Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff transformed the pro wrestling industry together. The former nWo pals have worked on numerous projects, and have been friends for decades. Bischoff has just opened up on his final meeting with The Immortal One.
The Hulkster tragically passed away this past Thursday at the age of 71, following significant health issues that have been revealed this weekend. Hogan’s son Nick recently broke his silence on Hulk’s passing.
Triple H honored Hogan on SmackDown, and NJPW made multiple tributes to the former Ichiban. Bischoff recorded a special tribute edition of his 83 Weeks podcast, where he opened up on recently talking to his fellow WWE Hall of Famer.
“So, I went to see Hulk a couple weeks ago. He had been in the hospital. I wasn’t really getting day-to-day updates on his condition. I was kinda like I am currently now—I didn’t want to be the guy calling up all the time saying, ‘How’s he doing? When can I come visit?’ … Nick had told me he was able to talk and asked me to give him a call. I got him on the phone and I could tell he was weak. He sounded tired. But he still had that ‘What are we doing next?’ kind of underlying energy in his voice,” Eric Bischoff said. [H/T to Ringside News]
Bischoff continued and revealed how Hogan asked about their new Real American Freestyle wrestling promotion, which is moving forward and will honor Hulk at its inaugural event next month in Cleveland.
“He was asking, ‘Where are we at with Real American Freestyle? Did we sign Wyatt Hendrickson yet? What’s the August event look like?’ He was checking in to make sure I was on top of things. … He said, ‘Man, I really want to see you, but I’m kinda embarrassed for you to see me like this because I’ve been pretty sick.’ I said, ‘When I look at you, I don’t see what you see in the mirror. So f**k that. I’ll be there Monday,'” Eric Bischoff said. [H/T to Ringside News]
Eric Bischoff Reveals Final Meeting With Hulk Hogan
Eric Bischoff ended up going to see Hulk Hogan for their final meet-up. He described the meeting as emotional. Before Easy E left, The Hulkster still pushed forward and remained resilient, as described on the special edition of 83 Weeks.
“Even though talking was difficult due to what he’d gone through with his throat and surgeries, he kept pushing forward. It was work for him just to have a conversation, but he was the same guy. … He said, ‘Brother, I can’t wait. I might not be able to be on camera for a couple weeks, but I’ll be good on the phone.’ He loved the hunt. He loved the thrill of the next big idea. That’s who he was, even at the end,” Eric Bischoff said. [H/T to Ringside News]
Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff teamed up once in WCW. The Road Wild 1998 PPV, presented by the nWo and WCW, saw Easy E and Hollywood Hogan lose a 14-minute match to Jay Leno and Diamond Dallas Page.