One MIND-BLOWING Secret From EVERY WWE WrestleMania

19. WrestleMania 23 | THREE Wild Hulk Hogan Matches Were Pitched

Hulk Hogan outlived his usefulness to WWE in the early 2000s. His TV ratings record in 2002 bordered on the embarrassing. WrestleMania 19, of which his feud with Mr. McMahon was the focal point, was an alarming commercial misfire. But he was still Hulk Hogan. Provided he wasn’t over-promoted, the almost involuntary nostalgia longtime fans felt when he made his entrance was still potent. In some ways, Hogan actually was immortal. While it never happened, Vince felt his own annual tinge of nostalgia, a feeling intensified by the timing and location of WrestleMania 23. 

Emanating from Detroit, and held two decades after WrestleMania 3 - the myth-making colossus hard-coded into the DNA of modern wrestling - the night was perfect for WWE to celebrate its own history. The promotion very much enjoyed doing that at the time, since its modern record of creating new stars was poor. 

According to the January 22, 2007 Observer, talks were underway with Hogan. Three matches were pitched, two of which were glorified tributes to the iconic Andre the Giant main event of 1987. The Great Khali was one idea, which might have worked as a fun midcard attraction. As equally immobile as Andre was in ‘87, a move-for-move remake would have done the business. Umaga was discussed along the same train of thought, which would have been a waste, frankly. 

Separately, and this was very seriously considered, Hogan was the original plan for the record-setting Battle of the Billionaires showcase. The idea was for Hogan, backed by Donald Trump, to wrestle Shane McMahon, backed by Vince. As annoying as Shane was, watching him sh*t himself in the face of the hulk-up spot would have been incredible.