Hollywood megastar and former WWE champion Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has paid heartfelt tribute to wrestling legend Hulk Hogan, describing him as his “childhood hero” and reflecting on a moment that changed his life forever.
Johnson took to social media following the news of Hogan’s passing at the age of 71 on Thursday, recalling the profound impact the wrestling icon had on him as a young boy — and later, as a fellow superstar in the ring.
“When I was 12 years old, I caught Hulk Hogan’s headband at Madison Square Garden. I was just a kid in the crowd, and that small moment meant the world to me,” Johnson wrote. “Meeting him shortly after changed everything. He treated me with kindness. I never forgot it.”
That fateful meeting in 1984 would come full circle nearly two decades later when the two clashed in an unforgettable showdown at WrestleMania X8 in 2002, a match billed as “Icon vs Icon.” Johnson reminisced about the electric atmosphere of the bout, widely considered one of the most iconic in professional wrestling history.
“I’ve never felt anything like that in my entire wrestling career,” Johnson said. “It takes two to tango, but that historic crowd reaction — that magic — was all for you, Hulk. You made it unforgettable.”
Known for his charisma and larger-than-life persona, Hulk Hogan (real name Terry Bollea) was the face of American professional wrestling in the 1980s and 1990s, turning the WWF (now WWE) into a pop culture powerhouse.
Following Hogan’s death, tributes have poured in from across the wrestling world and beyond — including from U.S. President Donald Trump, who praised the late wrestler’s “spirit, loyalty, and influence,” noting his long-standing support during Trump’s political campaigns.
Hogan’s legacy continues to echo through generations of performers — none more prominently than Dwayne Johnson, who credited Hogan not just as a childhood inspiration but as a guiding force in his journey from wrestling stardom to global superstardom.
“Rest in power, my brother,” Johnson concluded. “You were the hero I needed — and the legend we’ll never forget.”
