McMahon: “Hulk Hogan Deserved Much More”
Former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon has broken his silence to express frustration over how his old company handled the last televised appearance of Hulk Hogan. The comments came during the Fox special TMZ Presents: The Real Hulk Hogan, which aired Tuesday night, blending a tribute to the late wrestling icon with McMahon’s unfiltered perspective.
For McMahon, who has remained out of the public eye since resigning from WWE and parent company TKO in January 2024, the segment honoring Hogan fell short of the grandeur such a moment required. Speaking during the documentary, he made it clear that he felt the company failed to give Hogan the farewell he deserved.
The criticism centered on Hogan’s appearance during the January 6 Raw Netflix premiere. On that night, Hogan was met with a mixed crowd reaction, with audible boos cutting through the applause. McMahon’s main objection was to the way the moment was produced and presented. He explained that someone of Hogan’s stature should not have simply walked to the ring without an elaborate build-up. He stressed that Hulk deserved something extraordinary, insisting that the company owed him a far more spectacular send-off. McMahon concluded that the production was not the way he would have done it and that Hogan was worthy of much more.
McMahon’s discontent is rooted in a long and personal history with Hogan. In the 1980s, he was the creative force who transformed Terry Bollea into Hulk Hogan, a character who transcended wrestling to become a global cultural icon. Under McMahon’s guidance, Hogan adopted his now-famous red and yellow attire, delivered larger-than-life promos, and brought professional wrestling into mainstream entertainment.
The phenomenon known as Hulkamania reshaped the WWE and helped usher in its first boom period. McMahon’s vision and Hogan’s charisma were a perfect combination, driving sold-out arenas, blockbuster pay-per-views, and record-breaking television ratings. For McMahon, the Hulk Hogan character is not simply another superstar from the past; it is one of the cornerstones of the WWE empire he built. That makes his criticism of Hogan’s send-off a deeply personal matter.
This documentary appearance marked McMahon’s first televised interview since stepping away from his executive role earlier this year. Many wrestling fans and analysts have speculated about his opinion on the company’s new creative leadership, and his comments about Hogan may be seen as a reflection of his broader concerns. While McMahon did not directly attack current management, the underlying message suggested that he believes the modern WWE approach lacks the level of spectacle he once made standard.
Despite his evident frustration, McMahon ended his appearance on a sentimental note. He referenced one of Hogan’s most famous catchphrases, reminding viewers that Hulk often said, “Hulkamania will live forever.” McMahon agreed with that sentiment, affirming that the legacy of Hulk Hogan will continue to endure. For him, the bond between promoter and performer, as well as the cultural phenomenon they created together, is something that will never fade.