Dwayne Johnson recalls how Hulk Hogan kept promise to him at 12 in powerful tribute: 'Meant the world'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson is remembering a childhood moment that turned into a lifelong memory after the death of wrestling icon Hulk Hogan.

The actor and former WWE star paid tribute early Friday, July 25, in an emotional Instagram post following Hogan’s death.

Dwayne Johnson says Hulk Hogan kept a promise made at Madison Square Garden

Dwayne Johnson reflected on a personal encounter from when he was 12, as well as the time they shared the ring at WrestleMania.

Johnson shared that in 1984, during a match at Madison Square Garden, he caught a “HULKSTER” headband thrown into the crowd by Hogan. After the match, he gave it back to the wrestler in the locker room.

“In 1984, I gave you your ‘HULKSTER’ headband back, in the locker room in Madison Square Garden – I was the lucky kid caught it when you threw it in the crowd,” Johnson wrote.

“You were wrestling ‘Mr Wonderful’, Paul Orndorff that night in the main event. You were shocked and so happy after the match because you told me that was your very last headband and if it weren’t for me, you’d have no way of getting that exact one made again," he further wrote in an emotional yet powerful tribute. 

Johnson said Hogan made him a promise that night.

“You promised me that you would get more made and give me a Hulkster headband of my own as a thank you gift,” he wrote.

“A month later in Madison Square Garden, you did just that. You kept your word, with a handshake and a ‘thanks kid’. And that meant the world to that little 12 year old boy.”

Dwayne Johnson remembers wrestling his hero Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 18

Nearly two decades later, Johnson would go on to share the main event stage with Hogan in the highly anticipated “Icon vs Icon” match at WrestleMania 18 in 2002.

“Just 17 years later, and still a kid at the age of 29 years old — I’m standing in the middle of the ring and facing you – one of my wrestling heroes in the main event of WRESTLEMANIA,” Johnson recalled.

“The match was to decide who would go down in history, as The Greatest of All Time," he recalled.

 He also recalled one defining moment from the match that still stands out in his memory.

“When you kick out of my Rock Bottom finisher – just listen and FEEL that crowd go ELECTRIC… all for you. I’ve never felt anything like that in my entire wrestling career. It takes two to tango, but that historic crowd reaction was all for you," Johnson wrote.

Dwayne Johnson thanks Hulk Hogan for legacy: ‘You drew the house’

In the final part of his tribute, Johnson acknowledged Hogan’s legendary status and his unmatched ability to fill arenas during his career.

“You may have ‘passed the torch’ to me that night, but you, my friend… you ‘drew the house’ meaning you sold out every arena and stadium across the country in your prime as Hulk Hogan, on your way of becoming the greatest of all time,” Johnson wrote.

“From deep in my bones, and on behalf of this wild and crazy world of professional wrestling that we love, I say to you now, and forever… Thank you for the house, brother… Thank you, for the house,” he concluded.

Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, died on Thursday, July 24, at the age of 71 following a cardiac arrest at his home in Clearwater, Florida.

US Weekly, citing a source, had shared in June that Hogan had undergone a serious heart surgery and had been recovering well.