Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, a former wrestler turned Hollywood star, paid an emotional tribute to his “childhood hero” Hulk Hogan, who passed away on July 24, 2025, at age 71 from cardiac arrest at his Clearwater, Florida home. Johnson, 53, shared a heartfelt Instagram post on July 25, recalling personal and professional moments with Hogan, whose real name was Terry Gene Bollea, alongside a video from their iconic WrestleMania X8 match in 2002.

“Rest in Peace, Terry Bollea aka The Immortal Hulk Hogan,” Johnson wrote. He recounted a 1984 encounter at Madison Square Garden, where, as a 12-year-old fan, he caught Hogan’s thrown “Hulkster” headband and returned it. Hogan, grateful for recovering his last headband, promised a new one as a gift, a gesture that “meant the world” to young Johnson.

Johnson highlighted their 2002 “Icon vs. Icon” match at Toronto’s SkyDome, where Hogan’s kick-out from the Rock Bottom finisher electrified 68,000 fans. “I’ve never felt anything like that in my wrestling career,” Johnson said, crediting Hogan for “drawing the house” by selling out arenas during his 1980s prime. “You may have passed the torch to me that night, but you were the greatest of all time.”

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Hogan, a six-time WWE champion, transformed wrestling into a global phenomenon with “Hulkamania,” his signature red-and-yellow gear, and catchphrase, “Whatcha gonna do when Hulkamania runs wild on you?” His death, confirmed by WWE, prompted tributes from peers like Ric Flair and John Cena, and political figures including Donald Trump, who praised Hogan’s 2024 Republican National Convention speech.

Despite controversies, including a 2015 WWE Hall of Fame expulsion over racist remarks, Hogan’s legacy as a pop culture icon endures. Johnson’s tribute underscores Hogan’s profound impact, noting, “From deep in my bones, thank you for the house, brother.”

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