Donald Trump, Sylvester Stallone lead tributes for WWE legend Hulk Hogan
Image: Fayez Nureldine/AFP
US President Donald Trump led the tributes for WWE legend Hulk Hogan, who died at the age of 71 on Thursday.
Hogan, who was born Terry Gene Bollea, died a month after rumours emerged that he was battling with his health.
According to reports, he died after suffering a cardiac arrest at his home.
Hogan had long been associated with Trump.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Trump Pays Tribute to Hulk Hogan on Truth Social: A MAGA Icon Remembered
On Thursday, Trump paid tribute to Hogan on Truth Social: 'We lost a great friend today, the 'Hulkster.' Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way — Strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart,' Trump posted.
'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!'
WWE co-founder Vince McMahon said of Hogan: '[He was] the greatest WWE Superstar of all time.'
Hollywood actor Sylvester Stallone, who acted alongside Hogan in Rocky III, said on Instagram: 'He was absolutely wonderful and his amazing skill made Rocky three incredibly special. My heart breaks. I think that he's gone…'
WWE Legends Pay Tribute to the Iconic Hulk Hogan
Fellow WWE star Rick Flair paid tribute to Hogan 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!'
Another pro wrestler, Sting said on X: 'Can't thank you enough for all that you did for me and for wrestling fans all over the world. I loved you and I will miss you. My friend, Terry Bollea, RIP,'
Sticking with WWE legends, The Undertaker said on X: 'The wrestling world has lost a true legend. His contributions to our business are immeasurable and for that I am appreciative. Thank you, Hulk Hogan.'
@Michael_Sherman
IOL Sport
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
14 hours ago
- The South African
WWE: Five famous wrestlers who died in the past 10 years
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has thrilled fans for decades with unforgettable characters, fierce rivalries, and emotional moments. However, behind the bodyslams and WrestleMania moments lies the harsh reality of the business, as many icons have passed away too soon. While a few wrestlers have lived beyond the age of 80, many legends of the squared circle have left us early. In this article, we will look at five former WWE wrestlers who left us too soon, each leaving behind a unique legacy. Hulk Hogan (1953-2025) The 13-time champion died last week from cardiac arrest. Emergency responders were dispatched to Hogan's home in Clearwater, Florida, after a 911 call reported a cardiac emergency. He was treated at the scene by Clearwater Fire & Rescue and transported to Morton Plant Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:11. Scott Hall (1958–2022) Known as 'Razor Ramon' in WWE and a founding member of the nWo in WCW, Scott Hall redefined cool in wrestling. After a long battle with addiction, Hall passed away in March 2022 due to complications from hip surgery that led to multiple heart attacks. He was 63. Roddy Piper (1954–2015) A master of the mic and one of WWE's greatest villains, Roddy Piper brought unpredictability and intensity to every feud. His infamous 'Piper's Pit' segment set a standard for wrestling interviews. Piper died suddenly from a heart attack in July 2015 at the age of 61. Despite being a heel for most of his career, Piper was deeply respected by fans and peers. His legacy continues through his children, including MMA fighter Teal Piper. Matt 'Rosie' Anoa'i (1970–2017) Part of the legendary Anoa'i wrestling family, Rosie teamed with Jamal in 3-Minute Warning before later forming a superhero-themed tag team with The Hurricane. Rosie, who was the older brother of Roman Reigns, died from congestive heart failure in April 2017 at the age of 47. Bray Wyatt (1987–2023) Windham Rotunda, best known as Bray Wyatt, was a creative genius and three-time world champion. His eerie promos and reinvention as 'The Fiend' made him a modern-day icon. After battling heart issues exacerbated by COVID-19 complications, Wyatt died in August 2023 at just 36 years old. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
eNCA
15 hours ago
- eNCA
Godzilla fans fete the monster as it turns 70
Godzilla has morphed over the years, but one constant is the devotion of its fans, who celebrated the Japanese monster's 70th anniversary at the pop culture convention Comic-Con. The Japanese studio Toho, which created Godzilla, maintains a calendar of events to celebrate the beast often called the king of monsters, and Comic-Con is on the agenda. Godzilla was born on November 3, 1954 with the launch of the first movie about it, directed by Ishiro Honda. "I am a very big fan of Godzilla," said Angela Hill, a teacher who traveled from Arizona to take part in Comic-Con, which this year featured events and displays celebrating Godzilla. One of the world's largest celebrations of pop culture, Comic-Con brings together 130,000 people, many of whom come dressed as wizards, princesses or characters from movies, games or TV series. As the story of Godzilla goes, a prehistoric amphibious beast is awakened and mutated by nuclear bomb testing in the Pacific. It emerges from the sea and attacks Japan in a rage, symbolizing the deadly power of nukes. "I think because he came from such a historic event -- like, a lot of other monsters are just interesting creatures, but they don't hold the grief of a nation," Hill said, referring to the US nuclear bomb attacks against Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II. AFP | Chris DELMAS At the pop culture watering hole in San Diego, people lined up to shoot pictures and video with an image of Godzilla, which was also the theme of a panel discussion on Friday that featured Shinji Higuchi, who co-directed a reboot in 2016 called "Shin Godzilla." The movie franchise includes nearly 40 films and has spawned hundreds of animated productions about the monster as well as TV series and graphic work. - 'Rooting for him' - On Saturday the writers Ed Godziszewski and Steve Ryfle signed autographs of their book "Godzilla: The First 70 Years," which sold out at Comic-Con. "It's a rich history," Ryfle told AFP. "This is the longest running feature film franchise in cinematic history that's focused on a single, continuous character. It's been around longer than James Bond." He said the key to its longevity is that Godzilla has evolved over time but stayed faithful to its origins. "Godzilla has been serious, it's been scary, it's been heroic, it's been funny. But at the same time this is a movie character that's rooted in something that's very real," Ryfle said. "And that's the trauma that Japan experienced, both during World War II, and also the trauma of the aftermath of World War II, the aftermath of Hiroshima and Nagasaki," he added. AFP | Chris DELMAS He said Honda, who directed the first Godzilla movie, was a veteran who used the film to send a message against war and in particular against nuclear weapons. Michelle Pena, a Godzilla fan who waited in line to get the autograph of the two writers, said part of the monster's charm is how it has changed over the years. "Good, bad, hero, anti-hero, you know. And I like that," she said. "He's not, like, lovable," she added. "He's a big dinosaur-looking thing, you know. He's scary. But, like, you really, really find yourself rooting for him."
The South African
19 hours ago
- The South African
The Rock pays emotional tribute to Hulk Hogan
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson has paid a heartfelt tribute to wrestling legend Hulk Hogan following his death from cardiac arrest at the age of 71. Johnson, who grew up idolising Hogan, shared emotional memories of their first meeting in 1984. 12-year-old Johnson caught Hogan's famous 'Hulkster' headband at Madison Square Garden. The Rock returned the headband backstage, an act that left Hogan 'shocked and so happy' because it was his last one of its kind. Hogan promised to make more and later gave Johnson his headband, a gesture Johnson said 'meant the world to that little 12-year-old boy'. Seventeen years later, Johnson faced Hogan in the iconic WrestleMania X8 main event in 2002, a match still celebrated among wrestling fans worldwide, according to Entertainment Tonight. Johnson described the experience as unparalleled in his career. 'I've never felt anything like that in my entire wrestling career,' he said. The match electrified the Toronto stadium crowd. Hogan and The Rock delivered an unforgettable performance that showcased their mutual respect and skill. Johnson called Hogan 'the greatest of all time' and expressed gratitude for the torch Hogan passed to him. 'From deep in my bones, and on behalf of this wild and crazy world of professional wrestling that we love… thank you for the house, brother'. Hulk Hogan's impact was monumental. He helped elevate professional wrestling to global prominence in the 1980s and 1990s. He attracted huge audiences and inspired generations of wrestlers. This included Johnson, whose own wrestling persona 'The Rock' has become a global icon. Hogan's passing has been mourned by fans and fellow wrestlers alike, including in South Africa, where wrestling enjoys a vibrant and passionate following. His charisma and showmanship continue to resonate with fans who grew up watching the spectacle of wrestling on television. The Rock's journey from a star-struck boy in New York to a Hollywood megastar and WWE legend illustrates Hogan's lasting legacy across continents. As Johnson said in his tribute: 'To millions of little kids, you were a childhood hero, myself included'. Hulk Hogan's legacy will live on. His matches, larger-than-life persona, and kindness to young fans like Johnson endure. Hogan's legacy, celebrated through Johnson's words and their historic match, continues to echo globally. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
