Tribute to Hulk Hogan by Brutus “Barber” Beefcake

WWE Hall of Famer Brutus “Barber” Beefcake has shared a longstanding friendship with Hulk Hogan, spanning nearly five decades.

When Beefcake first entered the wrestling world in the late 1970s, he went by Ed Boulder and formed a tag team with Hogan, who had adopted the name Terry Boulder.

Beefcake’s real name is Terry Borea, while Hogan was born Ed Leslie. Interestingly, Hogan had been a high school wrestler before making his mark in the wrestling industry.

Reflecting on his friend Hogan, who passed away at 71 on Thursday morning after reportedly battling health issues, Beefcake expressed his regret during an interview. He had hoped to visit Hogan one last time. “I was about to go to his house a few days ago,” he shared. His wife encouraged him to go, but he hesitated. “I was thinking, ‘Oh, my God,’ but if I went and he said, ‘No, you can’t enter,’” he reflected, feeling he missed the chance to see him before he passed.

Police reported that a medical professional arrived five minutes after receiving a cardiac arrest call from Clearwater, Florida, at 9:51 a.m. Hogan was declared deceased at 11:17 a.m.

Beefcake fondly remembered Hogan as a devoted friend.

“Hogan flew across the country to be with me after a parasailing accident on July 4, 1990, when I suffered severe facial injuries that required 16 hours of surgery,” Beefcake recounted. “I wasn’t expected to survive, and he left his family in California—his wife had just given birth to their son Nick—to be by my side. The doctor thought I wouldn’t make it, but Hogan didn’t leave me alone.”

He remembers waking from a drug-induced coma to Hogan’s reassuring words: “Don’t even think about it, Brutus; you’re going to live.” And he did.

Years later, Hogan would induct Beefcake into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2019. “I owe him everything,” Beefcake said, highlighting the deep bond they shared.