“I Would Have Fired Him Thirty Years Ago”: WWE Hall Of Famer Criticises Hulk Hogan’s Conduct

WWE Hall of Famer and former World Champion Bob Backlund made a bold claim revealing that he would have fired Hulk Hogan if he had been in charge of WWE during the 1980s.

Backlund’s critique, during his 2015 appearance on the “Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling” podcast, centred on Hogan’s conduct outside the ring during his rise to superstardom, which he felt did not align with the expectations for the face of the company.

Hulk didn’t meet the standards outside the ring to be able to represent the WWF. I would have fired him thirty years ago. He was saying one thing and doing another.

Backlund’s comments emphasise the importance he placed on a wrestler’s integrity, both in public and private. His statement suggests that Hogan’s off-screen behaviour did not match the values Backlund believed a top star should uphold. The accusation that Hogan was “saying one thing and doing another” points to a perceived inconsistency between Hogan’s persona in front of the camera and his actions behind the scenes.

Despite Backlund’s disapproval, Hogan’s influence on professional wrestling in the 1980s is undeniable. Hogan played a key role in WWE’s national expansion and became one of the most recognisable figures in pop culture, transcending the wrestling world. However, Backlund’s critique provides a different perspective, highlighting the tension between maintaining a positive public image and meeting personal expectations of conduct.

Who Was Hulk Hogan’s Original Opponent Meant To Be At WWE WrestleMania VII?

Bruce Prichard spoke about how Hulk Hogan’s opponent at WrestleMania VII was meant to be someone entirely different than who it ended up being. Prichard said that Vince McMahon wanted to save Hogan vs. Sgt. Slaughter for WrestleMania VIII and that Tugboat was supposed to be Hogan’s rival for WrestleMania VII due to their on-screen friendship, meaning Tugboat would have had to turn heel on Hogan.

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