John Cena, Ric Flair and more stars paid tribute to the late wrestling legend Hulk Hogan after his death at age 71 on July 24. Ric Flair spoke with PEOPLE.

Earlier this week, wrestling icon Hulk Hogan passed away at the age of 71 after going into cardiac arrest. Hogan, real name Terry Bollea, stopped by Jacksonville in March to promote “Real American Beer.

Before The Rock morphed into movie star Dwayne Johnson, and well-before John Cena traded his jorts for a Peacemaker helmet, Terry “ Hulk Hogan ” Bollea made the leap from a professional-wrestling ring to Hollywood.