Hulk Hogan latest: WWE SmackDown honors wrestling legend with tributes after death at 71

WWE commentator Joe Tessitore acknowledged that it’s hard to sum up a “complex” character like Hogan, but said that in purely promotional terms, the late wrestler’s impact on wrestling could be compared to Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods in their respective sports.

Former YouTuber turned wrestler Logan Paul then enters the arena for the opening match-up, immediately riling the crowd by claiming he’d heard them shouting: “Thank you, Logan.”

Former wrestler Triple H, now WWE’s Chief Content Officer, delivered a brief but heartfelt speech at Smackdown describing Hogan as “one of the biggest and most globally recognized icons in the world. A man I grew up watching and was honored to share a ring with.”

The tribute video was met with loud shouts of “Thank you, Hogan” and “Hogan, Hogan” from the crowd.

The SmackDown roster and WWE legends gathered on stage for Hulk Hogan’s 10 bell salute at tonight’s event in Cleveland, Ohio.

They introduced a 10 minute video compilation telling the story of Hogan’s career.

Were it not for Hulk Hogan, it is unlikely that professional wrestling would be the multibillion-dollar entertainment powerhouse it is today, argues Ryan Coogan in Hogan’s obituary:

Sky, who married Hulk in 2023, broke her silence Friday on Instagram, sharing a sweet picture of herself kissing him on the cheek. In the caption, she also shared details about his physical health before his death.

“I wasn’t ready for this…and my heart is in pieces,” Sky, 46, wrote. “He had been dealing with some health issues, but I truly believed we would overcome them. I had so much faith in his strength. I thought we still had more time.”

The Independent’s Washington Bureau Chief Eric Garcia considered Hogan his “childhood hero.” Then he saw him speak at the Republican National Convention. Here’s his thoughtful piece reflecting on the experience:

Chelsea Green, who is currently employed by WWE, has become one of the first wrestlers to acknowledge Hogan’s divisive politics and the scandal over his use of racist language.

Green, who is from Canada, wrote in a since-deleted post on X/Twitter: “Political views aside, Hulk Hogan’s influence on the wrestling world was clearly undeniable. He inspired millions and shaped an entire generation of fans, my husband included. We are mourning the loss of an icon… a legend. My love goes out to his family.”

The 34-year-old has since added: “A significant part of my role at WWE involves engaging with the public & responding to questions, often on live platforms. Yesterday, I was asked to comment on Hulk Hogan on live TV.

“Let me be clear: my stance on racism is unwavering. I do not condone it—period. If my response (or tweet) seemed dismissive of real concerns, I sincerely apologise. That was never my intention. I tried to acknowledge a death respectfully, even when the legacy is complicated. I am learning one day at a time and will continue to learn.”

Hogan’s former manager Jimmy Hart told People that he called his longtime friend the night before he died and nothing seemed amiss.

“I called [Hogan] on Wednesday night, and then Thursday morning is when everything took place,” said Hart. “So just…just overnight it all happened, but it was so positive the day before.”

He said he’d spoken with Hogan’s assistant, who said he was “doing great.”

The next day, his condition deteriorated rapidly. The former wrestler had recently undergone neck surgery.

“It just hits so fast,” said Hart. “It was like, ‘Oh my God.’ We thought he was doing so well, you know? We didn’t go to see him at the house and didn’t go to see him at the hospital, because we wanted to make sure that he didn’t get any infections or anything else, like if anybody had a cold or brought anything in. So, that’s what we all did.”

Over the years, WWE legend’s personal life had been through the wringer, mostly by his own doing.

Mark LoMonaco, better known under his wrestling names ‘Bubba Ray Dudley’ and ‘Bully Ray’ recalled Hogan’s influence on his career on X: “ As a young fan, I’ll never forget the day Bob Backlund brought you out to help him. As an old pro, I will never forget how much you meant to my career. I appreciate every thing you did for me. And was happy to call you a friend…and Brother. GOD BLESS HULK HOGAN.”