Hulk Hogan’s tribute to open WWE SmackDown on Friday night was nothing short of a tear-jerker.

The event in Cleveland began with enthusiastic applause, as the crowd chanted “Hogan” together to pay tribute to the beloved wrestler who passed away at the age of 71 on Thursday.

Fellow wrestler Triple H led the tribute for Hogan.

To start his speech, he said the WWE community “lost one of the biggest and most globally recognized icons in the world.”

“He was a man I watched growing up, had the good fortune to share the ring with, and like many of us, was privileged to call a friend,” said Triple H, currently serving as WWE’s chief content officer.

Triple H — whose real name is Paul Levesque — also said how Hogan inspired millions of people “around the globe.”

Dozens of the most prominent WWE members stood behind Triple H on stage, with an in memoriam banner of Hogan in the background.

“The one, the immortal, Hulk Hogan,” he concluded.

A 10-bell salute for Hogan then followed, which met with roaring applause shortly after.

The tribute then ended with a video montage going through Hogan’s life and his long career in wrestling.