A few names shine as brightly as Hulk Hogan, the iconic figure whose thunderous presence and charisma captured the hearts of wrestling fans worldwide. But do you know that this was always not the case as Vince McMahon once had a different perspective? During a recent interview with “Insight,” WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan took a trip down memory lane. He shed light on a pivotal moment that defined his wrestling journey. 

Hogan’s interview highlighted Vince McMahon’s doubts about his lasting popularity and connection with new wrestling fans, which had pushed Hogan to leave WCW.

The missed golden opportunity and how Vince McMahon’s decision sealed Hogan’s fate in the ’90s

Hogan’s story shows how one big decision can make a huge difference in the strange world of pro wrestling. Vince McMahon’s skepticism and reluctance to allow Hogan to turn heel and become “Hollywood Hulk Hogan” cast a shadow over the Hulkster’s career during the ’90s. In a recent interview with Chris Van Vliet, WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan opened up about how it led to his departure from the company.

Hogan’s revelations shed light on a moment that shaped his wrestling journey. After his WrestleMania VI match The Ultimate Warrior, Hulk Hogan wanted to change his character and become a bad guy. He wished to become a Hollywood-style version of himself. However, McMahon’s reservations led to a missed opportunity of epic proportions, as he asserted, “You can’t be a heel.”

Despite McMahon’s reluctance to embrace a new direction for the Hulkster, it was a path explored before. When Hogan initially entered the wrestling scene as a villain. He had said, “I want to be triple h, Hollywood Hulk Hogan. ‘Oh, you can’t do that you can’t be a heel.’ I said Brother your dad brought me in as a heel of course I can do it. No no no no so a couple of years later as I kept floundering around there Vince pretty much told me my run was over.”

This led Hogan to WCW where after a period as a typical babyface, he turned heel in 1996, formed the nWo, and once again changed the course of the pro wrestling industry.

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Hogan would then arrive in WWE as part of nWo and was still a heel when WCW was bought by Vince McMahon. He went up against Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

Hulk Hogan reveals WrestleMania match was his first-ever rehearsed bout

A little further during the interview, Hogan discussed the lead-up to his legendary WrestleMania 18 match against The Rock.

After his initial departure from WWE, where Vince McMahon had declared Hogan’s run was over, Hogan spent years working for Ted Turner‘s WCW in competition with WWE. There were disagreements about Hogan turning into a villain, despite having done so earlier in his career.

Years later, McMahon approached Hogan about returning to WWE. Hogan was hesitant, given the changes in the wrestling landscape with rising stars like Dwayne Johnson and Steve Austin. McMahon believed Hogan could still shine in this new era, which Hogan found surprising.

Hogan rehearsed his match with The Rock, which he claims was not a usual thing for him. The match at WrestleMania X-8 left the fans amazed and saw The Rock come out on top. However, during the match, fans cheered for the heel Hogan, once again affirming his status as a legendary figure.

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