Hulk Hogan believes that there was set to be a match at WrestleMania 39 that featured the debut of his son.
Nick Hogan has never had a WWE match, seemingly not wanting to follow in the footsteps of his Hall of Fame father. However, according to the Hulkster, there were plans for the first match to happen at SoFi Stadium against a wrestler who did return at Mania, Shane McMahon.
Speaking with Chris Van Vliet, Hulk Hogan recalled the story of how Shane originally wanted to face Hogan at the biggest show on the WWE calendar and why the match ultimately did not come to be:
“Shane had called me and sent me a picture from Madison Square Garden, I guess they got a hall of fame walk in there. Shane sent me a picture of him standing in front of my stuff and he goes, ‘Hey old timer, you got one more left in you?’ I went, ‘Okay, what are you thinking?’ He goes, ‘Well, I don’t know if you had one more left in you, or maybe a surrogate such as Nick [Hogan].’
So we started talking and I said that the only way I could do anything is if I was in the middle of the ring and you just came to me, because I can’t run or hit the ropes. I have a hard time walking distance. Taking a bump, If I got up I’d have to roll to my left, I can’t roll to my right. The only way I can get up is if I roll to my left. So, it would be a stretch but Nick was in Rikishi’s school for a couple of years and he was in there with Rusev and all of those guys.
I’d go out to California and watch him, and Nick had it figured out, but then he blew both of his shoulders out. I said, ‘Well I don’t know. There’s a possibility to maybe do something, whatever the storyline is. Maybe, Nick is a heel and [he says that Shane destroyed his father’s career].’ I don’t know, there’s a million ways to do it but then a couple of weeks later, Shane got hurt or something with his quad.”
At WrestleMania 39, Shane McMahon made a surprise return on Sunday to challenge The Miz to an impromptu match. Shortly after the bell rang, Shane McMahon McMahon tore his quad and could not continue. Recognising something was wrong, Mania co-host Snoop Dogg quickly interjected to hand Miz a defeat for the second straight night.
If the match between Hogan and McMahon did take place at Mania 39 it would have marked 20 years since their respective fathers, Vince McMahon and Hulk Hogan, faced off at WrestleMania 19. Following the interview, WWE denied that Nick Hogan was ever considered to be involved.
In recent news, Shane McMahon’s son spoke about his potential future with WWE.
Hulk Hogan Names His Mount Rushmore
Having competed against the biggest names in wrestling history, Hulk Hogan was asked to narrow it down to only 4 wrestlers that would make it onto his personal Mount Rushmore.
H/t to Fightful.