5 WWE stars who almost walked out (and the reasons why)

#1 Hulk Hogan almost walked out (WWE MSG show, 1984)

Hulk Hogan became WWE’s star attraction in the mid-1980s, but his time with the company could have turned out very differently.

Before his first WWE Championship win over The Iron Sheik in 1984, Hogan’s title victory was almost nixed due to backstage politics. At the time, former world champion Bob Backlund allegedly tried to convince Vince McMahon Sr. that the company should have a “real athlete” as champion.

Speaking on The Steve Austin Show in 2019, Hogan said McMahon Sr. agreed with Backlund before Vince McMahon Jr. changed his father’s mind. The Hulkster also recalled how he was prepared to return to the AWA (American Wrestling Association) if he did not win the WWE Championship.

“Vince Sr., with all due respect, that's not the deal I made with your son,” Hogan said, quoting his conversation with Vince McMahon Sr. “I just burnt down a huge bridge in Minnesota [AWA], so I'm about to go out and put The Sheik over tonight, but then I'm going back to rebuild that bridge I burnt down in Minnesota.”

#OnThisDay in 1984: Hulk Hogan defeated The Iron Sheik to win the WWF Championship. pic.twitter.com/otiirSQnTk

— Allan (@allan_cheapshot) January 23, 2017

Hogan further clarified that he was willing to lose to The Iron Sheik if Vince McMahon Sr. requested that he do so.

But, having been guaranteed a WWE Championship victory, he was not prepared to conduct future business with the company if the promise was not fulfilled.