Back on March 17, 2002, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson squared off against the one and only Hulk Hogan in the main event of WrestleMania X8, a match that’s still talked about in WWE history. Just a day after the news of Hogan’s death at the age of 71 spread, Johnson took to social media to remember his childhood hero, paying tribute to the incredible moments they shared over the years.
Growing up surrounded by wrestling, thanks to his father, Rocky Johnson, Dwayne’s path crossed with Hogan in the heyday of WWE, back when it was still known as WWF.
In his heartfelt post, Johnson penned, “Rest in Peace, Terry Bollea aka The Immortal Hulk Hogan.” He added, “To millions of kids out there, including me, you were a true hero.” You can check out his tribute [here](https://x.com/TheRock/status/1948703132877304080).
Johnson vividly recalls a memorable night in 1984 at Madison Square Garden when Hogan tossed his signature “HULKSTER” headband into the crowd. Dwayne was lucky enough to catch it and return it to Hogan later in the locker room. Hogan was pleasantly surprised and promised him another headband as a token of gratitude. “A month later, in that same venue, you kept your promise. You said ‘thanks kid’ with a handshake, and that meant everything to a 12-year-old me,” Johnson remembered.
After venturing off to WCW in 1994, Hogan made his grand return to WWE in 2002, kicking off an electrifying program with Johnson. This set the stage for their epic “Icon vs. Icon” showdown at WrestleMania X8.
Reflecting on that remarkable night, Johnson shared, “Seventeen years later, as a 29-year-old, I found myself in the ring against you, facing one of my idols in the main event of WRESTLEMANIA. It was a match that aimed to establish the greatest of all time.” He recounted, “When you survived my Rock Bottom finisher, you could just feel the energy in the arena going wild. The reaction was purely for you. It was an unforgettable moment for me.”
As WrestleMania 41 approaches, WWE has acknowledged The Rock vs. Hogan clash as the third-best match in WrestleMania history.
Johnson wrapped up his tribute with gratitude, saying, “You may have passed the torch to me that night, but you were the one who truly ‘drew the house’, selling out venues all over and earning your place as the greatest. From the depths of my heart, I want to say, on behalf of all us wrestling fans who love this world: Thank you for everything, brother.”
