CM Punk Starring In HORROR MOVIE! WWE Star SHOOTS On Hulk Hogan RETURN! WrestleTalk News Video

Hulk Hogan WWE Return Backlash

…Hulk Hogan’s return hasn’t gone down as well as WWE probably hoped. 

WWE announced that the Hulkster would be reinstated in their Hall of Fame last Sunday, after being removed three years prior amidst racist comments he’d made were leaked to the media.

The news was broken to main roster talent before Extreme Rules started, with Hogan being there in person to apologise and try to make amends. Occasional SmackDown women’s division wrestler James Ellsworth was there and he’s described the meeting on the latest episode of his Duhcast show.

Apparently Triple H opened proceedings with a speech on the dangers of social media, and how easy it is for fans to record your remarks. Then Hogan took the stage, apologising for his comments. And, to close the meeting, WWE producer Mark Henry announced his support of the Hulkster. Ellsworth said that most seemed accepting of Hogan’s apology, and he believed it was sincere.

Titus O’Neil Shoots On Hulk Hogan

Titus O’Neil sure didn’t, though! 

In reply to the New Day’s statement that they accepted Hulk being reinstated into the Hall of Fame on a professional level, but were “indifferent” to his return, Titus posted:

“In FULL AGREEMENT AND SUPPORT OF EVERYTHING SAID IN THIS STATEMENT. MY additional response to this from to follow as there have been NUMEROUS ERRONEOUS reports on my Views and Response-to this situation.” 

Those ‘NUMEROUS ERRONEOUS reports’ are presumably BarnBurner’s claim that Titus threw a fit at the meeting and walked out on Hogan – a rumor that WrestlingInc have also disputed. But whether that happened or not, O’Neil has made it clear he isn’t accepting of Hogan’s return in his own statement:

“The reports and rumors concerning my boycotting Extreme Rules in Pittsburgh is false and inaccurate. I was not scheduled to attend or participate in the Extreme Rules match/production and otherwise was not booked for the show. The talent present in Pittsburgh, which I was a part of, was asked to attend a mandatory meeting in which Mr. Terry Bollea addressed everyone and informed the same that he would be reinstated into the WWE Hall of Fame. At no point during, after or otherwise did I make any scene concerning Mr. Bollea’s communication to the talent. In addition, let it be known that I did not refuse to shake Mr. Bollea’s hand; we did not have any type of one-on-one interaction whatsoever that would or did necessitate any exchange between us individually.

As to the reinstatement of Mr. Bollea, I can only communicate that I am a proponent of second and even third chances for individuals that show true remorse, acknowledgement of wrongdoing, fulfill their punishment, if applicable, and otherwise put forth sincere efforts to correct the issues. Unfortunately, I must echo the sentiment and dissatisifaction expressed by many of my fellow contemporaries concerning Mr. Bollea’s apology and its lack of true contrition, remorse and a desire to change. Mr. Bollea’s apology ‘that he didn’t know he was being recorded’ is not remorse for the hateful and violent utterances he made which reprise language that has caused violence against blacks and minorities for centuries.”

And possibly revealing herself as another main roster wrestler unhappy with Hogan’s return, Sasha Banks replied to O’Neil’s post with a simple heart emoji.

In a company where wrestlers are often thought to walk on eggshells backstage in fear for their jobs, this is an almost unprecedented level of public disagreement between WWE and its talent.

• titus o'neil
• aj lee
• james ellsworth
• Triple H
• HHH
• the new day
• Hulk Hogan
• Mark Henry
• cm punk
• Sasha Banks
• wwe

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