Hulk Hogan paid tribute to The Iron Sheik, who passed away at the age of 81 two days ago.
While Hogan was often the butt of jokes on Sheik’s Twitter with the trademark “F*CK THE HULK HOGAN” and similar rude, yet hilarious tweets, the two were great friends in real life.
“The wrestling world has lost a true legend, and Sheikh’s contributions to our industry will never be forgotten. I’ll always cherish the battles we had in the ring. Our matches were intense, and our rivalry was legendary. We shared a bond that only fellow wrestlers can understand,” Hogan wrote.
Hogan defeated Sheik for the WWF title in January 1984 at Madison Square Garden and kickstarted what came to be known as Hulkamania. The two later feuded in the early 90s as Hogan went after Sgt Slaughter and Sheik joined in as Colonel Mustafa.
“Iron Sheik’s unique charisma, undeniable talent, and unforgettable personality made him an unforgettable figure in the hearts of wrestling fans worldwide. His legacy will continue to inspire generations of wrestlers to come,” Hogan added.
After Sheik retired, he continued to insult Hogan in the media, especially on the Howard Stern show, making for some hilarious moments. One time, Hogan was in studio and the production called Sheik live and the two went at it, with Sheik cutting a promo and calling Hogan a jabroni and many other adjectives…but then said he would forgive Hulk.
“Thank you, I forgive you too Sheik, I love you,” Hogan said. “I love you too man,” Sheik responded as the crew of Howard Stern burst out laughing at Sheik’s instant turn.
Hogan ended his tribute to Sheik writing, “Rest in peace, Iron Sheik. You will always be remembered as a true warrior of the ring.”
Hulk Hogan and the Iron Sheik have an argument on Howard Stern, and then both drop the gimmick and say they love each other. That's wrestling for you. pic.twitter.com/w61WjthAul
— IANdrew Dice Clay (@IANdrewTheGiant) June 7, 2023
