WWE Wrestlers Reveal Why They Hated Hulk Hogan

The Villain Behind the Bandana: 10 WWE Legends Who Despised Hulk Hogan—And Why

To millions of fans, Hulk Hogan was the all-American hero, the face of pro wrestling’s golden age. But behind the curtain, the Hulkster was a far more divisive figure. For some of wrestling’s most respected legends, Hogan wasn’t a hero—he was the villain. Here are 10 WWE stars who openly despised Hulk Hogan, and the shocking reasons why.

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10. Doink the Clown (Matt Bourne): “I Can’t Respect Him”

Behind the greasepaint and antics, Matt Bourne—the original Doink the Clown—held a deep grudge against Hogan. Bourne saw Hogan as a phony, someone whose public persona was a facade masking hypocrisy and mistreatment backstage. “I do not have any respect for him to this day,” Bourne admitted. “I believe he’s not a real person. Everything’s a facade with Hulk Hogan.”

Bourne’s disdain wasn’t about jealousy or missed opportunities—he simply couldn’t stomach Hogan’s two-faced behavior, especially as someone who prided himself on authenticity.

9. Bruno Sammartino: “I Refused the Hall of Fame Because of Him”

Bruno Sammartino, the longest-reigning WWE Champion, was wrestling royalty. But he saw Hogan’s cartoonish style and ego-driven politics as everything wrong with the business. Sammartino refused Hall of Fame induction while Hogan was a fixture in WWE, calling him “an idiot” and a “steroid chemical robot.”

For Bruno, wrestling was built on hard work and legitimate athleticism. Hogan, he believed, was just playing a character—and using his influence to hold back more deserving talent.

8. Randy “Macho Man” Savage: Friendship Turned Hatred

Once the Mega Powers, Savage and Hogan’s friendship crumbled over personal issues involving Miss Elizabeth. Savage accused Hogan of overstepping, both on and off screen, and publicly trashed him in interviews and even in rap songs. “He disrespected me and my family,” Savage said.

Though they reconciled before Savage’s death in 2011, the years of bitterness and broken trust left a permanent scar on both men’s legacies.

7. CM Punk: “F*** Hulk Hogan”

Outspoken and unfiltered, CM Punk never hid his contempt for Hogan. In interviews and his famous 2011 “pipe bomb” promo, Punk called Hogan “a piece of garbage.” Punk’s disdain only grew after meeting Hogan and learning of his scandals, seeing the Hulkster as the embodiment of everything wrong with WWE’s corporate culture.

As a straightedge superstar, Punk’s philosophy clashed with Hogan’s admitted drug use and manipulative backstage politics.

6. Scott Steiner: “A Piece of S*** and a Racist”

Scott Steiner’s hatred for Hogan was as loud as his promos. He accused Hogan of being a racist and a manipulator, citing years of WCW politics and even referencing Randy Savage’s own dislike for Hogan. Steiner claimed Hogan’s backstage power kept deserving talents like him from reaching the top, and his criticisms—especially regarding racism—proved prescient after Hogan’s 2015 scandal.

5. The Iron Sheik: Social Media Grudge Match

The Iron Sheik’s legendary Twitter tirades against Hogan were both hilarious and revealing. Their feud dated back to 1984, when Sheik dropped the title to launch Hulkamania. Sheik accused Hogan of ego, racism, and failing to keep his word. “He never returned my call,” Sheik lamented.

For Sheik, whose own career was shaped by overcoming prejudice, Hogan’s behavior was unforgivable—and he made sure the world knew it.

4. Jesse “The Body” Ventura: “The Ultimate Betrayal”

Ventura’s hatred for Hogan stemmed from what he called “the ultimate betrayal.” In 1986, Ventura tried to unionize WWE wrestlers, only for Hogan to allegedly snitch to Vince McMahon, sabotaging the effort and costing wrestlers potential healthcare and retirement benefits. Ventura, who learned the truth years later in court, called Hogan a “backstabber and narcissist.”

To this day, Ventura refuses to reconcile: “I’m not friends with anyone I don’t trust. He betrayed me.”

3. The Undertaker: The Tombstone Lie

The Undertaker’s revelation about Hogan’s dishonesty sent shockwaves through the industry. In 1991, Hogan claimed Undertaker injured his neck with a tombstone piledriver—a story Taker later proved false by reviewing the tape. Hogan admitted he lied to protect his spot as WWE’s top star, damaging Taker’s reputation early in his career.

For the Deadman, it was the ultimate betrayal of trust and professionalism.

2. Shawn Michaels: The SummerSlam Farce

Their 2005 “dream match” became infamous for all the wrong reasons. Michaels wanted a multi-match feud, but Hogan refused to lose more than once. In protest, Michaels oversold Hogan’s offense in their match, mocking the Hulkster’s ego and wrestling ability. “On camera, brother, I’m a great guy. But when the camera goes off, it’s a different story,” Michaels quipped.

The feud became a symbol of Hogan’s refusal to put over younger talent, even as his own career waned.

1. Bret “The Hitman” Hart: “He Sabotaged My Career”

No one’s criticism of Hogan is more detailed—or more damning—than Bret Hart’s. Hart accused Hogan of sabotaging his career, notably refusing to drop the WWF title to him after WrestleMania IX. In his autobiography and countless interviews, Hart called Hogan a “phony” who “didn’t know a headlock from a headlamp” and used his backstage power to undermine others.

“He thought he was everything, and everyone else was a backup player,” Hart said. “Once that belt was on me, I became someone who had to be removed.”

Hart’s bitterness extended into their WCW days, where he blamed Hogan’s influence for poor booking and lost opportunities.

The Legacy of a Divisive Icon

For every fan who worshipped Hulkamania, there was a peer backstage who saw only manipulation, ego, and betrayal. These ten legends’ stories reveal the complex, often toxic world behind wrestling’s biggest star—a world where friendship, trust, and respect were too often sacrificed for the spotlight.

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