Greg Gutfeld Emotionally Farewells Hulk Hogan: “My Childhood’s Invincible Icon Is No More”
In an unusually somber moment on Fox News’ Gutfeld!, host Greg Gutfeld — a man rarely seen without a smirk or sardonic remark — fell silent as the screen behind him displayed an image that stunned millions: a tribute to Hulk Hogan, the wrestling legend whose larger-than-life persona shaped generations.
The news of Hogan’s unexpected passing sent shockwaves through fans across the globe, but none perhaps felt it more personally than Gutfeld, who opened his Monday night show not with humor, but with heartbreak.
“He was my childhood hero,” Gutfeld said quietly, visibly holding back emotion. “An unyielding icon who made me believe good always triumphs. And now, he’s gone.”
Gone was the usual biting satire and political jest. For the first time in recent memory, the audience saw a different Greg — not the commentator, not the entertainer, but the kid from the ’80s who once sat cross-legged on a shag carpet, eyes wide, watching Hulk Hogan slam giants to the mat and point to the sky as “Real American” blasted through the TV speakers.
“He was invincible to me,” Gutfeld continued. “When he ripped his shirt apart, I believed nothing could hurt him. And when he got hurt — when he bled — it wasn’t weakness. It was proof that even heroes fight through pain.”
As photos and clips of Hogan’s iconic moments played — from WrestleMania showdowns to interviews brimming with charisma — Gutfeld’s voice softened, and the studio grew quieter than it ever had.
“I remember one night, I had just lost a school competition. I came home, crushed. And then I turned on the TV and there he was — Hogan, fighting Andre the Giant. He got knocked down again and again, but he kept getting back up. That moment, more than anything a teacher ever told me, taught me what resilience looks like.”
The segment, which lasted nearly ten minutes, became an unplanned eulogy — raw, personal, and without the veneer of showbiz polish. It wasn’t about politics or pop culture. It was about a boyhood connection that had endured for decades.
Social media lit up in the aftermath, with fans from all walks of life sharing their own stories. One tweet read, “Greg Gutfeld just made us all cry tonight. We were all that kid, cheering Hulk on. RIP legend.” Another said, “You could see how real it was. Not just a tribute — a piece of his soul just broke on national TV.”
While tributes poured in from wrestlers, celebrities, and public figures, Gutfeld’s words stood out for their vulnerability. In a world often driven by irony and spectacle, he reminded viewers that heroes — real or imagined — can shape our moral compass, our sense of hope, and even our identity.
As the segment closed, Gutfeld looked directly into the camera, a rare stillness in his eyes.
“They say don’t meet your heroes. I never got to meet Hulk Hogan. But maybe that’s okay. Because in my mind — in that sacred space where boys become men through the myths they hold dear — he’ll always be there. Raising that hand. Hulking up. Fighting for the good guys.”
With that, the screen faded to black. And for a brief, powerful moment, the noise of the world gave way to memory, and to mourning — not just for a man in spandex, but for the childhoods he inspired, and the dreams he helped ignite.
Hulkamania may never run wild again. But for Greg Gutfeld, and millions like him, it never really ended.
