WWE RAW Announcer Jonathan Coachman has made his feelings known about the potential return of Hulk Hogan to the sports entertainment company.
His latest run with the company was a short one. On February 24, 2014, on Raw, Hogan made his first WWE in-ring appearance since December 2007 to hype the launch of the WWE Network.
At WrestleMania 30, Hogan served as the host and came out at the start of the show to hype up the crowd. Steve Austin and The Rock ended up coming out to have a memorable segment with him. However, he was later fired over racist remarks made in a leaked sex tape.
Coachman recently made an appearance on Busted Open and talked about the idea of Hogan returning as WWE has confirmed that they’ve been in talks with the former WWE Champion. Here is what he had to say:
“I think as far as the reason why Mark [Henry] and a big group of guys don’t want him to come back – or at least want him to be contrite – is at some point your seventh, eighth, ninth chance to come back and play a role should be enough,” Coachman said. “He’s a huge star, which is why he’s gotten so many different chances. But the bottom line is over the years Hulk has always asked for not the premium dollar, he’s asked for ridiculous amounts of money to come back and do something.”
“So, if he’s not contrite, he’s not apologizing, and he’s asking for a ton of money, again, I’m not privy to the conversations, but I know what he’s done in the past and if he’s asking for a ton of money, I don’t see the upside in bringing him back to do what? To be an ambassador? He’s had hip replacement surgery, he can’t work in the ring,” Coach said. “Yes, he has humongous star power, but is it positive star power? Is it star power that he would use to help somebody else? Because at this point you’ve got to give somebody the rub, you’ve got to pay it forward. You’ve gotta come back and you can’t be Hulk Hogan from WrestleMania I as the main eventer and that’s somebody that Hulk Hogan has never been. His track record speaks for [itself] when it comes to giving back or giving to another Superstar.”
“I thought, at least in the trailers, for the Andre the Giant documentary he looks like he was very thoughtful and gives a lot,” Coachman responded. “I don’t think it’s ever too late for somebody to change, but he’s damn near 70 years old. Unless he’s going to come back and be a positive ambassador then I don’t believe WWE needs him.”
H/T to Wrestling Inc for the transcript
