Dennis Rodman Pays Tribute to Wrestling Partner Hulk Hogan After His Death

Chicago Bulls great Dennis Rodman had wrestled alongside WWE legend Hulk Hogan a few times in WCW.

Dennis Rodman Pays Tribute to Wrestling Partner Hulk Hogan After His Death

Dennis Rodman remembers 'friend' Hulk Hogan (Image via FirstSportz)

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WWE legend Hulk Hogan passed away earlier on Thursday (July 24) at the age of 71. For someone who helped establish the entertainment wrestling universe, he had inspired many to join the sport, even a certain NBA star, Dennis Rodman.

Hogan famously brought in Muhammad Ali and Mr. T to the sport’s first-ever WrestleMania. He had a penchant for bringing in celebrities from other sports, and that helped the sport increase its global reach.

Hulk Hogan helped Rodman make his debut in professional wrestling as part of the NWO back in 1997. Then, a year later, the two paired up again, and it became part of the “The Last Dance” documentary.

After his death, Rodman was one of the first to react. For someone who posts once a week or so on social media, the death of his ‘friend’ made the Hall of Famer shout out a tribute on Instagram.

N.W.O. 4 Life Brother. Hulk Hogan, Always and Forever Thank you for the Memories we Created History Great Friend indeed. Keep his family in prayers.

Dennis Rodman wrote on IG

The five-time NBA champion is not one to shy away from proving his loyalty. At a time when most of the NBA is not in tune with the WWE legend over his support of current President Donald Trump, Rodman did not care.

For him, losing a friend who gave him the keys to a different type of high was emotional enough for him to post. Not usually known to chase clout, it seems the Chicago Bulls great was saddened by Hogan’s demise.

Hulk Hogan pulled Dennis Rodman out of the NBA Finals

The first time Hulk Hogan and Dennis Rodman wrestled, it was after the Chicago Bulls won the 1997 NBA title. The second time, it so happened that a WCW Monday Nitro event was taking place in Detroit at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

The only problem was that Rodman was in the middle of the 1998 NBA Finals with his team up 2-1. However, he could not resist Hogan’s offer, as he detailed on the Got Sole podcast.

I’ve known Hulk Hogan for a long time. One day, he came at me and said, ‘Dennis, I want you to be my tag team partner in Detroit,’ and I said, ‘All right, Hulk, I could do that,’ because I could wrestle. He said, ‘Dennis, what you doing? It’s gonna be tomorrow,’ I said, ‘Tomorrow? I got a damn game, man.’

Dennis Rodman recalled

The two-time Defensive Player of the Year recalled Hogan offering his private jet with the promise of sending him back to Chicago as soon as the fight was over. Rodman agreed and was busy beating Diamond Dallas Page with a chair before heading back.

Dennis Rodman wrestled against Karl Malone after winning 1998 title

Rodman’s decision to leave the Chicago Bulls during the NBA Finals for a wrestling bout irked his head coach as well as some teammates. However, he was a freak of nature, and proved it by helping his team win their third straight title.

Dennis Rodman and Hulk Hogan
Dennis Rodman and Hulk Hogan (Image via WWE Archives/X)

During that series, Rodman and Utah Jazz star Karl Malone had a highly publicized skirmish. At the time, it felt as if the two were going at each other to gain the upper hand in that Finals series. After the finals were over, the two took their battles to the WCW.

Again, the Bulls forward teamed up with Hulk Hogan for the Bash at the Beach. They faced Diamond Dallas Page and Karl Malone in a tag team match. It was believed that the payout was good, and it was great entertainment.

However, fans and journalists concluded that Rodman and Malone’s skirmish in the NBA Finals was not a heated battle between them. Instead, it was a trailer for the wrestling bout, casting a cloud over the latter’s mindset in that series.

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