WWE Hall of Famer slams Hulk Hogan for blocking Wrestling Union
WWE Hall of Famer Alundra Blayze, notably known as Madusa, recently discussed the absence of a union in professional wrestling during an appearance on “GAW TV.”
She highlighted the existence of player associations in sports like the NFL that take care of athletes after their careers, providing financial support. Blayze expressed the need for something similar in wrestling to aid retired wrestlers in paying bills and medical expenses, suggesting that it could reduce the need for frequent signings to make ends meet.
Mickie James brought up Jesse Ventura’s attempt to establish a wrestling union, but Blayze revealed that Hulk Hogan reportedly thwarted those efforts. Ventura’s plan to create a union was met with resistance from Vince McMahon. Blayze shared that Hogan informed McMahon about Ventura’s initiative, which resulted in its halt. Blayze criticized Hogan for his role in preventing the formation of a wrestlers’ union.
How Hulk Hogan stopped the formation of a WWE Player Union
Blayze emphasized the importance of better regulations for wrestling schools, the care of veterans, and the need for an organization similar to the Players Association in wrestling. She called for influential figures like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson or John Cena to step up and use their platforms to support such a cause. Medusa said the following:
“You’re out there doing 20 different jobs, selling yourself, killing yourself, bringing this stuff, and there should be an organization like the Players Association for wrestling,” Madusa said. “We have a multi-billion dollar company that is the monopoly of this industry. And since I went on board working with the CAC [Cauliflower Alley Club] — it’s a great organization. It helps, it gives back to the people in our community in wrestling. And it’s just a small amount. It’s just benevolent, etc. I mean, there needs to be more than that. I understand putting people through — people say, ‘Well, they got a drug rehab.’ Great. A Players Association or a wrestlers association would’ve been great, and shame on Hogan for doing that.”
The issue of wrestlers’ employment status, often treated as independent contractors, has long been a topic of discussion. Former Minnesota Governor Jesse “The Body” Ventura was a vocal advocate for a wrestling union to address these concerns. He sought to bring the Screen Actors Guild model to wrestlers, advocating for unionization and attempting to rally fellow wrestlers during Wrestlemania II.
However, Ventura’s efforts were derailed when Hulk Hogan reportedly informed Vince McMahon about Ventura’s plans. Hogan’s disclosure to McMahon led to the abandonment of Ventura’s unionization campaign. Ventura later filed a lawsuit against McMahon, revealing that Hogan’s betrayal had halted his push for a wrestling union.
Hogan’s actions were attributed to his financial interests, as he made significant earnings in comparison to other wrestlers, including at WrestleMania III. This revelation highlighted the impact of influential wrestlers like Hogan in shaping the industry’s dynamics and preventing the establishment of a union.
