WWE Confirms Hulk Hogan Fired Over Racial Comments: ‘In The Storm I Release Control’ [Video]
Any mention of Hulk Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, has been removed from the WWE website, although it’s not clear why. The pro wrestling community is trying to make heads or tails of the sudden scrubbing, with little evidence of a real reason.
Although the WWE claims the reason is a 2012 interview with DJ Whoo Kid on the radio show Whoolywood Shuffle, in which Hogan used racial epithets during an interview, it’s unclear why they would sever ties three years after the incident.
Hulk Hogan currently is wrapped up in $100 million personal injury lawsuit against Gawker Media, which is set to go to trial any day now. Hogan filed suit against Gawker, which posted video of a sex tape featuring Hogan, according to USA Today. It’s possible this is a contributing factor to the demise of Hulk Hogan on the WWE website.
WWE confirms it has terminated its deal with Hulk Hogan (H/T @joshcohan) pic.twitter.com/tU3UFZOaXI
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) July 24, 2015
During the interview, the host brought up how Hulk Hogan calls everyone “brother,” and the conversation turned to an incident in which Booker T used a racial epithet against Hogan. Hulk Hogan then described how using racial epithets to refer to each other was a common game between Hogan and Booker T, with neither side taking offense, reports the Daily Beast.
In the storm I release control,God and his Universe will sail me where he wants me to be,one love. HH
— Hulk Hogan (@HulkHogan) July 24, 2015
It’s unclear why a 2012 incident would cause the organization to remove Hulk Hogan’s image and name three years after the incident, making it more likely the Gawker lawsuit is the culprit. As of Tuesday, July 22, any references to Hulk Hogan were removed from the WWE Hall Of Fame and the WWE websites, and his merchandise no longer is sold in the organization’s online stores.
According to Wrestling News Source, “The only thing currently remaining that mentions Hogan involves WWE’s upcoming Australian tour, which Hogan was scheduled to take part in as general manager. However, when any attempt to access this page is made, a message appears stating “you are not authorized to access this page.”
According to the Daily Beast, it would be hypocritical for the WWE to be offended by Hulk Hogan’s racial comments during the interview since WWE CEO, Vince McMahon, “once called wrestler John Cena the N-word right in front of Booker T, who then turned to his girlfriend and said, ‘Tell me he did not just say that.'”
Hulk Hogan has not released any official statement regarding the split with the WWE, instead, he left a cryptic message on his Twitter account which read, “In the storm I release control, God and his Universe will sail me where he wants me to be, one love. HH.”
[Image credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images]
