Eric Bischoff unable to attend Hulk Hogan WWE SmackDown tribute: ‘I will be there in spirit’

Though he wishes he could be there, Eric Bischoff won’t be in attendance when WWE pays tribute to Hulk Hogan on SmackDown tonight.

Bischoff posted a tweet this afternoon saying WWE invited him to SmackDown for the show, but he will not be able to make it in time. The episode is being held at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, and Jimmy Hart, Sgt. Slaughter, and “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase are among the legends who will be there for the Hogan tribute.

“I appreciate the invitation and wish I could be in Clevland in time. But I will be there in spirit,” Bischoff wrote. “And so will Hulk.”

Bischoff and Hogan were good friends and business partners for decades, and the two were working together on a new venture called Real American Freestyle prior to Hogan’s passing. That organization –which offers amateur wrestling stars the chance to continue their careers as professionals — plans to continue on despite Hogan’s death. The inaugural RAF show is scheduled for August 30 and will air on the streaming service Fox Nation.

In the weeks preceding his death, Hogan had been experiencing health complications after undergoing neck fusion surgery. He died in Clearwater, Florida on July 24 of cardiac arrest.