Hulk Hogan has often expressed interest in one last wrestling encounter in the ring. Terry Gene Bollea, the leader of WWE during the company’s ‘Golden Era,’ was the main attraction at the first three WrestleManias. Hulk’s fame turned him into an international cultural icon and the biggest attraction in the world of wrestling, a phase dubbed ‘Hulkamania.’
In a recent interview, Hollywood Hulk revealed that John Cena was meant to be his last opponent at WrestleMania 25, but his body was too banged up from surgeries for the bout to ever take place.
Hogan reveals scrapped WrestleMania 25 plans against Cena
During WrestleMania 25, Hulk Hogan and John Cena fought for the right to face one other. In January of 2006, the WWE legend competed in his last official bout by defeating Randy Orton. Three years later, at WrestleMania 25, he almost had another bout in WWE against John Cena for the title. It was supposed to happen between Hogan, Cena, and Vince McMahon, but it never happened.
Before the match, Hogan and the Cenation leader discussed the possibility of a matchup. Hogan said he was prepared to perform, but he was sidelined when his back gave out. In a new interview with Chris Van Vliet, Hollywood Hulk said, “I would have loved to have had that last match, but now it’s completely out of the picture. You know, I’m just too beat up from the surgeries. I really wanted to have that last match. I wasn’t sure, I think it was WrestleMania 25 in Orlando.”
Hogan’s much-documented back problem
Hulk Hogan required a spinal simulator for pain management after undergoing many operations on his lower back to recover from injuries while wrestling. It took years for his health to completely recover. Once in a podcast, Ric Flair and Naitch spoke about Hogan’s health, focusing on the effects of his multiple back surgeries.
Wrestling great Kurt Angle claimed on his podcast that Hogan has no sensation below the waist but can walk with a cane, suggesting that he will need to have surgery to restore some function to his legs. However, evidence submitted to McMahon at the time confirmed that Hogan’s back condition was serious during WrestleMania 25.
He said to the executive chairman, “Vince had me all hooked up with Cena and I said I’d do it. Vince and I were talking every week and we were putting the plans together, you know, like the old days where I was in the office every day, him and I were talking every day, and all of a sudden I’m on the phone with Vince I was like, ‘Oh my God. Oh, my back.’ My back went out when I was talking to Vince on the phone.”
Who do you think would have won if Hulk had faced John Cena as his last opponent? Discuss your ideas and opinions in the comment section.
