FL Wrestlers Reflect On Holk Hogan’s Death In Clearwater

The Florida wrestling community is grieving after legend Hulk Hogan died Thursday morning while at his Clearwater home, according to a statement published on his Facebook profile. He was 71.

"It is with a heavy heart and deep sadness that we confirm we have lost a legend. Our beloved Terry Bollea, known worldwide as Hulk Hogan, passed away today surrounded by his loved ones," the statement read.

Emergency medical technicians responded to Hogan's home for a report of a cardiac arrest just before 10 a.m., police said. He was treated for a "serious medical issue" by Clearwater Fire and Rescue crews before being taken by Sunstar to Morton Plant Hospital, where he died at 11:17 a.m.

Hogan was a well known figure in the greater Tampa Bay area and the Florida wrestling community.

Al Schaefer, a Pasco County resident, was taken aback when he heard the news about Hogan’s death.

“I was absolutely stunned just to think about what we lost … his impact on wrestling,” he told Patch.

Schaefer, who wrestled as Sonny Blaze for several years, recalls his first time attending a World Wrestling Federation match that was being filmed in upstate New York in 1989.

“I was sitting in the locker room — I didn’t wrestle that night, but I got paid; they didn’t need me - and Jesse Ventura, Gov. Ventura, walked by,” Schaefer said. “Right behind him was Hulk Hogan and it was like a surreal thing, because, again it’s, Hulk Hogan, and I thought, ‘What am I doing here? That’s Hulk Hogan. That was the very first time I saw him.”

• See Also: Police Release Details On Hulk Hogan's Death

While he was never close with Hogan, the famous wrestler was always supportive of Schaefer.

“He was always very kind to me and you would never know that there was any difference in our status,” he said. “Every time we would see me it was, ‘Hey brother, life treating you good?’”

Schaefer added, “He never came across as guarded. I walked by him once while he was going over a match with Sergeant Slaughter and he saw me and just said, ‘Hey Sonny,’ and went back to it. In show business, that’s a pretty big deal. It’s like the start of a TV show stopping to say hello to an extra. My eyes welled up when I got the news (about his death.)”

Brian Blair, a Tampa wrestler best known as being one half of The Killer Bees tag team and who today leads the nonprofit Cauliflower Alley Club, an organization that assists former wrestlers, first befriended Hogan nearly 50 years ago.

"First and foremost I pray for Terry's family's comfort, I feel so sad for them,” he told Patch.
Blair even got to know Hogan’s parents, Pete and Ruth, well.

He recalls the early days of their friendship, when he was just 17 years old. He snuck into the Other Place lounge to watch Hogan “play bass guitar in his huge platforms and mother’s jewelry,” Blair said.

The pair met when they were both just teenage wrestling fans, far from the pros they would become.
“He liked to heckle the wrestlers in the Armory in Tampa … as I would just sit there and take it all in,”

Blair said. “We broke into the business with (Japanese wrestler) Hiro Matsuda in the Dungeon at 106 North Albany Street. I had Terry's first matches in Chiefland and (Fort Myers,) and I went to Oklahoma and he went to Pensacola. Lots of things happened in between but we didn't hook up again until New York, where we worked for Vince McMahon Sr. under the banner WWWF.”
While their careers occasionally took them in different directions, Hogan was influential in connecting Blair with Jimmy Brunzell, his Killer Bees partner.

Hogan was also one of Blair’s best men in his wedding to Toni Sabella.

“We spent so much time with our wives and the kids when they were young; so much time in his various boats and jet skis; we got our Harleys from Willie G. Davidson together while working in the first season of Saturday night's main event for NBC. We were in (Los Angeles) at the time,” Blair said. “I still have that Harley, even though I can't ride it right now. Terry was always there for me! I always call Terry ‘Ichiban,’ which means number one in Japanese. He was big in Japan and that's what they called him. I was also on numerous tours in Japan but they never called me Ichiban.”

The two have been close for decades, including when Blair’s oldest son, Brett, was murdered.

“Terry was there for me. When he was going through difficult times I was there for him. Terry called me almost every day that I was in the hospital with osteomyelitis. He called three different doctors for me before I wound up with the best spine surgeon in the world, Dr. Alikhani at (Tampa General Hospital,)” Blair said. “I was paralyzed and had to learn to walk again, Terry was always supporting me via phone calls or visits. He loved my parents and my family and we all loved him and his family! There will never be another Hulk Hogan. He is the ‘Immortal One,’ as his name will live forever!”

Wrestler Ric Flair also reflected on Hogan’s death in a social media post.

“I am absolutely shocked to hear about the passing of my close friend Hulk Hogan! Hulk has been by my side since we started in the wrestling business. An incredible athlete, talent, friend, and father! Our friendship has meant the world to me. He was always there for me even when I didn't ask for him to be. He was one of the first to visit me when I was in the hospital with a 2 (percent) chance of living, and he prayed by my bedside. Hulk also lent me money when Reid was sick. Hulkster, no one will ever compare to you! Rest in peace my friend!”

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