As we previously reported, Hulk Hogan has passed away at the age of 71.
The pro wrestling legend transcended the sport that made him famous to become one of the most marketable celebrities of the ’80s and ’90s.
A bonafide pop culture icon, Hogan — whose real name was Terry Bollea — touched a lot of lives and made a lot of friends during his time on earth.
And now, many of his most famous associates are taking to social media to pay tribute to this fallen legend:
Ric Flair offers moving remembrance of Hulk Hogan
A rival in the ring and close friend outside of it, fellow wrestling legend Ric Flair was one of the first to post a tribute to Hogan.
“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!” Flair wrote on Instagram moments ago.
“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,” he continued, adding:
“Hulk Also Lent Me Money When Reid Was Sick. Hulkster, No One Will Ever Compare To You! Rest In Peace My Friend!”
Many others in the sports media world, including the popular Super ’70s Sports page, also paid tribute:
“Super Sky Point to Hulk Hogan, a man who revolutionized the pro wrestling industry twice,” the outlet posted on X (formerly Twitter).
“If you don’t remember Wrestlemania III, I can’t adequately explain what a cultural touchstone moment it was when he did the seemingly impossible by slamming Andre the Giant. He was the brightest light in a sky full of larger-than-life WWE stars,” the memorial continued.
“Love him or hate him, or maybe he made you feel both emotions, Hulk Hogan was always relevant. He knew how to make you care. He put asses in seats and in front of TV screens. That was his job. And he was damn good at it. Whatcha gonna do, St. Peter, when the 24-inch pythons run wild on you?”
But while Hogan certainly had a lot of fans, he was also a highly divisive figure toward the end of his life.
Hogan’s family life was tumultuous in his later years
Hulk divorced Linda Hogan in 2009, a move that shocked fans who believed the happy family image that the Hogans projected on their VH1 reality show.
And that was just the beginning of the family’s controversies.
Back in March, daughter Brooke Hogan revealed that she’d cut off contact with both parents, alleging decades of abusive behavior.
Linda responded by accusing Brooke of physically attacking her and breaking her collarbone.
Not surprisingly, Brooke has not yet publicly reacted to the news of her father’s passing.
We will have further updates on this developing story as new information becomes available.