Hulk Hogan's close friend reveals heartbreaking regret over decision he took days before WWE icon's death

The death of wrestling icon Hulk Hogan has shaken the world of sports entertainment - including many who were friends with the WWE legend. 

Brutus 'The Barber' Beefcake - a WWE Hall of Famer and one of Hogan's longest friends in the wrestling business - got emotional when reflecting upon the life of the man that helped him get into the industry.

Speaking to TMZ, Brutus - born Ed Leslie - reflected on the man he knew and revealed how important he was to him.

'Well, he meant everything,' he told the outlet. 'He recruited me basically out of high school to go into the wrestling business when all his other friends refused and didn't want anything to do with it.'

Brutus went into more detail about how Hogan - born Terry Bollea - recruited him into the business.

'Here's the thing. When he said to me, "You're going to be a wrestler, kid", I was like, "Holy cow,"' Brutus revealed.

'I used to go watch wrestling when I was a kid, but nothing I ever thought about getting involved with. And he and I became so close: starting together, coming through the trenches and training... 

'There's so much that nobody knows about, really, our beginnings, our past. I owe him everything, and I'm grateful to have known him, to have been there many times for him as he was for me.'

The emotions really got to Brutus when discussing a harrowing accident - and how Hogan got right to his side. 

'He had a heart so big. Thirty-five years ago, July 4, 1990, I was in a horrible accident and not expected to live. 

'And he left his family in California. His wife about to have a baby, his son, Nick, to fly to Florida to be there because the doctor said they didn't think I was going to make it. 

'And he flew there to be there for me. And when they brought me out of a drug-induced coma, and he said to me, "Don't even think about it, Brutus, you're going to live." And I did. And he was there for me at the moment I needed the most.'

Brutus even revealed that he intended to see Hogan in recent days, but passed.

'I was going to try to go to his house a couple of days ago. My wife said, "You just go over there." I was thinking, "Oh, my God." But if I go to the house and they say, "No, you can't come in, it would have crushed me." I didn't [go]. And now I wish maybe that I had tried to get in and tried to get to see him before he passed.'

Lastly, Brutus revealed what he would say to Hogan if he had the chance: 'I love you brother, and we truly are friends to the end. 

'I don't even know what else to say about that. I know his family and mine were close for many years, and I wish the best for them. I know they're having a horrible, difficult time.

'And I just wanted to say to them, keep your chins up. He would have wanted us to fight on and move forward. That's hopefully what we're all going to do.'