While paying tribute to the late Hulk Hogan, legendary announcer and former WWE Head of Talent Relations Jim Ross offered a candid and complex assessment of what it was like to work with the icon behind the scenes. While praising Hogan as the “greatest babyface in history,” Ross also described him as “paranoid” and “not fun to work with.”
“Paranoid and Insecure”
Speaking on his Grilling JR podcast, Ross reflected on his professional relationship with Hogan, particularly during his return to WWE in 2002. He explained that Hogan’s constant lack of trust made for a challenging work environment.
A “Deluxe Pain in the Ass”
Ross compared Hogan’s demeanor to that of “Macho Man” Randy Savage, another legend he found difficult to manage due to his paranoia.
“He didn’t trust anybody, Conrad. He thought everybody had an ulterior motive, and that was out to get him. And, you know, I don’t know why I would have went to the trouble of negotiating with him, which is another adventure, or anything like that. He was more concerned, seemingly, demeanor, this is my opinion, he was certainly more concerned about creative and how he was going to be used than the money he was offered on his contract, being a member of the team… Savage is another guy, and he was a deluxe pain in the ass to deal with, just because of his paranoia and his lack of trust. There was always an issue, always an angle, always an ulterior motive, and that was just hard to manage on a daily basis… I have great memories of Hulk Hogan as a talent, because, like I said, to say a guy is the greatest baby face in the history of the business is a big statement. Oh, yeah. And it certainly is said with respect and admiration. I believe that. But golly, he had to be assured of that almost every day. And that’s that, got to be old.”
Despite any backstage difficulties, Jim Ross was adamant that Hulk Hogan’s legacy as arguably the biggest star in wrestling history is undeniable, as evidenced by the global outpouring of tributes from fans and peers.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit AdFreeShows.com with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
