Ric Flair Pays Emotional Tribute to Hulk Hogan as Wrestling Community Mourns

The professional wrestling world is reeling from the sudden passing of WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan (Terry Gene Bollea) on July 24, 2025, at the age of 71, following a reported cardiac arrest at his home in Clearwater, Florida. Among the many tributes pouring in, wrestling legend Ric Flair, a longtime friend and rival, shared a deeply emotional message, joined by Hogan’s daughter Brooke Hogan, his daughter Charlotte Flair, and other wrestling icons. This news article explores Flair’s heartfelt tribute, reactions from Brooke and others, the legacy of Hogan, and the broader impact on the wrestling community, with a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section to address key queries.

Ric Flair’s Heartfelt Tribute

Ric Flair, known as “The Nature Boy,” took to X on July 24, 2025, to express his shock and grief over Hogan’s death, highlighting their decades-long bond. In a poignant post, Flair wrote, “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 recounted Hogan’s unwavering support, noting that Hogan visited him in the hospital in 2017 when Flair faced a 2% chance of survival due to a life-threatening illness and lent him money during his late son Reid’s illness in 2013. Flair concluded, “Hulkster, No One Will Ever Compare To You! Rest In Peace My Friend!”

Flair’s tribute was echoed in interviews with outlets like TMZ and Daily Mail, where he broke down in tears, emphasizing Hogan’s role as a loyal friend beyond their in-ring rivalry. Their friendship, forged in the wrestling business since the late 1970s, weathered professional competition and personal hardships, making Flair’s words a testament to Hogan’s character off-screen.

Brooke Hogan’s Response and Family Tributes

Brooke Hogan, Hulk Hogan’s 37-year-old daughter, has not yet shared a direct public tribute on X or other platforms as of July 24, 2025, based on available information. However, her brother, Nick Hogan (34), posted a heartfelt Father’s Day message in June 2025, calling his father “the goat” alongside a vintage photo, reflecting their close bond. Linda Hogan, Hulk’s ex-wife from 1983 to 2009 and mother to Brooke and Nick, shared a nostalgic photo from 1996 at the NATPE Convention in Las Vegas on July 19, 2025, captioned “The good old days!” This post, made days before Hogan’s passing, underscored the family’s shared history.

The absence of a direct statement from Brooke may reflect the family’s private grieving process, especially given the recent health rumors surrounding Hogan. In May 2025, Hogan underwent neck surgery, and his wife, Sky Daily, whom he married in 2023, denied rumors of him being in a coma, stating his heart was “strong” and he was recovering.

Tributes from Other Wrestling Icons

The wrestling community united in mourning Hogan, with several legends and organizations offering tributes:

• Charlotte Flair: Ric Flair’s daughter and a 14-time WWE Women’s Champion, wrote on X, “When I nearly lost my dad 8 years ago, one of the few people who was there for all of it was Hulk Hogan. My heart breaks for Nick and Brooke. Rest in peace, brother.”
• Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake: A longtime friend, Beefcake expressed devastation, saying, “Through the good times and the bad, I always loved my brother Terry! I am devastated by the loss of my friend, I only wish we had time to mend our broken friendship before his passing.”
• Jake “The Snake” Roberts: The retired wrestler shared, “It’s hard to put into words what Terry ‘Hulk Hogan’ Bollea meant to professional wrestling and entertainment. He may be gone, but his memory and legacy will live forever. RIP Hulkster.”
• Sgt. Slaughter: He posted, “Saddened To Hear About The Passing of Hulk Hogan…I Guess God Needed An Incredible Angel. R.I.P. My Friend.”
• WWE: The organization issued a statement, “WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away. One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s.”
• TNA Wrestling President Carlos Silva: He noted, “Hogan’s name was synonymous with professional wrestling, transcending the industry to become an American pop culture fixture.”

Other figures, like Sylvester Stallone, who inducted Hogan into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005, and Lee Greenwood, who appeared with Hogan at the 2024 Republican National Convention, also paid tribute, highlighting Hogan’s crossover appeal.

Hogan’s Legacy and the Flair-Hogan Rivalry

Hulk Hogan, born in 1953, was a cornerstone of professional wrestling, headlining eight of the first nine WrestleManias and holding the WWF Championship for a record 1,474 days. His “Hulkamania” era in the 1980s, marked by his yellow-and-red gear and catchphrases like “Brother,” propelled wrestling into mainstream pop culture, aided by roles in films like Rocky III. In the 1990s, as “Hollywood” Hogan, he led the New World Order (nWo) in WCW, sparking the Monday Night Wars.

Ric Flair, often called the greatest wrestler by peers like Hogan himself, was his fiercest rival. Their rivalry, though never culminating at WrestleMania due to booking decisions and Hogan’s 1992 hiatus, included iconic matches, such as Hogan’s WCW debut win against Flair at Bash at the Beach 1994 and their 2009 Australian tour, where Hogan won all four encounters. Flair’s technical prowess contrasted with Hogan’s larger-than-life charisma, making their clashes legendary, though some fans on X in 2025 criticized their 2000 WCW matches as lackluster due to their age.

Hogan’s legacy is complex, marred by controversies like a 2015 racism scandal that led to his temporary WWE Hall of Fame removal. Despite this, his impact on wrestling and pop culture remains undeniable, as evidenced by tributes from fans and political figures like Donald Trump Jr. and JD Vance, who called him a “great American icon.”

Implications for the Wrestling Community

Hogan’s death marks the end of an era, as he was a pivotal figure in wrestling’s global rise. For WWE, his passing may prompt retrospectives and tribute events, such as a special Raw episode or Hall of Fame segment, to honor his contributions. For fans, especially those who grew up in the 1980s and 1990s, Hogan’s loss is deeply personal, with X posts reflecting both nostalgia and mixed sentiments due to his controversies. The wrestling community may also rally around Brooke and Nick Hogan, potentially increasing their visibility in wrestling-related events or media.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What did Ric Flair say about Hulk Hogan’s passing?
Flair shared an emotional tribute on X, calling Hogan an “incredible athlete, talent, friend, and father” who supported him during his 2017 hospitalization and his son Reid’s illness, emphasizing their lifelong friendship.

2. Has Brooke Hogan made a public statement about her father’s death?
As of July 24, 2025, Brooke Hogan has not shared a direct public tribute on X or other platforms, though her brother Nick and mother Linda posted nostalgic messages recently.

3. What caused Hulk Hogan’s death?
Hogan reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest at his Clearwater, Florida home on July 24, 2025, and was pronounced dead at the hospital despite emergency response.

4. How did other wrestlers react to Hogan’s passing?
Wrestlers like Charlotte Flair, Brutus Beefcake, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, and Sgt. Slaughter paid tribute, praising Hogan’s impact and personal support, with WWE and TNA also issuing statements.

5. What was the nature of the Fl Quadair-Hogan rivalry?
Flair and Hogan were iconic rivals, competing in WWE (1991-1992), WCW (1994-2000), and a 2009 Australian tour. Their dream WrestleMania match never happened due to booking and Hogan’s hiatus.

6. How did Hogan’s controversies affect his legacy?
A 2015 racism scandal led to Hogan’s temporary WWE Hall of Fame removal, drawing mixed reactions. While some fans criticized him, others, like Flair, focused on his contributions and friendship.

7. What was Hogan’s impact on wrestling?
Hogan’s “Hulkamania” era and nWo storyline made wrestling a global phenomenon, with six WWE championships and two Royal Rumble wins cementing his legacy.

8. Did Hogan and Flair remain friends despite their rivalry?
Yes, Flair’s tribute highlighted their deep friendship, with Hogan supporting Flair through personal crises, including hospital visits and financial help.

9. How did Hogan’s family feature in his career?
Hogan’s reality show Hogan Knows Best (2005-2007) starred Brooke, Nick, and ex-wife Linda, boosting their public profiles. Brooke also appeared at wrestling events with her father.

10. Are there plans to honor Hogan’s legacy?
While no specific plans are confirmed, WWE’s statement and tributes suggest potential tribute shows or Hall of Fame segments to celebrate Hogan’s contributions.

Conclusion

Hulk Hogan’s passing on July 24, 2025, has left an indelible mark on the wrestling world, with Ric Flair’s emotional tribute underscoring their profound friendship and shared history. Brooke Hogan and her family, along with wrestling legends like Charlotte Flair and Brutus Beefcake, join fans in mourning a pop culture icon whose “Hulkamania” redefined wrestling. Despite controversies, Hogan’s legacy as a trailblazer endures, and the wrestling community’s tributes reflect his lasting impact. As WWE and fans reflect on his contributions, Hogan’s memory will live on in the squared circle and beyond.