DEVASTATING Acts Of Self-Sabotage That RUINED Wrestling Careers

1. Hulk Hogan Outs Himself As A Racist

AEW Collision CM Punk Terry Funk
WWE.com

Perhaps a better way of putting it is that Hulk Hogan ruined his legacy.

Wrestling has a horrible way of rewarding bad people. Statistically, a lot of people involved in it are horrible people, which helps. Its tendrils work their way into the fandom insidiously.

Consider Ric Flair.

In 2021, his awful behaviour was brought back into the public consciousness upon the broadcast of the Plane Ride From Hell episode of Vice's Dark Side Of The Ring series. Rightly, a lot of people stopped praising his impeccable in-ring legacy, but then wrestling happened. Terry Funk passed away in August, and his 1989 series with Flair, which was incredible, was lovingly touched upon across social media. It's nobody's fault. This is just how things go.

Hulk Hogan was outed as despicable racist, never really showed contrition, and while WWE has tried to slot him back into the legendary ambassador role, it has - mercifully - never taken. The responses are always mixed. The love has faded forever. His basic work, stunningly effective and magical through the lens of a child, doesn't hold up. Does this strengthen people's resolve to never forget?

Possibly.

In any event, Hogan, entirely by himself, has destroyed his reputation.

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!