WWE Honors Hulk Hogan with Video Tribute, 10-Bell Salute at SmackDown

WWE honored Hall of Famer and professional wrestling icon Hulk Hogan on Friday, one day after his passing at 71 years old.

Triple H began the show on the top of the ramp in Cleveland flanked by many members of the WWE roster and numerous legends, including Sgt. Slaughter and Ted DiBiase. He began with a speech before a 10-bell salute rang throughout Rocket Arena. WWE then aired a Hulk Hogan tribute video:

Hogan transcended pro wrestling and became a massive pop culture icon in the 1980s, starring in the squared circle and even in the big screen as well over time. His popularity still reigned decades later, and he's one of the most identifiable wrestlers in history.

In regards to his active wrestling career, Hogan first won the WWE Championship in January 1984, and he ultimately took the belt six times. One year later, Hogan starred in the first-ever WrestleMania with Mr. T, defeating "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff. WrestleMania, of course, is now pro wrestling's biggest and most iconic event. Hogan ended up being in the WrestleMania main event eight times, including WrestleMania 3 against Andre the Giant.

Hogan jumped to WCW in 1994, and two years later, he reinvented himself (and shocked the world) by turning heel and forming New World Order with Scott Hall and Kevin Nash. It was a stunning turn of events, and nWo was the headliner for WCW during the famed Monday Night Wars with WWE in the late 1990s.

Hogan ended up winning the WCW World Heavyweight championship six times. He returned back to WWE in 2002 and won the heavyweight title on one more occasion. He left WWE in 2003 and came back in 2005. Hogan's final wrestling match for WWE occurred in SummerSlam in 2006 against Randy Orton, a win.

Hogan later made appearances for Memphis Wrestling (2007-2008) and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2009-2013). He returned to WWE in 2014 and made in-ring appearances, but his contract was terminated after audio of Hogan making anti-Black statements was released by the National Enquirer.

He returned to WWE in late 2018 and made appearances here and there over the next seven years, including as host of WrestleManias 35 and 37.

Hogan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 and then once again in 2020 as a member of nWo.