Celebrity Athletes!
Hulk Hogan leaving TNA for Pro Wrestling gig at WWE?
[Mar. 15]
Here’s some old school celebrity athlete news. As if the world of professional wrestling wasn’t already full of drama, insiders are saying “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan is leaving TNA and would accept an offer to return to WWE if asked. The report comes from The Honky Tonk Man, who said Jimmy Hart, former manager for Hulk Hogan, was leaving TNA to return to WWE. Jimmy Hart’s defection was indeed confirmed. So is The Hulk leaving TNA for good — and if so, will he enter retirement as a celebrity senior or head back and remain a competitive celebrity athlete at WWE?
According to the Wrestling Inc website, The Honky Tonk Man (HTM) posted to Facebook:
“HTM has been told Hogan will bolt to WWE if asked. Sources within TNA have said Hogan will leave (Eric Bischoff) behind like a rat. Hogan is on his way out of TNA. Dixie has had to advance Flair money to pay his debts. Strange things are happening at TNA! Hogan’s TNA contract is results and incentive based. Either party can walk anytime. HTM said it first Hogan is on the way out.”
Then there is Bret “The Hitman” Hart (also once managed by Jimmy Hart) who returned to WWE at the same time Hulk Hogan signed on with TNA in January 2010 to help rebuild the organization for TNA executive producer and long time friend of Hogan, Eric Bischoff, who is best known as the former President of World Championship Wrestling (WCW) before becoming the General Manager for WWE’s RAW brand. “The Hitman” and “Hollywood” have had some bad blood since. Recently, Hulk Hogan and Bret Hart have shared some harsh words over Twitter. It’s a mess, to say the least.
Hulk Hogan is probably the world’s best known professional wrestler, and with that level of fame, he carries considerable weight in terms of which company he decides to work for. Hogan is a green celebrity as well, supporting the American Diabetes Association and Unity in the Community in Florida where the Hulkster resides. While TNA’s ratings have not improved over the last year under Hogan’s direction, the wrestler and former bodybuilder could mean good money for WWE, the company under which Hogan is best remembered.
Jimmy Hart, who is currently with WWE and a friend of Hulk Hogan, has managed Hogan, Bret Hart, and The Honky Tonk Man, and it is rumored that Jimmy Hart has helped clean up some of the bad blood between Hulk Hogan and WWE owner and CEO Vince McMahon.
Because of back injuries, the green celebrity known as the Hulkster is unlikely to be wrestling anytime soon, but he could prove to be a good face to have back at WWE. Certainly fans are interested in what could be a triumphant return to the wrestling brand Hogan knows as home. Fans are speculating on Hogan’s return to WWE and perhaps being signed on for a role as a General Manager for the company.
Early this March the green celebrity teamed with Tampa Bay, Florida, radio personality Bubba the Love Sponge to auction a 2011 Special Edition Chevrolet Camaro 1SS, autographed by Hogan to benefit Unity in the Community. This is the second year the two have worked together to benefit the charity.