On March 17, 2002, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson confronted Hulk Hogan in the primary occasion of WrestleMania X8 in what turned one of the crucial iconic matches in WWE historical past. On Friday, in the future after Hogan died at 71, Johnson posted a message thanking one in every of his “wrestling heroes” for his or her time collectively, which dated again to when he was a baby.
Johnson grew up within the wrestling enterprise together with his father, Rocky Johnson, crossing paths with Hogan in WWE (then WWF).
“Relaxation in Peace, Terry Bollea aka The Immortal Hulk Hogan,” Johnson wrote on X. “To thousands and thousands of little children you had been a childhood hero — myself included.
“In 1984, I gave you your “HULKSTER” headband again, within the locker room in Madison Sq. Backyard — I used to be the fortunate child caught it whenever you threw it within the crowd. You had been wrestling “Mr Fantastic,” Paul Orndorff that night time in the primary occasion. You had been shocked and so joyful after the match since you advised me that was your final headband and if it weren’t for me, you’d haven’t any method of getting that actual one made once more. You promised me that you’d get extra made and provides me a Hulkster headband of my very own as a thanks present.
“A month later in Madison Sq. Backyard, you probably did simply that. You stored your phrase, with a handshake and a ‘thanks child.’
And that meant the world to that little 12 12 months previous boy.”
After leaving for WCW in 1994, Hogan would finally discover his method again to WWE in 2002. He rapidly discovered himself in a program with Johnson, resulting in their WrestleMania X8 “Icon vs. Icon” match.
“Simply 17 years later, and nonetheless a child on the age of 29 years previous — I am standing in the midst of the ring and going through you — one in every of my wrestling heroes in the primary occasion of WRESTLEMANIA,” Johnson mentioned. “The match was to determine who would go down in historical past, as The Best of All Time.
“Once you kick out of my Rock Backside finisher — simply hear and FEEL that crowd go ELECTRIC…all for you. I’ve by no means felt something like that in my total wrestling profession. It takes two to tango, however that historic crowd response was all for you.”
Forward of this 12 months’s WrestleMania 41, WWE ranked The Rock vs. Hogan because the third-best WrestleMania match of all time.
“You could have ‘handed the torch’ to me that night time, however you, my pal… you ‘drew the home’ that means you offered out each enviornment and stadium throughout the nation in your prime as Hulk Hogan, in your method of turning into the best of all time,” Johnson wrote. “From deep in my bones, and on behalf of this wild and loopy world {of professional} wrestling that we love, I say to you now, and endlessly.
“Thanks for the home, brother.”
