Folks, the Hulkster is back, and no, I’m not talking about another leg drop (those knees are long retired). Despite leaving his in-ring days in the dust—along with a lot of other things from the ’80s—Hulk Hogan has inked a brand new five-year deal with WWE. That’s right, brother, Hogan isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
While he’s been a lightning rod of controversy this summer—from endorsing a certain ex-president at the Republican National Convention to, uh, suggesting he’d like to bodyslam Democratic nominee Kamala Harris (as if that would go over well)—this latest Hogan headline is all business. And by business, I mean licensing, merchandising, and the sweet ambassador life that only WWE can offer.
Appearing on Impaulsive with Logan Paul, because where else would he be, Hogan made the big reveal. “I signed a five-year deal,” Hogan told Paul, looking like a man ready to sell out arenas—if by arenas, you mean toy shelves and t-shirts. At 71 years old, Hulkamania may not be running as wild as it once did, but Hogan is still eager to slap his name on any piece of merchandise WWE can churn out.
“I’m gonna be 71, but I signed a five-year deal for licensing, merchandising, and you know, the ambassador stuff,” Hogan shared. “If they need me for WrestleMania, I just love doing it.” I mean, sure, he might not be dropping atomic leg drops anymore, but he’ll happily drop by a WrestleMania or two to get the crowd fired up—or at least mildly concerned about his well-being.
Hogan’s partnership with WWE dates back to the 1970s, and despite a few, let’s call them “rough patches,”—like when WWE cut ties in 2015 after Hogan’s racial tirade hit the internet—he’s managed to muscle his way back into the fold. The man who was briefly erased from WWE history (even from the Hall of Fame) made a controversial comeback three years later, proving that you really can’t keep Hulkamania down for long.
And now, with this new deal, Hogan’s legacy—warts and all—continues to live on in WWE. You might not see him slamming giants anymore, but you’ll definitely see his face on a t-shirt at your local mall, whether you like it or not.