Does Hulk Hogan Still Have A Place In WWE?

Distressingly, Hogan and Nick also booked his own redemption reality TV show mere hours after the accident. This was ghoulish, opportunistic and incredibly cynical behaviour so appalling that it called into question Hogan’s apology years later. Instantly, with a life thought to be lost, Hogan sought to monetise the tragedy and heal his son’s PR image in the process. Human life did not matter to the Hogans.

Could you take seriously Hogan’s soul-searching apology, when this was a man so clearly lacking one?

Perhaps that is harsh, even on a subjective level. This was a tumultuous time for the Hogan family, so much so that this irrational behaviour was explainable, if not excusable. But, years after Hogan’s racism furore, political comedian Bill Maher found himself at the epicentre of his own. Maher was asked by Nebraska Senator Ben Masse last year if he wanted to “work in the fields with us”. “Senator, I’m a house n*gger,” came his response. Maher was lambasted in the media for this tasteless attempt at comedy - but was not fired by HBO. Annoyed by the lack of parity, Hogan tweeted:

“ON PURPOSE and only an apology, unbelievable. HH”

The tweet indicated a lack of culpability on Hogan’s part, as if he referred to black people as “f*cking n*ggers” by accident. Hogan also suggested in this further misjudged moment - a pattern formed, denting once more the “one moment of madness” counter-narrative - that he was more concerned with his how racism concerned him. This wasn’t atonement; it was protest. Playing the victim of his own scandal was yet more evidence of Hogan’s lack of responsibility and understanding.

And he’s capable, per WWE, of helping others to learn from his mistakes?

That is spin, obviously: if WWE wants Hogan back, they are going to blast Real American from the PA system and, if they have to, wheel him down to the ring.

Many of us look back at the language we used in our formative years repelled and repulsed by our past selves. Hogan, however, was an old man when he disgraced himself. “Hogan isn’t perfect - but you’re not either, so f*ck you,” is how a certain section of the fandom reacted to the news this week.

Is that really the standard? “He has learned from his mistakes, and he deserves a second chance,” is the other parroted line reserved by those either blinded by optimism or equally unwilling to accept that their childhood hero is an aloof adult absorbed by the fiction that is his life.

Sadly, the moral argument barely matters. Much like Hogan’s chilling careerism of 2007, that’s what his former employer reduces everything to, despite the PR polish plastered all over the company’s sponsor-friendly facade. WWE wanted to honour the deeply problematic Fabulous Moolah at the upcoming WrestleMania 34 mega event. WWE wants to have its proverbial cake and eat it too by crowing about female equality while simultaneously taking Saudi Arabia’s money. Ultimately, if the sponsors deem three years sufficient to gloss over the scandal, three years is the length of Hogan’s absence. It is a cynical calculation. CONT'D...