Hulk Hogan Dead: Sylvester Stallone’s Heartbreaking Tribute to ‘Rocky 3’ Rival

On July 24, wrestler and entertainer Hulk Hogan passed away at the age of 71. A true icon in the wrestling world, he was also well-known for his various roles in movies and TV shows such as “Thunder in Paradise,” “Baywatch,” “The A-Team,” “Gremlins 2,” and “Rocky 3.”

His death has prompted a flood of reactions from his fans and celebrities who knew the wrestling legend. Sylvester Stallone, who faced off against Hogan in the third installment of the Rocky Balboa saga, paid a heartfelt tribute to him on his Instagram account.

“I had the pleasure of meeting this brilliant personality and showman when he was 26 years old. He was absolutely wonderful and his incredible talent made Rocky III especially unique. My heart is broken,” Stallone expressed.

I had the pleasure of meeting this brilliant personality and showman when he was 26 years old. He was absolutely wonderful and his incredible talent made Rocky III especially unique.

A Legendary and Spectacular Scene

In 1982, Hulk Hogan made his big-screen debut in “Rocky 3.” His wrestling match against Stallone remains one of the film’s most unforgettable moments. Initially, before Clubber Lang becomes Rocky’s main adversary, we see our famous boxer, basking in his world champion title.

He has become a true celebrity and participates in charity events to maintain his popularity and public image. One of these events is an exhibition match organized to raise funds for charity. Rocky is set to face a professional wrestler named Thunderlips, played by Hulk Hogan. At the time, he was credited under his real name, Terry Bollea.

Presented as a towering, over-the-top, and arrogant giant, Thunderlips is ready to do whatever it takes to put on a show. The match against the wrestler comes after a series of easy victories for Rocky, highlighting his growing fame and his detachment from the “real” ring. After being roughed up in a fight that is as violent as it is comedic, Rocky and Thunderlips shake hands, showing that it was all part of the entertainment.

The sequence effectively illustrates that Rocky has now become a commercial product and has lost his “eye of the tiger,” the one he had in the first two films. It also serves as a contrast to the rest of the story, where Clubber Lang, much more dangerous, brings Rocky back to the reality of combat sports.

Eloquent Tributes

Following his successful cinematic debut, Hulk Hogan continued to appear frequently on both the big and small screens, gradually building his legend. Among other tributes to the wrestler, Vince McMahon, former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), has also commemorated him.

“The world lost a treasure today. Hulk Hogan was the greatest WWE superstar of all time, someone who was loved and admired around the world. He was a pioneer, the first performer to transition from a wrestling star to a global phenomenon. He leaves us with one of his favorite sayings: ‘Train, take your vitamins, and say your prayers.’ Today, we pray for him,” said Vince McMahon.

A fervent supporter of former U.S. President Donald Trump, Hulk Hogan also received an official tribute from the White House. “We lost a great friend today, the ‘Hulkster.’ He was strong, tough, clever but with a big heart. He thrilled fans all over the world, and his cultural impact was immense,” reacted the President of the United States.