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]

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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]

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Luger will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on April 18. The 2025 class will also feature Michelle McCool, The Natural Disasters, and Triple H.

Please credit Sportskeeda WrestleBinge and embed the video if you use quotes from this article.

About the author

Danny Hart is a journalist who has been reporting on pro wrestling (WWE) at Sportskeeda since 2017. He grew up as a massive fan of football/soccer and wrestling, leading him to pursue a career in sports journalism.

Before assuming his current role, Hart worked as a football writer at Goal.com between 2009 and 2016. He prides himself on writing original content that is fact-based and highly accurate. Hart thoroughly proofreads his work before submitting it and relies only on credible sources for information.

Hart’s favorite pro wrestler is The Undertaker. He admires the 2022 WWE Hall of Famer’s ability to reinvent his character and remain relevant across his decades-long career. If given the keys to WWE’s creative department, he would bring back The Phenom for a farewell bout against AJ Styles in a stadium full of fans. Not only that, but he would love to have the multi-time world champion’s greatest rivals seated at ringside for the spectacle.

When not watching and covering sports, Hart enjoys long-distance running, playing video games, and listening to audiobooks and podcasts.

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Edited by Danny Hart