Ex-WWE star recalls plan to beat Hulk Hogan in his debut match

Hulk Hogan became one of WWE's main attractions again after returning to the company in 2002. Sylvain Grenier, an up-and-coming star at the time, recently recalled how he was once considered a possible opponent for The Hulkster.

In 2003, The Rock beat Hogan at No Way Out in a rematch from their iconic WrestleMania 18 bout a year earlier. Grenier, the referee for the No Way Out match, formed a short-lived alliance with then-WWE Chairman Vince McMahon to ensure Hogan lost.

On Developmentally Speaking, Grenier revealed WWE's creative team originally wanted him to beat Hogan after No Way Out:

"With Hogan, I was supposed to have a match with him. Well, they were planning on [the idea], and of course [someone else] would interfere and I would beat Hogan. First match ever, I beat Hulk Hogan. I'm gonna be the most hated guy ever! So, I'm made. I'm a heel no matter what." [From 8:49 – 9:06]

Grenier had competed in untelevised dark matches at that stage of his career. However, he had never wrestled an official match on WWE's main roster before the Hogan storyline began.

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Why Hulk Hogan vs. Sylvain Grenier did not happen

Legendary producer and wrestler Pat Patterson was one of Vince McMahon's right-hand men for several decades. According to Sylvain Grenier, Patterson told him that WWE higher-ups sounded enthusiastic about the Hulk Hogan match idea.

Grenier believes the plan fell through because he was not experienced enough to go one-on-one with Hogan. Instead, he formed the La Resistance tag team with fellow Canadian Rene Dupree.

"It could have been phenomenal, but I was not close to being ready as a wrestler, but it could have been just an in and out and, hey, I beat Hogan and I go back to hide and learn and come back," Grenier continued. "But, yeah, the paperwork didn't work and I think when I had my tryout in Cincinnati, they saw me and Rene, and the war was happening, France were getting involved, they were like, 'Hmm, one plus one, there might be money there." [9:34 – 10:04]

The storyline led to Hogan defeating McMahon at WrestleMania 19, where Grenier appeared as a referee again.

What are your thoughts on whether the match should have happened? Hit the discuss button and let us know.

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Please credit Developmentally Speaking and give a H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription if you use quotes from this article.