Hulk Hogan Recalls Wrestling PRIDE MMA Fighters In 1977, Despite PRIDE Not Existing Yet

Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan once claimed that he wrestled mixed martial arts fighters from PRIDE during a tour of Japan in 1977, despite the fact that PRIDE was not founded until 1997.

The statement, which resurfaced from a 2011 interview on the Boomer Esiason and Craig Carton radio show on WFAN, was highlighted by ProWrestling.net. During the interview, Hogan was asked whether he would have considered competing in MMA had it been more prominent during his younger years. In response, he recounted a story from his early wrestling career, describing how he faced PRIDE fighters while touring Japan in 1977. According to Hogan, he was unsure whether his opponents were traditional professional wrestlers or legitimate combat sports athletes.

However, the timeline presented by Hogan is factually inaccurate. PRIDE Fighting Championships was established in 1997, with its inaugural event taking place on 11 October that year, twenty years after Hogan’s alleged encounters. PRIDE went on to become one of the most significant MMA promotions of its era before being acquired by the UFC in 2007.

Hogan, famous for his charismatic persona and penchant for storytelling, has been known to make exaggerated claims throughout his career. While his impact on professional wrestling is undisputed, his recollections of past events are frequently met with scepticism.

Which Fellow WWE Hall Of Famer Blamed Hulk Hogan For Derailing Their WCW Heel Turn?

WWE Hall of Famer Scott Steiner has blamed Hulk Hogan for derailing his heel turn in WCW. In an interview, Steiner claimed that his transition to a top villain was disrupted due to Hogan’s backstage influence. According to Steiner, Hogan used his creative control to protect his own position in the company, preventing Steiner from gaining the momentum he needed as a dominant heel.