Hulk Hogan Reveals One of His Final Conversations With Gene Okerlund

WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan is most certainly viewed as a controversial figure in the world of professional wrestling. In his prime, Hogan was celebrated for his charisma and charm but is now frowned upon by many due to a number of circumstances including, but not limited to, racial comments made by the former Champion.

If there is one subject related to Hogan that fans seem to agree on, it is that of ‘Mean’ Gene Okerlund. Okerlund and Hogan worked wonders together in numerous segments, such as the one we’ve chosen to share below, on WWE TV. The two were great friends on and off the screen up until Okerlund’s death earlier this month.

Hulk Hogan San Francisco Promo 1988

As we now know, Hogan made an appearance on Raw the week following Okerlund’s death. During the appearance, the WWE Hall of Famer gave tribute to his friend and cut a touching promo on Okerlund-putting over several legendary wrestling figures of the past.

In an interview released by People.com, Hogan gave further insight into his reaction to Okerlund’s death. In the process, he also revealed one of the final conversations he ever had with the legendary Okerlund.

Hogan had the following to say on the matter:

“It felt like my Adam’s apple went backward or something, I couldn’t catch my breath. I guess my wife thought I was having a heart attack. It hit me so hard cause I just talked to him a couple weeks before about getting together the weekend when I came back from New Years.”

During that same interview, Hogan was also asked if he was open to returning to in-ring competition. As many fans would assume, Hogan would decline- though he did add he could go with someone like John Cena or Vince McMahon. The worry there is that he’d end up in the hospital afterward.

The WWE Hall of Famer had the following comments:

“I’m too old to wrestle. I embarrassed myself enough out there by moving too slow, so I don’t want to get back in there again. Yeah, I don’t think I could. I could probably wrestle somebody like John Cena or Vince McMahon, but as soon as I’d be done they’d be taking me straight to the hospital to fix something … the body’s too worn out for that.”

Editor’s Note:

For all the criticism Hogan has, I believe his tribute to Okerlund on Raw was fantastic. There was, in my opinion, nobody better to do it. Hogan’s reaction to Okerlund’s death is sad, and I’m glad to know he was able to pick himself up and pay tribute to his friend on television.

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Did you enjoy the Okerlund tribute from Hogan and WWE? What are your fondest memories of Okerlund?

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