In the ever-evolving spectacle of sports entertainment, it’s rare to find an opportunity that stands out as a “huge mistake” when missed. But that’s precisely the way the iconic Hulk Hogan describes a missed chance he and Vince McMahon had to buy the UFC years ago.
Hulk Hogan and Vince McMahon have been synonymous with the world of wrestling since the heyday of Hulkamania in the 1980s. Their alliance, often punctuated by periods of both on-screen and off-screen estrangement, has been as entertaining as it has been profitable. Notably, their relationship took a hit in the 1990s because of the steroid trial controversy and the Hulkster’s jump to WCW. Despite the rift, the pair reconciled, with Hogan making a triumphant return to the WWE ring in 2002, even enjoying another run as the Undisputed WWE Champion.
Amidst their shared legacy of highs and lows, one regret appears to sting more than most, especially Hogan.
In an appearance on the ‘This Past Weekend’ podcast, Hogan confessed, “There was an opportunity to buy UFC a long time ago, and Vince and I passed on it.” He explained that the excessively violent nature of the then-nascent promotion, where the rules were far less stringent, was off-putting. Yet in hindsight, both Hogan and McMahon acknowledge that this was a colossal oversight.
Despite this, fate seems to have a flair for the dramatic. Instead of the WWE acquiring the UFC, McMahon masterminded the sale of WWE to UFC’s parent company, Endeavor. The two powerhouses of sports entertainment are soon set to merge into TKO Group, albeit operating independently.
The question that remains tantalizingly unanswered is what could have been if Hogan and McMahon had seized the chance to acquire the UFC during its early days. Some years back, Hogan had hinted that he was offered a chance to step into the octagonal ring during UFC’s formative period. This claim, however, was refuted by UFC co-founder Campbell McLaren, who insisted that Hogan was never in their plans.
The announced WWE-UFC merger, which coincidentally followed WrestleMania 39, is projected to form a “$21+ billion live sports and entertainment powerhouse.” Slated to go public on the stock exchange by the end of 2023, this new entity is a testament to the visionary leadership of McMahon, who continues to play a pivotal role despite the change of hands.
In the end, regret may color Hogan’s memory of the missed opportunity to purchase UFC, but the present paints a different picture.
With WWE and UFC coming together under the Endeavor umbrella, the world of sports entertainment is set to embark on a new journey. And while it’s tempting to ponder the road not taken, there’s a wealth of excitement to be found on the path ahead. One thing is for certain, in the world of sports entertainment, the only predictable thing is its sheer unpredictability. Time, as they say, will tell.
