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AEW Finally Addresses Hulk Hogan’s Passing

By Monika Thapa • Published Jul 27, 2025 06:37 EDT
Hulk Hogan

All Elite Wrestling was quiet on the death of Hulk Hogan until now.

With tributes pouring in from every major wrestling promotion, AEW’s lack of acknowledgment for the WWE Hall of Famer sparked outrage across social media. Fans pointed out that The Hulkster was a figure who transformed professional wrestling in the 1980s and 1990s, especially on TNT, AEW’s own network.

The absence was even more striking considering Tony Khan is known for active engagement with wrestling history online. Instead of a tribute, the AEW’s president used his social platforms in the days after Hogan’s passing only to promote AEW programs and events, intensifying criticism.

But perhaps none of this should be surprising as Khan had famously banned Hogan from ever appearing in his promotion due to, among other things, the racism controversy that dogged Hogan for the last years of his life.

The silence ended on the July 26 episode of AEW Collision when longtime commentator Tony Schiavone addressed the wrestling legend’s death.

Tony Schiavone’s Comments on Hulk Hogan’s Death

Speaking directly to the audience following the show’s opening match, Schiavone delivered a heartfelt tribute that became AEW’s first official acknowledgement of Hulk Hogan’s passing.

“Fans, we appreciate you being with us here on Collision each and every Wednesday or each and every Saturday… and it was quite a week for all of us who have been in professional wrestling for a long time with the unexpected death of Hulk Hogan,” Schiavone said.

He continued, “Hulk Hogan was the man who brought professional wrestling into the mainstream in the 80s and in the 90s, right here on this network, right here on TNT almost 30 years ago. Hulk Hogan lit the fire that began the Monday Night Wars, and he also put WCW on the cable TV map right here on TNT.”

Shifting his focus to Hogan’s family, Schiavone added, “Our condolences go out to Hulk’s family, his children Brooke and Nick, his wife Sky, and if you’ve never lost a member of your family, you have no idea what the pain they are going through right now. And believe you me, it is intense. From all of us here at All Elite Wrestling. RIP brother.”