Wrestling icon and Hollywood actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has paid a heartfelt tribute to his childhood hero, Hulk Hogan, following his death at the age of 71.

In an Instagram post, Johnson reflected on the profound impact Hogan born Terry Bollea had on his life and career, describing him as “the immortal Hulk Hogan” and a hero to “millions of little kids, myself included.”

Johnson, 53, recalled meeting Hogan for the first time in 1984 at Madison Square Garden when, at just 12 years old, he caught Hogan’s signature “Hulkster” headband during a match. After the bout, he returned the headband to Hogan backstage, who told him it was his last one. Hogan promised to have more made and a month later, kept his word by gifting Johnson his own.

“That meant the world to that little 12-year-old boy,” Johnson wrote.

He went on to describe their legendary face-off at WrestleMania X8, when Johnson, aged 29, stood across the ring from his hero in a match dubbed “Icon vs. Icon.”


“You kicked out of my Rock Bottom and the crowd went electric. I’ve never felt anything like that in my career,” he wrote. “You passed the torch, but you were the one who drew the house every night. From the bottom of my heart thank you for the house, brother.”


The Legacy of Hulk Hogan

Hogan, one of the most recognizable figures in professional wrestling, was taken to Morton Plant Hospital in Florida on Thursday morning after a medical emergency. He passed away at 11:17 a.m., according to Clearwater Police. Authorities confirmed there were no signs of foul play and have launched a standard death investigation.

A six-time WWE Champion, Hogan headlined the first WrestleMania in 1985 and last wrestled for WWE in 2006 against Randy Orton. Known for bringing wrestling into the mainstream with “Hulkamania” in the 1980s, Hogan’s influence shaped generations of fans and performers alike.