Hulk Hogan Once Gave Vince McMahon a Brutal “Spanking” Reminder After UFC & Dana White Found Their Key to Success In the Combat World

Pro wrestling has given us some of the most memorable characters on TV over the years. The Undertaker, Sting, and Stone Cold Steve Austin are just a few names that made wrestling wildly popular during the 90s. The formula for success has always been about creating larger-than-life characters and making the audience care about them. Wrestling and, more specifically, WWE perfected this idea for a long time, allowing them to dominate the sports entertainment field. However, almost over a decade ago, the rising popularity of the UFC changed the game.

WWE legend Hulk Hogan, who knows a thing or two about being a star, once talked about why MMA had become successful and sent a message to WWE.

Hulk Hogan said UFC breathed life into characters

Hulk Hogan is one of the biggest icons of pro wrestling and his character as the all-conquering American Hero has stood the test of time. For many years, WWE has gained popularity by creating such interesting characters that fans love. This is something that is rarely seen in any other sport. But UFC and Dana White slowly changed that perception as they began presenting their fighters more than just athletes and showed fans a side of them beyond the octagon.

This led to a rise in popularity and demand for MMA and WWE had major competition on its hands. Although since then WWE has distanced itself from being a rival to UFC, there was a time when UFC was outselling WWE in the pay-per-view business by some distance. In an interview with Fanhouse in 2009, WWE legend Hulk Hogan explained why that may have been the case. The Hulkster said, “MMA is spanking the WWE as far as the pay-per-view stuff. Dana White and the UFC has done an amazing job, and it’s all about timing.”

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Hogan claimed that UFC was almost shutting shop but changed their fortunes with The Ultimate Fighter. He stated, “They developed the characters; they made people care about the fighters; the people found out who the fighters were; they breathed life into the fighters.” According to the wrestling icon Vince McMahon, WWE was unable to create characters that the audience cared about, which UFC was doing with its fighters. Hogan even said he learned a lot from MMA and its success.

Despite not being in direct competition with the UFC, its rise to mainstream popularity did force WWE to better its product. Over the years, they have added a semblance of reality to some of their storylines and characters.

Hogan’s comments about UFC creating more interesting characters than WWE did get fans talking back then. Do you agree with his comments? Let us know your opinion.

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