Hulk Hogan to appear at WrestleMania?
The announcement on Raw Monday night that Hulk Hogan was going to be among the former WWE stars appearing on next Monday’s three-hour Raw special has sparked speculation that Hogan might wrestle again in WWE.
Prior to that announcement, The Wrestling Observer had reported that Jimmy Hart, the former wrestling manager and longtime friend of Hogan’s, was trying to talk “The Hulkster” into making his return at WrestleMania 24.
Hogan and Vince McMahon have had a rocky relationship to say the least, with their latest falling out occurring earlier this year. They are both shrewd businessmen, however, and they will work together again if there is money to be made. The prospect of a costly divorce settlement and a lawsuit stemming from his son's car crash might be all the incentive Hogan needs to do business again with McMahon.
I think Hogan’s return is inevitable. As has been noted elsewhere, he will be the co-host of the upcoming NBC series American Gladiators. Since NBC Universal is the parent company of both NBC and USA Network, which carries Raw, it would make sense to do a cross promotion, perhaps at WrestleMania, like WWE did with The Apprentice star Donald Trump at WrestleMania 23.
Speaking of Trump, it has been reported that Hogan was initially supposed to be involved in that angle. He was to have been Trump’s representative, and Big Show, The Great Khali and Shane McMahon were discussed as potential opponents. But Hogan and Vince McMahon were unable to resolve their differences and the match was changed to Bobby Lashley vs. Umaga.
No one wants to see Hogan, 54, wrestle on a regular basis at this point, but he still has value as a special attraction once or twice a year. The perfect scenario at WrestleMania would be for Hogan to team with an up-and-coming babyface against a heel tag team. That way, his physical limitations wouldn’t be as obvious and the other participants in the match would get the rub from working with him.
One match-up that stands almost no chance of happening is the dream match of Hogan vs. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. Hogan has publicly campaigned for that bout for over two years, but Austin has repeatedly said that he has no interest in wrestling Hogan.
“I could make a lot of money from [wrestling Hogan] … but that match is never going to happen,” Austin told me in an interview last April. “It would have to be the most ludicrous amount of money ever.”
Comments
I think that Hogan and Flair will team up as a face tag team next week on Raw and take on like Cade and Murdoch as part of Flair's retirement angle.
Posted by: John | December 5, 2007 10:37 AM
Hogan v Flair Retirement Match at WrestleMania is the one matchup that should happen.
Posted by: Chris | December 5, 2007 11:52 AM
I've been busy working and going to school so I have not been able to watch much of the WWE, so Mr. Eck thank you for your blog. It's my first time reading your work and I look forward to reading it again. I'm a 24 year old fan who still feels like a kid when he watches greats like Hogan, Flair and others. So do I have any hope for a return of one of those others (The Rock) to Squard Circle? P.S. I feel the same way you do about TNA.
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: I would love to see The Rock come back even for just one match, but I think it is highly unlikely.
Posted by: Christian Arredondo | December 5, 2007 6:26 PM
I think that Hulk Hogan needs to return to the WWE, but not as a full time wrestler. My idea is, he could do things that Slaughter or other wrestlers are doing that are still in the WWE, but aren't wrestling. He could wrestle every know and then, or maybe be GM for Raw, Smackdown or ECW.
Posted by: Justin | December 6, 2007 10:14 AM
I would rather see Hogan return than his "biggest fan" Mr. America.
Posted by: The Hammer | December 6, 2007 1:53 PM
WOW THAT WOULD AMAZING TO SEE I HOPE IT CAN HAPPEN.BUT IF I DOES'NT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE HOGAN V.S UMAGA AT WRESTLEMANIA24
Posted by: BRYANT | December 6, 2007 4:10 PM
Hogan v Flair as the retirement match? Why not bring back Machoman and make it Hogan v Machoman(could be a good draw). If Flair is retiring and Sting isn't available, the Flair v Orton seems like a logical choice. That leaves Batista v HHH, Edge v Undertaker, and Michaels v Jericho as the headliners.
Posted by: Anonymous | December 18, 2007 8:45 PM
Hogan wants to go one on one with Austin. But, Austin has no interest in making Hogan's wish come true. After all Hogan was a big part of Austin being fired from WCW when Austin told officials his idea's and Hogan told the officials Austin was a no talent waste of money. I would love more then anything to see Hogan VS Austin and depending on what day you asked me who I would want to win i'd tell you either or.
Hogan stated on a radio talk show that he signed up to return to ring action and in return he got rights to all the Hulk Hogan trade mark. Vince even said it himself he wants Hogan & Austin to go at it at WM23. But, Austin won't play ball. I can already tell you who will win. Hogan. Because at WM19 the idea was laid on the table and Austin said no he would rather put over someone he respected which was The Rock. So Hogan got in the ring with Vince with a big built up. Then it was gonna happen at SummerSlam and again Austin said no and Hogan ended up beating HBK. Hogan said he wants one more big match at a WM or SummerSlam where he wins against him big draw and he wants his final match to be where he lets some new comer beat him and that new comer becomes a star.
The bottom line to it all is Austin wont do business cause he thinks he is better then Hogan and that tells you they have already said Hogan will beat Austin. The only way I think it will happen is if they offer Austin a big contract with all of the rights to his trade mark and let him finish out his career in the ring how ever he wants and in return he lets Hogan beat him at a WM. But then again...Austin has nothing left to prove.
I personally think Hogan would return for a few more matches. I am hoping to see Hogan VS The Great Khali at WM24. It wouldn't be anywhere neare
a main event it would be the first five matches on the card but people love Hogan and will pay to see him.
Maybe one or two matches on RAW against some of the new guys. SummerSlam he could have a big match. I always wanted to see back in the early 90's British Bulldog VS Hogan so Perhaps at SummerSlam he could go up against Davey H Smith.
But this is how I personally think Hogan would return. WM 25 is gonna be the biggest WM of all time no doubt. I think Once Hogan has a big match at SummerSlam he should take some time off and get in the best shape he can. Then at the Royal Rumble show up. Come out in the rumble at like number 25 or so. Not win just make himself known. He could then have a small match at No Way Out against Umega or someone. Then once the road to WM begins hyping up maybe 3 weeks before WM. Hogan would come to the ring in an interview. Talk about his career how he slammed Andre and beat Macho Man and headlined WM after WM and ruled in WCW came back to WWE back a big match with Rock...HBK..Ect ect...and start talking about how there is no one left. At that point he could pretty much call Austin a coward because Austin wont do business. He could say how he is gonna retire because he has nothing left to prove. And as he is saying he has nothing left to prove no one else to face John Cena's music could start blasting and they could have a face down in the ring and the next few raws before WM hype up the match with Cena and Hogan and it be the main event at WM and Cena retired him
Posted by: John | February 19, 2008 3:31 PM