In the days following the death of Hulk Hogan, one of the people hit hardest by the loss has been longtime friend and manager Jimmy Hart. Known to fans as “The Mouth of the South,” Hart recently opened up in an emotional interview, offering heartfelt reflections on his decades-long friendship with the wrestling icon and the shocking circumstances surrounding his passing.

Hogan passed away on July 24 at the age of 71 due to cardiac arrest. Speaking with PEOPLE magazine, Hart shared vivid memories of Hogan’s immense popularity and his lifelong dedication to professional wrestling.

“It was like traveling with Elvis Presley,” Hart recalled. “It was just unbelievable. The fans just came out of the woodwork for Hulk. I mean, no matter where we went, it was insane.”

Hart had been by Hogan’s side for much of his career, both as his manager in WCW and as a close personal friend. He stood with him through the rise of “Hulkamania,” a phenomenon that made Hogan one of the most recognized and celebrated figures in entertainment. Hart was also present during Hogan’s final WWE appearance on the January 6, 2025 edition of Raw.

Looking to the afterlife, Hart spoke of Hogan’s enduring love for wrestling and imagined him reunited with legendary names from the past.

“Hulk loved this business more than anything,” Hart said. “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, who he and Hulk, they were so tight back in the day down in Tampa, and so many more of our people.”

He also envisioned Hogan giving one final, iconic backstage promo with his longtime WWE colleague.

“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 most heartbreaking part of Hart’s tribute was the suddenness of Hogan’s death. He explained that Hogan had seemed to be doing well just hours before his unexpected passing.

“I called [Hogan] on Wednesday night, and then Thursday morning is when everything took place,” Hart told PEOPLE. “So just…just overnight it all happened, but it was so positive the day before.”