WWE Pays Tribute to Hulk Hogan on ‘SmackDown’: ‘He Captivated Millions of People’

WWE paid tribute to Hulk Hogan on this week’s episode of “SmackDown.”

Hogan, who passed away at age 71 on Thursday, was honored during the broadcast with an opening segment featuring a large number of WWE stars and personnel standing at the top of the “SmackDown” entrance ramp. Along with current stars like Cody Rhodes and Jacob Fatu, WWE legends like Jimmy Hart and Sgt. Slaughter were present.

As the crowd repeatedly chanted “Hogan,” WWE chief content officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque said, “Ladies and gentlemen, yesterday we lost one of the biggest and most globally recognized icons in the world. A man I grew up watching, was fortunate enough to share the ring with, and like so many of us were honored to call a friend.”

“The truth is, he captivated millions of people and inspired them around the globe,” he continued. “We would not be standing here right now, all of us together, if it was not for him.” The crowd then stood silent as a ten bell salute rang out in the arena. A highlight reel of Hogan’s career followed, narrated by Levesque.

Watch the video below.

Hogan, a.k.a. Terry Bollea, helped WWE (then WWF) become the powerhouse it is today. When Vince McMahon Jr. took the company from a regional promotion to a national one in the 1980s, Hogan was the face of the company for years and headlined multiple WrestleManias, including the very first. With legions of Hulkamaniacs behind him, Hogan told his fans to “train, say your prayers, and eat your vitamins.”

Hogan held the WWE Heavyweight Championship six times in his career, memorably winning it for the first time against The Iron Sheik and holding it for over four years. His other notable opponents in WWE included Andre the Giant, Roddy Piper, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

Hogan also famously wrestled for WWE competitor World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in the 1990s, turning heel (wrestling parlance for bad guy) and becoming Hollywood Hulk Hogan as a member of the New World Order (NWO). He has also wrestled for promotions like New Japan Pro Wrestling and TNA.

According to the Clearwater Police Department in Florida, Hogan died Thursday morning due to cardiac arrest. He was treated by a rescue crew before being taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.