Cyndi Lauper Honors Wrestling Legends on Tour—But Leaves Out Hulk Hogan After His Death

Hulk Hogan’s death is still fresh—he passed away just days ago—but not everyone is rushing to honor his legacy. One surprising omission came from Cyndi Lauper during her farewell tour stop in Cincinnati, where she reflected on her early wrestling connections but noticeably left Hogan out of the conversation.

After her first song, Lauper took a moment to reminisce about her time working with wrestlers during the 1980s. She brought up names like Captain Lou Albano, Roddy Piper, The Iron Sheik, Classy Freddie Blassie, and Andre the Giant. She spoke fondly about how much fun she had with them during that era of her career. The crowd reportedly responded with loud cheers for Piper and Andre.

But despite Hulk Hogan being one of the most prominent figures tied to her in the Rock ‘n’ Wrestling connection and a central part of the WrestleMania boom she helped ignite, Lauper made no mention of him. There was no reference to WWE, WrestleMania, or even the promotion by name—just a selective nod to some of the men she worked with.

The timing of her comments made the absence more glaring. Hogan had passed away just days before after suffering from a slew of health complications. Hogan’s condition deteriorated rapidly following neck surgery in May. He was intubated, dealing with renal failure, fluid overload, and severe COPD. Doctors eventually determined there was little more they could do, and he was moved from Tampa General Hospital back home, where medical equipment was set up for end-of-life care.

Hogan’s home had essentially become a hospital during his final days. His condition worsened to the point that he couldn’t speak. On the morning of July 24, emergency responders were called to his Clearwater, Florida home for a cardiac arrest. Hogan was stretchered out and later pronounced dead at the age of 71.

While fans, colleagues, and the wrestling industry have offered tributes in various forms, Lauper’s choice to exclude Hogan—even while naming others from the same era—didn’t go unnoticed. Whether it was intentional or simply a case of selective memory, the snub raised eyebrows.

What do you make of Lauper’s omission so soon after Hogan’s death? Do you think it was a pointed move, or just an awkward oversight? Sound off with your thoughts and reactions in the comments below.