Wrestling icon Hulk Hogan has passed away. He reportedly suffered a “massive cardiac arrest” earlier today. Despite being rushed to a hospital in Florida immediately, doctors were unable to save him. Hogan died two weeks before his 72nd birthday. Among the many names from the industry, his fellow WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair had something to say about his friend’s passing.
While both Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan have heavily influenced a generation of the wrestling community, it was The Immortal One who revolutionized the business itself. Hogan was the biggest selling point for former WWE CEO and Chairman Vince McMahon in the late ’80s, as McMahon attempted to bring his company into the mainstream. Perhaps it was The Hulkster’s rivalry with The Iron Sheik that sealed the deal during this time.
Hulk Hogan had headlined 8 editions of WrestleMania for WWE, which included arguably his career peak moment when he bodyslammed the 520-pound Andre the Giant in the Pontiac Silverdome before a then-record crowd of 93,173.
Ric Flair Writes Up A Heartbreaking Note Following WWE Legend Hulk Hogan’s Passing
On X/Twitter, The Nature Boy articulated his close friendship with Hulk Hogan.
The two had worked together in WWE and WCW in the ’90s. Flair returned to WWE in the aughts, where he continued until his first retirement in 2008. Meanwhile, Hogan had a relatively short run at the sports entertainment capital before he moved on to TNA, where The Nature Boy joined him after his final match in the Stamford-based promotion.
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!” Flair wrote following Hogan’s passing.
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… pic.twitter.com/rOWLakMjr4
— Ric Flair® (@RicFlairNatrBoy) July 24, 2025
Hogan and his former colleague, Eric Bischoff, had begun their new collaborative journey recently — the Real American Freestyle Wrestling promotion. It remains to be seen how Bischoff and the other big names behind this venture carry forward without The Immortal One.
May his soul rest in peace.