7 Quick Fixes To Save WWE SummerSlam 2018

2. Hogan

Hulk Hogan Braun Strowman Bayley Sasha Banks
WWE

Vince McMahon once posited that an old and infirm Hulk Hogan could be wheeled out to ringside and still get the loudest reaction of anybody on the show. He couldn't have counted on a leaked sex tape revealing some ill-advised racist remarks from 'The Hulkster', but he'd almost certainly have promised to recover his legacy should something like this ever occur.

McMahon can forgive, forget, fight and forgive and forget again when there's money to be made. The company have rather deftly approached this divisive return, holding Hogan at arm's length for three years while mammoth television deals get signed in his blanket absence. With those locked up and sponsors presumably assured of his tactical rehabilitation, the company can now begin soft relaunch of Hulkamania for a brand new generation of fans.

His filmed-for-the-Network apology is sure to pour fuel on a simmering fire for some, but WWE will ignore the flames if they can make money from the heat. A return in front of the live crowd will be the most telling moment of all.

Hogan is attempting to turn his nastiest real life heel turn into his ultimate babyface redemption, but in-the-flesh audiences will be the ones to decide his fate. It may make for a grisly scene, but his potential involvement in the 'Biggest Party Of The Summer' is undeniably fascinating.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett