WWE co-founder Vince McMahon in a statement posted on X called Hulk Hogan “the greatest WWE Superstar of ALL TIME, someone who was loved and admired around the world.”

Incredibly high praise given the star-studded roster WWE has produced in the ring and beyond.

But it is also not surprising. Hogan, who died Thursday, July 24, was an integral part of WWE’s popularity and growth for McMahon’s company in the 1980s as hundreds and thousands of fans filled arenas and stadiums to see Hogan perform.

“His grit and unbridled thirst for success were unparalleled – and made him the consummate performer,” wrote McMahon, the former WWE CEO.