WWE legend denies he wanted to replace Hulk Hogan (Exclusive)

Modified Mar 29, 2025 16:07 GMT

Six-time WWE Champion Hulk Hogan [Image Credit: wwe.com]

Hulk Hogan was WWE's marquee attraction in the 1980s and early 1990s before Lex Luger was briefly presented as the company's top good guy. In an exclusive interview, The Total Package addressed claims that he wanted to become a new version of The Hulkster.

Hogan left WWE in 1993 after headlining eight of the first nine WrestleMania events. Former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon almost immediately repackaged Luger as an American hero, prompting speculation that he was viewed internally as the next Hogan.

Luger clarified to Sportskeeda Wrestling Senior Editor Bill Apter that he never compared himself to the two-time Hall of Famer:

"You know, Bill, I get that all the time, and I always tell people, I mean, my gosh, the Rocky movie, Hulk Hogan had such an incredible run and just really one of the first guys to really transcend wrestling itself as a pop culture phenomenon that we'd never seen in wrestling before. There was never gonna be a replacement for Hulk Hogan. I never thought that. Vince McMahon never thought that or talked about that with me." [3:09 – 3:45]

Watch the video above to hear Luger reveal how Diamond Dallas Page (DDP) has helped him over the last year.

Lex Luger on Vince McMahon's perception of him in WWE

At SummerSlam 1993, Lex Luger defeated then-WWE Champion Yokozuna by countout in one of the biggest matches of his career. He also co-won the 1994 Royal Rumble alongside Bret Hart.

In Luger's opinion, Vince McMahon wanted him to be popular but had no intention of booking him as the next Hulk Hogan:

"He always wanted there to be a popular babyface who sold a lot of merchandise, but there was only gonna be one Hulk Hogan. I never tried to be like Hulk Hogan. I just wanted to be the best Lex Luger I could be. I never thought or wanted to be, and I don't think the fans wanted anybody to be another Hulk Hogan. There was only one Hulk Hogan, for sure." [3:45 – 4:06]