Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has paid tribute to Hulk Hogan, calling the WWE Hall of Famer his "childhood hero" and "the greatest of all time" following his death this week at the age of 71.
Taking to social media on Thursday (July 24), Johnson, who shared a video alongside his tribute, first took fans back to 1984 with a memory of catching Hogan’s headband at Madison Square Garden.
"Just 17 years later, and still a kid at the age of 29 years old, I’m standing in the middle of the ring and facing you, one of my wrestling heroes, in the main event of WrestleMania," Johnson said. "The match was to decide who would go down in history as the greatest of all time."
The face-off had the crowd going "electric," Johnson recalled, though he was quick to give all the credit to Hogan. "I’ve never felt anything like that in my entire wrestling career," he said. "It takes two to tango, but that historic reactions was all for you."
News of Hogan's death broke on Thursday. In a statement, it was said that Hogan, born Terry Bollea, died while "surrounded by his loved ones." Ric Flair and more were quick to share tributes. WWE reps, meanwhile, remembered the wrestling superstar as "one of pop culture’s most recognizable figures."
Johnson has cited Hogan’s influence on his own career in the past, at one point naming him among his picks for a wrestling-themed Mount Rushmore.
The Moana actor, who’s been serving on the Board of Directors of WWE owner TKO Group Holdings since last January, also once spoke out amid the fallout from Hogan’s racism controversy. In 2015, he expressed disappointment with Hogan’s actions but argued that he was "paying the price."
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