The wrestling world continues to mourn the passing of one of its most iconic figures, Hulk Hogan, who died last Thursday, July 24, at the age of 71. Tributes have poured in from every corner of the globe, with friends, rivals, and fans sharing their memories of “The Hulkster.” One of the most poignant tributes has come from one of Hogan’s greatest rivals, Sting, who recently spoke to Big Time Wrestling about Hogan’s immense impact on his career and the industry as a whole.
“He Brought Everyone Up to New Levels”
Speaking publicly for the first time since Hogan’s passing, Sting was emotional as he reflected on the man who was both his on-screen nemesis and his real-life friend. He made it clear that despite their legendary feud, his overriding feeling for Hogan was love and respect, crediting him for elevating the entire wrestling business.
“Hulk means so much to me. I’m glad I got this opportunity to talk about it. This is my first opportunity to say that I love Hulk Hogan. I still love him. I’m going to miss him,” Sting said. “He was a contributor to the wrestling industry as a whole like no one else. He brought everyone else up to new levels. He brought Sting up to new levels.”
Sting’s words underscore the monumental impact of Hulkamania, which transcended the wrestling bubble and made Hogan a global superstar, raising the profile and profitability of the industry for everyone involved.
Remembering a Record-Breaking Rivalry
The rivalry between the dark, silent “Crow” Sting and the villainous “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan was the central conflict that defined the nWo era in WCW. Their feud captivated millions during the Monday Night Wars and led to some of the biggest business moments in wrestling history, culminating in their main event match at Starrcade 1997. Sting acknowledged the incredible success they achieved together.
“Sting-Hogan, we broke attendance records all over the United States. We had record-breaking pay-per-view buy rates. Nintendo games,” he recalled. “If you look at what he did, he transcended wrestling. He was the first.”
This partnership in rivalry created a boom period for WCW, making it the number one wrestling company in the world for 83 consecutive weeks, a feat largely driven by the must-see nWo storyline with Hogan and Sting at its core.
The King of Kings Arrives in WCW
Before they were rivals, Hogan’s arrival in WCW in 1994 was a massive shift in the wrestling landscape. Sting, who was the established face of the company at the time, remembered the locker room sentiment and his own perspective on Hogan joining the promotion. He dismissed the idea that he was being pushed aside, instead recognizing the immense value Hogan brought.
“When Hogan first came into WCW, some of the guys would say, ‘Man, don’t you feel like the office has you stepping aside for Hulk? I said, ‘No, I don’t feel like that at all. I feel like we have the King of Kings here. Hulk Hogan is going to help put butts in seats. We’re all going to make more money. We’re all going to get better ratings. It’s going to be good all the way around.’”
Sting also shared a story illustrating their long-standing mutual respect, noting that years earlier, Hogan and Vince McMahon were watching one of his promos, and Hogan told Vince, “We have to get that guy.”
Sting’s heartfelt words join a chorus of tributes from across the entertainment landscape that have continued to pour in since Hogan’s passing last Thursday. A public memorial service has been announced by Hogan’s family to be held next week in his hometown of Tampa, Florida, which is expected to be attended by many of the legendary figures, like Sting, whose careers were so profoundly impacted by “The Hulkster.”
