The July 25 episode of WWE SmackDown was emotional from the start, with the company paying tribute to Hulk Hogan following his death at age 71. But the most surprising moment came after the show ended—when Shane McMahon broke his social media silence with a rare public post honoring the Hulkster.
WWE kicked off SmackDown with the full roster and several legends standing on the ramp. Triple H addressed the crowd before a 10-bell salute rang out in Cleveland. He spoke about Hogan’s legacy, saying that none of them would be standing on that ramp without him. WWE then aired a powerful video tribute, set to Hogan’s Real American theme, narrated by Triple H himself.
Shane McMahon, who rarely posts on social media these days, took to Twitter to reflect on his father’s words and Hogan’s passing.
“My dad could not have been more eloquent about what he wrote about the Hulkster. What a deep loss for us all. Hulk’s legacy is truly immortal. Thank you Terry for everything that you did for both the McMahon and WWE family. We will all miss you. God speed Brother.”
The post came in response to Vince McMahon’s own tribute, which described Hogan as the greatest WWE Superstar of all time and praised his impact on the company and global culture. Shane’s message added a personal layer, thanking Hogan directly and acknowledging the role he played behind the scenes as well.
With SummerSlam approaching, emotions are running high in WWE—and Hogan’s influence continues to be felt in every segment and every storyline.
How do you feel about Shane McMahon speaking out after all this time? Should WWE continue honoring Hogan’s legacy throughout SummerSlam weekend? Drop your thoughts in the comments.