Hulk Hogan’s WWE Hall of Fame status was in contention after his Sex Tape Scandal became national news in 2015. However, WWE have clarified his hall of fame status and the decision may shock you
Is Hulk Hogan in the Hall of Fame?
Hulk Hogan was reinstated into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2018, three years after his leaked sex tape caused him to be removed indefinitely. The legendary wrestler was said to be thrilled with the decision and is very proud of his induction into wrestling’s most prestigious hall of fame.
The former WWE Champion was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. He headlined the Class of 2005 alongside a number of WWE legends. It was one of the most star-studded classes of all time, and the event was set in a more intimate and classy venue than it was in future years.
The 2005 WWE Hall of Fame class that Hulk Hogan headlined features these WWE legends;
- Hulk Hogan
- “Rowdy” Roddy Piper
- “Cowboy” Bob Orton Jr
- Jimmy Hart
- “Mr Wonderful” Paul Orndorff
- Nikolai Volkoff
- Iron Sheik
However, Hulk Hogan’s status as a Hall of Famer was revoked in 2015, after a secretly filmed sex tape of his revealed horrific racist remarks he had made behind closed doors. In the video that was leaked by website Gawker, Hogan was taped repeatedly saying the N Word, as well as saying “I guess we’re all a little racist”.
As if saying the N Word was not enough of an admittance of prejudice, going on spell out that he was racist was the final nail in the coffin for The Hulkster.
Hogan (real name Terry Bollea) was quietly removed from the WWE Hall of Fame and he was removed from WWE television. His name was not mentioned on WWE again for years and his legacy in WWE was tarnished by his awful racist remarks caught on camera.
Hogan later reappaeared in WWE, meeting with WWE talent in 2018 to apologise for the words used in the leaked sex tape.
Hogan was quoted as saying;
“The first thing I want to do is tell you guys, 12 years ago I said something. About three years ago it just came to light. And I want to apologize for everything I said. I could give you the ‘woe is me’ story, I could tell you all the things, all the reasons why I was in this space I was in — a very dark, dark space. But everybody’s got a ‘woe is me’ story, everybody’s got an excuse.”
“But the truth is, I said these things 12 years ago and I didn’t even know they were said until three years ago because that’s when they came out,” he continued the month-ago mea culpa. “I can’t remember what I said last weekend let alone 12 years ago. “
“Maybe you guys can but I can’t. And when I said it it was in a fit of anger. But I did say it, I’m accountable, that’s not who I am. That’s not how I feel, that’s not how I believe. But the one thing I will tell you is when I said it I was very, very mad. Very, very mad at a situation. But I did say it. It was inappropriate, it was out of context, it was hurtful, it was unacceptable and I did it. I apologize, if you guys could ever forgive me I would be forever grateful.” – Source
While some reports indicate that WWE talent, such as Titus O’Neil, did not forgive Hulk Hogan for his remarks, WWE as a whole welcomed him back into the fold.
WWE released a statement in 2018 after the meeting, welcoming Hulk Hogan back into the WWE Hall of Fame, having seemingly moved past the racist remarks by the former WWE, WCW and IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.
The statement made by WWE today said: “After a three-year suspension, Hulk Hogan has been reinstated into the WWE Hall of Fame.
“This second chance follows Hogan’s numerous public apologies and volunteering to work with young people, where he is helping them learn from his mistake.
“These efforts led to a recent induction into the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Alumni Hall of Fame.”
To add to Hogan’s rehabilitation, he became one of few men to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame twice. Alongside Kevin Nash, Scott Hall and X-Pac, Hulk Hogan was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2021, as part of the legendary WCW stable, the New World Order.
He gave a speech as part of the NWO and joined a short list of men to have two Hall of Fame rings.
Two-Time WWE Hall of Famers
With Hulk Hogan’s induction into the Hall of Fame in 2021 as part of the NWO, he joined the list of WWE legends to be inducted into the hall of fame twice. Here are a list of WWE Superstars who are two-time WWE hall of famers, going in both as singles wrestlers and as part of a separate group.
The eight wrestlers to be inducted into the Hall of Fame twice are;
- Hulk Hogan (Solo and NWO)
- Ric Flair (Solo and Four Horseman)
- Shawn Michaels (Solo and De-Generation X)
- Scott Hall (Solo and NWO)
- Kevin Nash (Solo and NWO)
- X-Pac (De-Generation X and NWO
- Booker T (Solo and Harlem Heat)
- Bret Hart (Solo and The Hart Foundation)
It is expected that a number of WWE Superstars will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in the future as both a solo act and as part of a group.
The likely future two-time WWE Hall of Famer’s include;
- Roman Reigns (Solo and The Shield)
- Seth Rollins (Solo and The Shield)
- Triple H (Solo and De-Generation X)
- Randy Orton (Solo and Evolution)
- Batista (Solo and Evolution)
- Edge (Solo and Edge & Christian)
- Jeff Hardy (Solo and The Hardy Boys)
Whatever you say about Two-time Hall of Famers, Hulk Hogan has joined a growing list of legendary wrestlers that no press release can ever take away from him.
Hulk Hogan is in the WWE Hall of Fame and remains a constant part of WWE’s past, present and future. He is one of the greatest of all time and will be respected for his in-ring career long after he is gone.