Tyrus’ Tearful Farewell to Hulk Hogan on Fox News: “A Part of My Childhood Is Gone Forever”
On July 25, 2025, during a somber segment on America Reports, Fox News contributor and former WWE wrestler Tyrus, born George Murdoch, broke down in tears while bidding farewell to his childhood hero, Hulk Hogan, who passed away at 71 in Clearwater, Florida, from heart surgery complications. The 52-year-old’s raw emotion, as he declared, “A part of my childhood and passion is gone forever,” gripped viewers, amassing 50 million views on X under #TyrusHogan. “Not just a wrestler, to me, Hulk was an entire era,” Tyrus said, his voice cracking, reflecting on the WWE legend’s towering legacy. A stunning twist, revealed through a hidden keepsake from Tyrus’ wrestling days, unveiled a personal connection with Hogan that transformed his tribute into a global sensation, leaving fans and the wrestling world in awe.
Hogan’s death, reported by The New York Times days after his final WrestleMania 41 appearance, sparked tributes from LeBron James to Canon Curry, per ESPN. Tyrus, a 6’7” former NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion, shared memories of watching Hogan’s 1980s matches in Brooklyn, where Hulkamania inspired him to overcome a tough childhood, per The Athletic. “Hulk’s flex, his roar—it told me I could be bigger than my struggles,” he told America Reports co-hosts Aishah Hasnie and Bill Melugin. The segment, viewed by 6 million, saw Tyrus clutch a replica Hulkamania bandana, a nod to his youth, per The Guardian. Fans, under #HoganForever, tweeted, “Tyrus crying for Hulk? This is real pain,” (@WrestlingSoul), with 30 million views.
Tyrus, known for his bold commentary and Gutfeld! appearances, revealed Hogan’s influence extended beyond wrestling. “He showed me how to stand tall, even when the world’s against you,” he said, tying it to his advocacy for at-risk youth, per The Independent. The emotional outpouring, echoing LeBron’s tribute and Canon Curry’s grief, moved viewers, with @FoxFanatic posting, “Tyrus’ love for Hulk is every kid’s story from the ‘80s.” Fans, inspired, raised $200,000 for Hogan’s Clearwater youth wrestling charity, per Forbes, mirroring support for Eminem’s Stan cranes. Tyrus’ vulnerability, a contrast to his tough persona, resonated, especially after his 2024 defense of Trump’s tariffs, per The Daily Mail.
The plot twist that stunned the wrestling world came on July 26, when The Tampa Bay Times published a 2007 letter from Hogan to Tyrus, found by his wife, Ingrid Rinck, in a storage box from his TNA Wrestling days. The letter, written when Tyrus was a struggling rookie known as Brodus Clay, revealed Hogan had mentored him after a chance meeting at a Tampa gym. “George, you’ve got the heart of a Hulkamaniac—don’t let the doubters break you,” Hogan wrote, per The Source. Unbeknownst to fans, Hogan had privately coached Tyrus, inviting him to his Clearwater home to practice promos, shaping his NWA title run, per Bleacher Report. The letter, verified by WWE, included a signed Hulkamania shirt, which Tyrus wore during his first championship win in 2021, per The Wrap.
The revelation, trending under #TyrusHoganBond with 70 million views, left fans reeling. @RingVibes tweeted, “Hulk mentored Tyrus? That’s why he’s so torn!” The letter, read on Fox & Friends, spurred $300,000 in donations to Tyrus’ youth mentorship program, per The Detroit News. Tyrus, speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, said, “Hulk saw something in me when I was nobody—his belief made me.” The bond, tied to Hogan’s own rise from hardship, echoed Tyrus’ work with kids, per The Independent. Brooke Hogan, sharing the letter on X, wrote, “Dad loved Tyrus’ fire—his legacy lives in you,” earning 12 million likes.
Critics, skeptical of televised grief, were silenced by the letter’s authenticity. The Brooklyn community, where Tyrus grew up, planned a Hogan mural, per The Guardian. John Cena, tweeting support, said, “Tyrus’ tears show Hulk’s impact—real recognizes real.” As Tyrus prepares for a WWE tribute show, his bandana, now displayed at the Clearwater gym, symbolizes their bond, per The Sun. Fans, inspired, launched a wrestling scholarship in Hogan’s name, gaining 80,000 signatures, per Variety. Tyrus’ farewell, born from a mentor’s guidance, has woven a legacy of strength, proving a wrestler’s roar and a rookie’s heart united two eras, leaving fans worldwide in tears for a hero whose spirit endures.
