Classic Moment of WWE Legend Hulk Hogan Celebrating With a Young Shaquille O’Neal and Other Notable Stars

NBA and Los Angeles Lakers’ legend, Shaquille O’Neal, has a rich history in the pro-wrestling industry. The basketball megastar has never shied away from his interest in wrestling and even shocked the world when he wrestled his first match in AEW. However, Shaq has been around pro-wrestling since the 90s, and WWE legend Hulk Hogan was there with Shaq for his first wrestling cameo.

Back when The Hulkster was in WCW, a young Shaquille O’Neal accompanied Hogan for his match against Ric Flair for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship in 1994.

Shaquille O’Neal and Hulk Hogan celebrating together

There’s a picture before the match, where you can see Shaq dressed up as Hulk Hogan in the photograph.

Hogan and The Nature Boy fought in the main event of the Bash at the Beach PPV in 1994, where the young Shaq stood by the ringside, the whole match.

Eventually, when Hogan beat Flair for the championship, Shaquille O’Neal along with Jimmy Hart, and Mr. T got inside the ring to celebrate Hogan’s victory at the first-ever Bash at the Beach PPV.

Interestingly, the Lakers’ legend presented the title to the Hulkster after his win against the Nature Boy. This was Shaq’s first of many wrestling cameos.

However, he didn’t appear near a wrestling ring until the late 2000s, when he appeared on an episode of Monday Night Raw.

READ MORE: Hulk Hogan Was at His Meanest When He Vandalized the WCW World Heavyweight Championship

Shaq’s involvement in the pro-wrestling industry is evident. Back in 1994, before the match between The Hulkster and the Nature Boy, Shaquille stood next to Hogan and Jimmy Hart and hyped Hogan for his promo against Flair.

Little did anyone know that Shaq would himself wrestle in a match. The basketball star has still not said no to any possible upcoming in ring matches. In fact, back in 2021, Shaq challenged AEW’s Paul Wight, aka The Big Show, for a match in a ring.

The two giants butted heads back in WWE. The company teased a match between the two; however, nothing fruitful happened. Now, with O’Neal being on good terms with AEW President Tony Khan, we might see this ‘dream match’.

Would you like to see Shaq returning inside the squared circle? Let us know in the comments.

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