WWE Network Rumors: Will Hulk Hogan Programming Disappear?
WWE Network is the only place that you’re likely to find a trace of Hulk Hogan in the next, oh, 50 or 60 years, wrestling fans, but is that too short-lived?
Not likely. Even though the WWE has scrubbed almost every mention of Hogan in his various incarnations — Hollywood, Hulkster, etc. — from its website, Hulkamania is alive (though probably not well) on the company’s flagship streaming channel.
Currently, a search of Hulk Hogan turns up around 600 videos on the WWE Network. Compare that to a search of Chris Benoit, the only other wrestling pariah with more heat than Hogan right now, who appears in only one search result, and it’s clear that to scrub Hogan from the network, the company would have to put in a lot more work than what they’ve done at the official website.
Erasing Hogan from the library would erase a whole lot of wrestling history and, subsequently, a big selling point of the network. Since Hogan had such an impact on wrestling during the ’80s and ’90s, it would also be a disservice to many of the performers that he worked with or who worked on the same cards.
I only bring this up because since word broke earlier today of Hogan’s racist tirade, I’ve read many comments from fans who fear this is a possible outcome on the WWE Network.
It would be next to impossible to remove every mention and appearance of Hogan after how involved he’s been with sports entertainment and the role he’s had in shaping it for better or worse, and expecting the WWE to go to those lengths would be beyond unreasonable.
That said, I don’t think anyone can argue that Hulk Hogan still has a career left. His work may be available on WWE Network for the long haul, but the company wisely rid itself of him after rumors broke that his controversial remarks were about to go viral.
WWE does not need to be attached to Hogan’s baggage regardless of its own checkered history with racial sensitivity. You can’t try to take your brand to a global audience and have one of your most visible stars repeatedly using the N-word.
Hogan made this bed, and now he’s going to have to lie in it. And from the looks of things, he is going to be laying there for a long, long time.
Do you think WWE Network should take any kind of action with past Hulk Hogan videos in its library (i.e. remove, set a disclaimer, etc.) or just leave them alone? Sound off in the comments section.
[Image via Rolling Stone]
