Shawn Michaels Reveals Why WWE Wrestlers Hate Hulk Hogan
“I was a fan once, too,” Shawn Michaels began. “And then all of a sudden, you’re in the locker room with these guys, and it’s like, oh my goodness.” That awe quickly turned to resentment, and according to the Heartbreak Kid, no one stirred up more frustration in the locker room than Hulk Hogan. From Jesse Ventura’s unionization betrayal to Randy Savage’s infamous black eye incident, some of wrestling’s biggest stars carried a deep-seated hatred for the man fans saw as their hero.
The Politician in the Ring
Hulk Hogan wasn’t just disliked—he was infamous for using his backstage power to shape storylines in his favor. Michaels saw this firsthand at SummerSlam 2005, where Hogan’s refusal to follow through on a planned trilogy led HBK to dish out some of the most over-the-top selling in wrestling history. Every punch and slam turned into a cartoonish flop, not out of accident, but calculated revenge. What was meant to be the beginning of a multi-match saga ended with Hogan walking away, unwilling to put Michaels over. For a reformed, professional HBK who had made careers for others, Hogan’s politicking was the final straw.
Jesse Ventura’s Unionization Betrayal
But Michaels wasn’t alone. In 1986, Jesse “The Body” Ventura tried to form a wrestler’s union to secure healthcare and retirement benefits for performers destroying their bodies for the business. Hogan, the biggest star in the world at the time, ratted him out to Vince McMahon. Under sworn federal testimony, it was revealed that Hogan’s betrayal destroyed the effort. Ventura never forgave him, stating: “I’m not friends with anyone I don’t trust. Hogan sold us out because he was making more money than all of us combined.”
The Undertaker’s Tombstone Incident
Then came 1991. At Survivor Series, Undertaker executed a perfectly safe tombstone on Hogan, only for Hogan to later claim it injured his neck. Taker, who feared for his career, was shocked when footage proved the move was flawless. Hogan’s false claim wasn’t about safety—it was about protecting his image, at the expense of a young phenom’s credibility.
Savage’s Black Eye & Bret Hart’s Betrayal
Macho Man Randy Savage reportedly punched Hogan before WrestleMania IX, giving him the infamous black eye Hogan blamed on a jet ski. Rumors tied the fight to Hogan’s interactions with Miss Elizabeth, Savage’s ex-wife. Meanwhile, Bret Hart never forgave Hogan for pulling out of their planned SummerSlam match. Bret was meant to be the new face of WWE, but Hogan’s ego blocked the passing of the torch, leaving Hart bitter for decades.
The Racism Scandal That Changed Everything
If Hogan’s backstage politics didn’t destroy his legacy, his personal scandals nearly did. In 2015, leaked audio revealed Hogan using racial slurs, admitting he was “racist to a point.” WWE erased him overnight, and stars like The New Day and Mark Henry openly condemned him. Hogan never did the work to earn forgiveness, instead expecting redemption to be handed to him, just as he had in wrestling.
The Pattern of Selfishness
From refusing to take bumps to exercising creative control at WCW’s infamous Bash at the Beach 2000, Hogan left a trail of scorched earth. He helped sink WCW, buried countless stars, and even spread outlandish lies—like claiming he almost joined Metallica or that he passed on the George Foreman grill. Wrestlers from multiple generations agreed: Hogan was a politician first, performer second, and human being last.
The Legacy No One Talks About
Hogan built his legend on telling kids to “say their prayers and eat their vitamins,” all while stabbing peers in the back. From Michaels’ SummerSlam revenge to Ventura’s crushed union, from Taker’s false injury scandal to Hart’s betrayal, the truth is undeniable. Wrestlers didn’t just dislike Hulk Hogan—they despised him. And now, thanks to Shawn Michaels and decades of stories, fans finally see why the Immortal One’s greatest opponent wasn’t Andre the Giant, the Undertaker, or Shawn Michaels.
It was the locker room.
