In the wake of Hulk Hogan’s death, the wrestling world has been split between paying tribute and resurfacing past controversies. WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley shared the following message: “I wish we in the wrestling community could all agree not to respond negatively to a wrestler’s death for a minimum of 72 hours… No one’s family should be subjected to such criticism after losing a loved one.”
Foley also shared heartfelt memories and reflections on Hulk Hogan following the news of his passing, during an interview with WRAL. Foley, who admitted he had just learned of Hogan’s death, spoke with a mixture of shock and reverence for one of wrestling’s most iconic figures. “Well, it was almost shock because he was one of those guys who was larger than life,” Foley said. “You just assumed… and he didn’t appear to age. So, you never thought that the last time you saw Hulk Hogan would be the final time you saw Hulk Hogan.”
Foley and Hogan had their differences over the years, but Foley revealed that the two were able to reconcile after decades of tension. “It was a show, but I believe he was 100% sincere because he not only apologized to me for something that was said at least 25 years earlier, but he insisted on apologizing to me a second time,” he said. “I accepted it and I considered him a friend before that, but it definitely helped bond. It was a nice bonding moment for us.”
When asked to recall personal memories beyond their reconciliation, Foley offered two stories that stood out. One was a conversation with Hogan’s daughter at a convention, where he felt he got to know Hogan better through her and his autobiography. The other was a touching story shared by a friend who had worked with Hogan during his WWE days.
“My friend said those kids from Make-A-Wish and other Wish organizations, they’d go in there and they’d just be beaming,” Foley recalled. “You can’t fake the type of joy that Hulk brought to those kids. Like, that was real in his heart, which is why it seemed so effortless. He made a lot of people happy above and beyond what he did in the ring. He was great to those children. That’s his legacy to me. That’s his legacy.”
Foley reflected on how Hogan’s larger-than-life presence impacted not just wrestling fans but even his own alma mater, North Carolina. “We actually use him in setting our examples,” Foley said, drawing a parallel between Hogan and current stars like Caitlin Clark. “Not everyone liked it when Hulk came into town, but it was a sense of like hold on because we’re going to greater heights than we ever imagined and this is the guy doing it. That’s what he did for us.”
Hogan’s later years were marked by controversy, including a widely publicized scandal. When asked how he views the man behind the persona, Foley was measured in his response.
“I got some heat at the time for sending out a message saying I know he’s a good man who made a mistake. I think we all make mistakes,” Foley said. “I thought he was a good man – an imperfect man – who did a lot of good in the world. And that’s how I choose to look at it.”
Looking back, Foley said he’ll always remember what Hogan meant to wrestling fans. “I’ll be thinking about the times that I went to Madison Square Garden – not as a Hulkamaniac per se… but when that music hit, I was all in. I was a Hulkamaniac for those few minutes,” he said. “He electrified a crowd like no other. And the lessons that we learned from him, we’ve passed down to the next generations.”
Foley ended with a bittersweet memory. “It was like every time I talked to him – ‘Hey brother, we’re going to get together for that dinner.’ ‘Yes. Yes, yes we are.’ We never did get together for that dinner, but we were always thinking about it.”
Then, with a message to viewers, he added, “Maybe that’s something we can send to people. If you haven’t talked to somebody in a while, make sure you do it.”
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