The news of Hulk Hogan’s death at the age of 71 sent shockwaves through the professional wrestling, sports and entertainment worlds. It then led to an outpouring of tribute and support for the legendary professional wrestler.
Hogan died Thursday morning in Florida after going into cardiac arrest. TMZ Sports first reported the news of Hogan’s (real name Terry Bollea) death, saying he had a medical episode at home and died after being rushed to a nearby hospital.
For as complicated and controversial as Hogan’s life was — largely from his own doing — he undoubtedly played a special role in the lives of a lot of people. That doesn’t just mean his millions of fans, either. And while Hogan didn’t have a sterling reputation among those who worked with him in professional wrestling, he of course had plenty of supporters.
Ric Flair Pays Tribute to ‘Close Friend’ Hulk Hogan
One of those most famous supporters was Ric “The Nature Boy” Flair. The two go back decades and had no shortage of in-ring run-ins and work together, starting in the WWF and then in the WCW. The two are also largely considered the two best — or at least most famous — professional wrestlers of a generation and maybe a generation.
Flair, no stranger to health and personal issues himself, offered an emotional tribute to his longtime friend shortly after news broke of Hogan’s death.
“I am absolutely shocked to hear about the passing of my close friend (Hulk Hogan)! Hulk has been my side since we started in the wrestling business. An incredible athlete, talent, friend and father! Our friendship has meant the world to me,” Flair said in a tribute posted to social media.
“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!”
What Could Have Been for Hogan, Flair
Interestingly, the two only had a brief overlap in WWE (then-WWF) in the early 1990s, and because of that, they never squared off at WrestleMania. While a Hogan-Flair program would have done fantastic business for Vince McMahon and his promotion, the two instead worked other angles and programs as a way to essentially spread the wealth.
“Me and Flair had magic in the old WWF,” Hogan told Sports Illustrated in 2024. “But there was more than one agenda there. It wasn’t just that Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan were going o be guys driving the WWF train. I think Vince was thinking in multiples. We weren’t the only game in town. He got what he needed, then spread us apart.”
Hogan went onto say he still would have loved to have the chance to do business with Flair on that big of a stage.
“There’s no doubt he was one of the greatest ever. … Nowadays, you see that in Roman (Reigns’) matches. You see it with Randy Orton, too. There’s a feel for the crowd, and they have it. I think me and Ric would have had it there, too.”
Despite that, it’s clear Hogan had a major impact on Flair in other ways.
Ric Flair Pays Emotional Tribute To Longtime Friend Hulk Hogan