Vince McMahon Sr. Reportedly Envisioned A Very Different Hulk Hogan

As the world continues to mourn the loss of two-time WWE Hall of Famer and pop culture phenomenon Hulk Hogan, what better way to honor his memory than to recite moments of his career, or what could have been. To commemorate all the year's he spent covering the highs and lows of "The Unstoppable Force," Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter wrote an interesting passage on a "what-if" scenario second generation promoter Vincent J. McMahon had in mind for the Hulkster if McMahon's vision succeeded.

According to Meltzer's report, McMahon, who publicly showcased Hogan for the first time on television on November 13, 1979, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, envisioned the new star portraying an Irishman, with optimism that Hogan would change his signature golden locks for fiery red hair. Well, that never character never came to be; however, the last name of Hogan, which McMahon came up with, stuck throughout his tenure in the squared circle.

When Hogan first debuted, McMahon felt confident in his choice to cast the newcomer as a heel. He was accompanied by a man who wrote the book on villain wrestlers/wrestling 101, WWE Hall of Famer "Classy" Freddie Blassie. For many at the time, Hogan bore a striking resemblance to another Hall of Famer, "Superstar" Billy Graham, who was the company's pinnacle bad guy before his departure one year before Hogan's arrival. It's fun to think of all the characters Hogan might have played in his career, but nothing gained/shook the very ground he walked on than his flamboyant yet beloved persona as the leader of the Hulkamania movement before returning to his old  ways, but this time as an elevated, unshakeable, cool as cucumber heel, "Hollywood" Hogan.