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WWE veteran explains why Hulk Hogan filed a lawsuit against him (Exclusive)

By Danny Hart
Modified Sep 13, 2024 23:21 IST
Two-time WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan [Image Credit: wwe.com]
Two-time WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan [Image Credit: wwe.com]

Hulk Hogan appeared in WCW between 1994 and 2000 before leaving the company in controversial circumstances. Former WCW and WWE writer Vince Russo recently addressed why The Hulkster filed a lawsuit against him while working for the promotion.

At Bash at the Beach 2000, Russo's on-screen persona reversed Hogan's title win over Jeff Jarrett and cut a scathing promo on the wrestling legend. Hogan claimed Russo went off-script and filed a defamation of character lawsuit against him. However, Russo has always maintained that everyone agreed to the script before the show.

On Sportskeeda Wrestling's Writing With Russo, the one-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion told host Dr. Chris Featherstone what really happened:

"Everybody believed it was a shoot [real], so now it looked like Vince Russo got over on Hulk Hogan, and that really p****d him off because it was not a shoot," Russo said. "I did not get over on Hulk Hogan." [9:33 – 9:50]
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Watch the video above to hear Russo's take on Hogan claiming he never played his creative control card in WCW.

Another reason why Hulk Hogan filed the lawsuit

Before Bash at the Beach 2000, Vince Russo promised to contact Hulk Hogan to discuss storyline ideas moving forward. However, a phone call never happened.

Russo added that Brad Siegel, the former president of WCW's parent company Turner Entertainment, told him not to talk to the promotion's top star:

"I said, 'Let's just get this show over with.' I said, 'As soon as I get back from TV, I will call you and we will discuss the creative going forward.' And I meant that one billion percent. When I got back to Atlanta, bro, Brad Siegel calls me into his office, 'Vince, how did you leave it with Hulk?' 'I'm supposed to call him to go over his creative.' Brad Siegel said to me, 'Vince, do not call Hulk. I cannot afford to use him on TV,' so I never called him." [10:02 – 10:35]

In 2003, Hogan's lawsuit against Russo was dismissed and deemed "just part of a wrestling storyline."

What are your thoughts on the Bash at the Beach controversy? Hit the discuss button and let us know.

Please credit Sportskeeda Wrestling's Writing With Russo and embed the video if you use quotes from this article.