I was 11 years old. This is my first game jam and my first completed game project ever. Being a one man band meant I had to do everything – animation, modelling, texturing, coding, programming. It was intense, but fun,' said Gray. Aso Read: Students make a colourful impact His excitement was shared by third year IIE-Vega Durban students Daniel Dennison, Rebecca Goodall, Raees Amla and Njabulo Zikhali, who created 'Rock Bottom' – a fast-paced adventure about a dwarf fighting his way down a mineshaft to retrieve his lost pickaxe. Using their experience from previous entry to game jam, the group went for something 'simple' and innovative. 'We've done game jams before, so we've learnt to go for something short, sweet and simple because of the time limit. We included humour because it always goes down well and increases game play. We almost broke into the top 100 entries in the humour category. Ludum Dare participants rate each other's games out of five stars in the categories: fun, innovation, theme, graphics, mood and humour,' said Dennison. Ludum Dare is one of the world's largest and longest running game development events. It has two formats: the Compo (a 48-hour solo challenge) and the Jam (a 72-hour team event). Participants retain full rights to their creations, and after the event they rate each other's games over three weeks to determine the winners. The winners do not receive actual prizes. For more from Berea Mail, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
