The world of professional wrestling is mourning the loss of one of its brightest stars. Just one day after Hulk Hogan’s sudden passing at age 71, his longtime friend and manager, WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy Hart, is still reeling from the shock. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Hart shared intimate memories of their decades-long friendship and revealed details of Hogan’s final moments—painting a poignant picture of the man behind the legend.

“It Happened Overnight”

For Hart, the news came like a thunderbolt. “I called [Hogan] on Wednesday night, and then Thursday morning is when everything took place,” Hart recalled, his voice heavy with emotion. “So just… just overnight it all happened, but it was so positive the day before.”

Hart, 81, last saw Hogan about a month ago, before the wrestling superstar underwent neck surgery. The two had been nearly inseparable in recent years, watching wrestling together three nights a week and singing karaoke at Hogan’s Hangout bar in Clearwater, Florida, alongside Hogan’s son, Nick.

“He was great,” Hart reminisced about their last night together. “He had great food to eat that night. He was talking with the fans. He was just phenomenal.”

Hart’s most recent conversation with Hogan was through the wrestler’s assistant, who assured him that Hogan was “doing great” just hours before his death. “Well, tell him I love him,” Hart replied, feeling comforted by the positive update.

The Sudden Goodbye

But by Thursday morning, everything changed. Officers from the Clearwater Police Department responded to a cardiac arrest call at Hogan’s home. The wrestling icon was pronounced dead at Morton Plant Hospital about 90 minutes later.

“It just hits so fast,” Hart said. “It was like, ‘Oh my God.’ We thought he was doing so well, you know?”

Out of caution, Hart and other close friends had avoided visiting Hogan at home or in the hospital, not wanting to risk bringing in any infections. “We wanted to make sure that he didn’t get any infections or anything else, like if anybody had a cold or brought anything in. So that’s what we all did.”

Remembering the “Hulkster”

The wrestling world is a tight-knit fraternity, and the loss of a giant like Hogan reverberates through every locker room and arena. Speaking from The Rocket Arena in Cleveland, where WWE was preparing to honor Hogan during Friday Night SmackDown, Hart reflected on their shared journey.

“Anytime you lose anybody in this business, it’s such a tight, tight-knit group, it’s like a fraternity, you know? And it affects all of us,” Hart said. “And the show must go on and all that, but that’s just the way it is.”

Hart and Hogan’s friendship began in Memphis, Tennessee, when Hart managed Jerry “The King” Lawler and Hogan was brought in for a marquee match. “We’ve been friends ever since,” Hart said.

Their partnership soon became legendary. As Hogan’s manager, Hart traveled the world, acting as the “mouthpiece” for Hulkamania as it swept across arenas from New York to Tokyo. Together, they conquered the WWF (now WWE), jumped to WCW, and even made a splash in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling before returning to WWE for a final curtain call.

“Traveling With Elvis Presley”

Even after all these years, Hart is still awestruck by the magnitude of Hogan’s fame. “It was like traveling with Elvis Presley,” he laughed. “The fans just came out of the woodwork for Hulk. I mean, no matter where we went, it was insane.”

Everywhere they went, fans stopped Hart to talk about Hogan, even on the morning after his death. “He loved wrestling,” Hart said. “He loved it. And he missed being able to do it because his body had been broken up so badly through the years.”

Hogan’s body bore the scars of a lifetime in the ring—shoulder replacement, hip replacement, two knee replacements, and most recently, neck surgery to relieve numbness in his fingers. “That’s why he went to get that little neck surgery to help him out,” Hart explained.

A Complicated Legacy

Hogan’s influence on professional wrestling is undeniable. WWE credited him with helping the sport explode in popularity worldwide, calling him “one of pop culture’s most recognizable figures.” But his legacy was not without controversy. Outside the ring, Hogan faced scandals—including admissions of steroid use, racist language, and a notorious sex-tape scandal—that sometimes overshadowed his achievements.

His outspoken support of President Donald Trump also divided fans, leading to loud boos during his last WWE appearance in January 2025. Yet, for Hart and millions of “Hulkamaniacs,” Hogan will always be remembered as a larger-than-life hero.

“A Big Softy” Behind the Scenes

Despite his tough-guy persona, Hart insists that Hogan was “a big softy” at heart. “He was as big of a fan of pro wrestling as the fans who cheered him on,” Hart said. “He loved this business more than anything.”

“Free of Pain Where He’s Going”

As Hart reflected on their friendship, he found comfort in imagining Hogan reunited with wrestling’s greats. “Now he’s happy because he’s free of pain where he’s going. And then once he’s where he’s going, up there in heaven, he’s going to be with all his friends. He’s going to be with Andre the Giant. He’s going to be with The Wild Samoans, Sika and Afa. He’s going to be with Dusty Rhodes, who was his mentor. He’s going to be with Randy Savage… He’s gonna be with Bobby Heenan and Gorilla Monsoon, and he’s gonna have one more interview with Mean Gene where he can come out and say, ‘You know, Mean Gene, whatcha gonna do when Hulkamania and all the little Hulkamaniacs run wild on you?’”

The Final Bell

As tributes pour in from fans and fellow wrestlers, Jimmy Hart’s words serve as a powerful reminder that behind every legend is a human story—of friendship, love, and loss. Hulk Hogan may have left the ring for the last time, but the roar of Hulkamania will echo forever.