My Monday column for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review talks about Hulk Hogan returning to WWE, but not anytime soon. Here’s an excerpt:
Don’t expect Hulk Hogan back on WWE television anytime soon, despite his recent legal victory.
Pulling off his greatest feat since body-slamming Andre The Giant in 1987, Hogan won the civil suit against Gawker Media, which published a sex tape of the pro wrestling star. Hogan, who claimed he was unaware he was being filmed, was awarded $115 million.
If this were 1998 in WWE’s “no rules” Attitude Era, Hogan would have been at WrestleMania. If this were 1998, WWE would be labeling Hogan as the highest-paid porn star ever.
But that’s not the times we’re in anymore. The Attitude Era is gone, and WWE is a public company.
The issue really isn’t Hogan arguing about the distribution of a sex tape. The issue is what came out of this investigation: tapes of Hogan cutting a racially charged promo in a private situation when he was unaware he was being recorded.
I do have sympathy for Hogan — not for what he said but for the manner in which it was captured and made public. It means you’re never really off the record even when you think you are.
All that being said, Hogan’s still a big risk to do business with at the moment.
Whether he really believes what he said or how long ago it was is irrelevant to this situation: WWE bringing back Hogan, one of the most famous professional wrestlers ever. It would be like Major League Baseball trying to decide Babe Ruth’s status.
Scenarios and fantasy booking are flooding social media, with the big show just two weeks away. What do you really expect, WWE to have Hogan at WrestleMania just a few weeks removed from public litigation? What would he do, introduce Titus O’Neil and announce his suspension ended early?
I can hear it now: “I’m here to welcome someone back who should have never left in the first place. I know a little something about that, and let me tell you something: This dude is one of the most impressive physical beings that the Hulkster has ever laid eyes on. So what are ya gonna do when Hulk Hogan and big Titus O’Neil run wild on you?”
CLICK HERE for his fantasy booking of a New Day appearance, when he comes back and why.
