Hulk Hogan is about to get into some serious trouble: he has been completely erased from the WWE official page, as reports swirl that an audio in which he drops the N-word several times has been sold for publication. It is believed it will emerge within hours.
According to MediaTakeOut, which has heard the audio and knows for a fact that it’s been sold to The National Enquirer, the tape makes Hulk sound like a “racist at the level of the Klu Klux Klan.”
WWE confirms Hogan is over
Us Weekly has obtained a statement from WWE on the mysterious disappearance of all mentions of Hogan’s name on the site.
After all, a star as big as him can’t be just dropped like this without a solid reason - and considering that Hogan has dropped the N-word before many times with no repercussions, this upcoming storm must be huge to get WWE to disassociate from him.
“WWE terminated its contract with Terry Bollea (aka Hulk Hogan),” the statement says. “WWE is committed to embracing and celebrating individuals from all backgrounds as demonstrated by the diversity of our employees, performers and fans worldwide.”
It doesn’t say more, but it’s enough to half-confirm reports that Hogan is bracing for a major scandal with racial connotations. For the record, Hogan was featured on the WWE Hall of Fame page and also sold merchandise through the official online shop.
Recording is old, was unearthed in the Gawker scandal
Hulk Hogan is tangled up in a lawsuit against Gawker Media, which published footage shot without his consent, in a hotel room, of him and the wife of a good friend having relations.
The lawsuit has been dragging for years, because Gawker maintained that they had the right to publish it since Hulk was a public person and they’d come across the tape from one of the parties involved in making it, namely the friend’s wife.
The audio was included in a legal deposition in the case. MTO says that they heard it and is “disgusting,” and adds that the Enquirer will be making it public within hours.
In a separate post, MTO reports that the person Hogan is throwing the N-word around at is none other than former wrestler turned Hollywood superstar Dwayne Johnson, aka The Rock.
Mark Lamont Hill of the Huffington Post obtained the transcript of the audio and is making bits of it public, as some sample tweets below will show.
Also below is Hogan’s only statement so far: he knows there’s a storm coming and he’s obviously bracing for it.
In the storm I release control,God and his Universe will sail me where he wants me to be,one love. HH
— Hulk Hogan (@HulkHogan) July 24, 2015
Just to be clear, Hogan is FINE with nice people... It's just "niggers" he has issues with. Especially those shorter than 8 feet tall.
— Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) July 24, 2015
Hogan: “I am a racist, to a point, f*cking n*ggers. But then when it comes to nice people and sh*t, and whatever.”
— Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) July 24, 2015
Hulk Hogan is the iconic wrestling figure of the 20th century, perhaps the biggest ever. For the WWE to disappear him is a BIG DEAL.
— Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) July 24, 2015
I haven't gotten confirmed audio yet, but the transcripts that I've seen have Hogan calling The Rock the "N-word" and "sambo" among others.
— Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) July 24, 2015