Just hours after WWE honored Hulk Hogan on SmackDown, New Japan Pro Wrestling paid their own respects to the wrestling legend during Saturday’s G1 Climax event in Tokyo. Hogan’s NJPW debut came in 1980. He wrestled there until 1985, returned in the early 1990s, and made one final appearance in 2003 when he faced Masahiro Chono.
The tribute featured a solemn in-ring ceremony with NJPW President Hiroshi Tanahashi and legendary referee Tiger Hattori standing beside a framed photo of Hogan. The NJPW roster encircled the ring for a 10-bell salute in memory of the man who helped shape global wrestling in the 1980s.
Hattori, who had a deep personal connection with Hogan, spoke backstage about their long history – which began even before Hogan became a professional wrestler:
“Personally, I can’t believe it. It was too soon, to be honest. Before he became a professional wrestler, I lived in Tampa, Florida for 17 years, and Hogan’s mother happened to live near my house. So I was about 17 when I first met him. I was in my second year of high school or something like that.
So I was teaching amateur wrestling at Hiro Matsuda’s gym. He came there as a student, but after about 6 months he broke his leg. I thought he had disappeared, but then he started coming back. After a while he went to Georgia to make his debut, and then he came back to his hometown of Tampa.
He was definitely outstanding, more than your average wrestler. He was big in size, but I don’t know, I think he was just a little different. He had such great success so it’s sad that he passed away so early, but I have a lot of respect for him as a professional wrestler.
I bet he’s up there again wrestling in heaven. We’ve lost a truly wonderful person. I hope we’ll see another wrestler like him. I want to say thank you for all the great times we had.”
You can watch it below:
ハルク・ホーガンさんの追悼セレモニー
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