5:02 PM PT -- Hulk Hogan's death was addressed right at the start of SmackDown ... with WWE CCO Triple H taking the stage and giving a heartfelt speech.
"Ladies and gentlemen, yesterday, we lost one of the biggest and most globally recognized icons in the world," Paul Levesque said with the WWE roster standing behind him. "A man I grew up watching, was fortunate enough to share the ring with and, like so many of us, were honored to call a friend."
"The truth is, he captivated millions of people and inspired them around the globe.