Virtually all traces of him have been removed from WWE.com, including his Hall of Fame page, his merchandise and toys bearing his image and likeness, his involvement in WWE’s reality show Tough Enough, and his appearances as a playable character in WWE Immortals and in the upcoming WWE 2K16.
Hogan’s privacy had already been invaded once after gossip site Gawker scandalized him in 2012 by leaking a clip of an eight-year-old private video involving him and a woman named Heather Clem, to which he retaliated with a 100-million-dollar lawsuit. Now, thanks (or no thanks) to another tabloid site National Enquirer’s recent leaking a transcript of the conversation from the same video, his reputation is ruined yet anew.
The transcript detailed Hulk’s sensitive, racially-fueled rant about his daughter Brooke’s love life. I’d rather not quote it in this entry, however; my page is not a freakin’ tabloid after all.
Forbes reported that the controversy caused WWE shareholders to lose about $50 million in stocks. In order to save face, WWE severed its ties with the Hulkster, giving him "the Chris Benoit treatment." (Don't start with the "Chris Ben-who" jokes on me now.)
“WWE is committed to embracing and celebrating individuals from all backgrounds as demonstrated by the diversity of our employees, performers and fans worldwide,” they said in a press statement.
For what it’s worth, an apologetic Hulk talked to PEOPLE magazine to say his side.
"Eight years ago I used offensive language during a conversation. It was unacceptable for me to have used that offensive language; there is no excuse for it; and I apologize for having done it.
This is not who I am. I believe very strongly that every person in the world is important and should not be treated differently based on race, gender, orientation, religious beliefs or otherwise. I am disappointed with myself that I used language that is offensive and inconsistent with my own beliefs."
While the things he said in the video are damning and seemingly inexcusable (especially by butthurt social justice warriors on the Internet), perhaps those were all he could say as a troubled man to have some sort of release. And when one is frustrated with life, admit it or not, he transforms into someone else, someone that is not himself.