NEWS: Hulk Hogan Close to Returning to the WWE?

May 28, 2017

NEWS: Hulk Hogan Close to Returning to the WWE?

NEWS: An interesting development occurred on WWE's most recent European tour. At the recent European shows a sample edition of WWE Magazine for Kids (unfortunately available only in Europe) was handed out as a free promotion to children entering the arena. That magazine featured a two sided poster as its centerfold. The first side of the poster included WWE Superstars of the past and present such as; The Rock, Ultimate Warrior, Bray Wyatt, Chris Jericho, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Roman Reigns, Triple H and Hulk Hogan. Turn the poster over and the entire opposite side is devoted to none other than "The Immortal" Hulk Hogan. Hogan was released by the WWE back in the summer of 2015, after making racist remarks while unknowingly being filmed for a sex tape. After his release the WWE removed some Hogan footage from the WWE Network, removed Hogan from the Hall of Fame section of their website, and instructed employees to never even publicly speak his name. Since then the Company's anti-Hogan policy has become somewhat lax, even mentioning the Hulkster on shows and showing him in television footage; but, he has never been featured so prominently as he was in this most recent edition of WWE Magazine for Kids. The higher ups in the WWE have always wanted to bring Hogan back at some point after the racist sex tape controversy died down and the Gawker lawsuit ended. They know a Hulk Hogan return would mean lucrative business for the WWE and the bottom line is what matters most in the sports entertainment business. The Gawker suit is now long finished and for most fans, the sex tape fails to compare to Hogan's legendary career. There have been backstage rumblings about a possible Hulk Hogan return, especially since WrestleMania 33 was held in Hogan's home state of Florida; however, nothing imminent has been discussed. This could all be changing very soon, especially in light of WWE's most recent marketing decision to feature Hulk Hogan on two sides of a widely promoted magazine centerfold.