Jerry Lawler Thought Hulk Hogan “Wouldn’t Make A Dime” In Wrestling

Jimmy Hart has recalled Jerry Lawler telling him that Hulk Hogan “wouldn’t make a dime” in the pro wrestling business.

Hulk Hogan is one of the most iconic names in the history of professional wrestling. Through ‘Hulkamania’, he became the first American star to cross over into mainstream popular culture, blazing the trail for the likes of The Rock and John Cena to become entertainment megastars outside of wrestling.

At the height of his success in the mid-1980s, Hogan was a household name, bigger than not only the WWF but possibly pro wrestling itself.

However, in the early days of his Hall of Fame career, not everyone was convinced that Hogan was going to make much money.

During an appearance on the MackMania podcast, Hulk Hogan’s long-time friend and manager, Jimmy Hart, claimed that Jerry Lawler went as far as saying that he wouldn’t even “make a dime” in wrestling.

“I was doing something with Jerry Lawler for this wrestling thing and he invited me to come by the coliseum one night. He said, ‘You see this big guy in the ring right there?’ I said, ‘Oh my God, yeah who is he?’ He said, ‘Terry Bollea. Terry Bollea is what they call him.’

“I said, ‘He’s awesome, man.’ Lawler swears to me that he never said this, but he said, ‘What do you think of him? I have the chance to sign him and get ten percent of him.’ I said, ‘You’re going to do it, aren’t you?’ He said, ‘He won’t make a dime in this business.’”

H/T to Wrestling Inc for the above transcription.