Scott's Mailbag
Rants

AWA World Heavyweight Champion: Hulk Hogan

By Scott Keith on 6 February 2025

Hey Scott,

So I finally saw the match where Hulk Hogan gets screwed out of the AWA World Championship over Nick Bockwinkle and the crowd practically riots. I’m sure this has come up a bunch of times, (do a shot) but what would Vince have done had Verne done the smart thing and puts the title on Hogan, was there a plan B, or stick with Backlund a little longer?
Hulk Hogan was already out the door in his own mind when he was doing those title matches. Verne couldn't offer him anything close to what Vince was offering, and they both knew it. I know the perception is “Verne screwed him out of the AWA title and he left for greener pastures” but the truth is that if Verne had somehow put the title on him, all that would have happened is Hulk showing up on WWF TV and leaving the belt in the trash somewhere in the airport on the way. Verne would have been completely stupid to put the title on him and Hulk would have been stupid to take it and stay for a pittance of what Vince was giving him.