Hulk Hogan's tribute to open WWE SmackDown on Friday evening was nothing in need of a tear-jerker.
The occasion in Cleveland was opened with loud applause, with the group chanting “Hogan” in unison to honor the late wrestler who died at 71 years outdated on Thursday.
Fellow wrestler Triple H led the tribute for Hogan.
To begin his speech, he mentioned the WWE neighborhood “misplaced one of many greatest and most globally acknowledged icons on this planet.”
“A person I grew up watching, was lucky to share the ring with, and, like so many people, have been honored to name a good friend,” Triple H, who now serves because the WWE's chief content material officer, mentioned.
Triple H — whose actual identify is Paul Levesque — additionally mentioned how Hogan impressed tens of millions of individuals “across the globe.”
Dozens of essentially the most outstanding WWE members stood behind Triple H on stage, with an in memoriam banner of Hogan within the background.
“The one, the immortal, Hulk Hogan,” he concluded.
A ten-bell salute for Hogan then adopted, which met with roaring applause shortly after.
The tribute then ended with a video montage going by way of Hogan's life and his lengthy profession in wrestling.
