It’s always hard for athletes to let go and move on, and Hulk Hogan is no different as Hulk Hogan wants one more WWE match . He wants to close out his career in the ring that made him famous and vice versa. WWE wouldn’t be a worldwide company without him. At least, not at the level it is.
In a way, this is different than other sports figures or entertainers wanting that final game or show. Usually, they want another shot so they can go out on their own terms, but this is more akin to a player signing with their original team so they can retire as part of it. It’s a respectable and reasonable request.
Not everyone is in agreement, mainly due to Hogan’s age and health, but that hasn’t stopped wrestling’s biggest star.
Hogan’s reasoning
Speaking with Wrestling Academy, Hogan said, “I’ve been talking to Vince McMahon. History is very important to me. I’ve had a very long career and part of my career was with a very, very small company and a very gracious lady called Dixie Carter in TNA and I had one of my — actually my last match there. That’s hard for me to live with. I want my last match to be in WWE.
“I’ve been pushing and negotiating very hard and I’m actually healthy, I’m in very good shape. Little bit under 300 pounds, maybe 295 pounds. I’m getting ready. I’m going to have one little tiny surgery on my back, maybe take me a couple of months to recover, but I’ve got my eyes set for WrestleMania (36).
“The one I’d love to get in the ring with if I only had one person would be Vince McMahon. I’m very sick of his stuff too.”
While news of him wanting a final match against Vince McMahon isn’t new news, this does show he’s serious about it. It also makes sense that Hogan wants his final match to be at WrestleMania after he headlined the first one and several afterwards.
Potential problem
Hulk Hogan is 66 years old and Vince McMahon is 74.
Hogan has a history of back injuries that he blames on his iconic leg drop finisher and is the one thing he’d like to change with his career. McMahon is arguably in better shape just looking at the lack of wear and tear from in the ring.
More than that, Hogan last set foot in the ring competitively six years ago in TNA. He teamed with James Storm and Sting to beat Robert Roode, Bully Ray, and Kurt Angle in TNA’s Maximum Impact Tour. His last WWE match was in 2006 against Randy Orton at the Summer Slam pay-per-view.
McMahon’s last match was in October 2012 against CM Punk in a Raw main event after Punk interrupted his “State of the WWE” address earlier in the show.
Hogan’s keeping in shape
According to Hogan, he’s been working out and is ready to go. He even had a recent back surgery where they removed some hardware from his back, and he says he feels great.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B44zRzJBUZE/
This is the main sticking point in my mind because no one wants to see Hogan seriously injure himself. Also, most fans that watched him during his prime want to have that memory tarnished ala Undertaker and Goldberg.
It’s about the presentation
As a lifelong wrestling fan, this would be a great way for him to close out his career, and it would be cool to see him and McMahon square off again. This is 100% nostalgia and many fans will eat it up. None of us expect a match like they put on years ago. It’s just the fun of seeing an old rivalry flare up one final time.
To be honest, this match can’t be worse than any other that’ll probably be on the card after what we’ve been served the last few years. So what’s wrong with a little nostalgic match to close out a career in the ring he helped build?
