WWE: The exact moment Vince Russo knew Hulk Hogan did not trust him (Exclusive)

Vince Russo was WCW's head writer in late 1999 and early 2000 when Hulk Hogan was the company's biggest name. In an exclusive video, the 64-year-old gave his honest reflections on what The Hulkster thought of him.

Hogan, real name Terry Bollea, passed away on July 24 at the age of 71 after suffering a cardiac arrest. The wrestling icon made his name in WWE in the 1980s before a successful run with WCW from 1994 to 2000.

Like Hogan, Russo worked for WWE before joining WCW. Speaking to Sportskeeda Wrestling host Mac Davis, he recalled how the two-time Hall of Famer never trusted him.

"All the big-money guys dressed together [in WCW], and all the midcarders on down dressed in a totally different other part of the building, and I remember, Mac, seeing Hulk for the first time, and, Mac, I could tell just by the way he was looking at me, he did not trust me, bro, without ever speaking a word to me," Russo said. [1:14–1:43]

What Went Wrong for Hulk Hogan? Watch Here!

Watch the video above to hear Russo tell the full story behind his controversial promo about Hulk Hogan at Bash at the Beach 2000.

Why Hulk Hogan allegedly didn't trust Vince Russo

During his short WCW stint, Vince Russo was keen to push younger talents like Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero. The veteran writer still wanted to revolve storylines around the likes of Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair. However, he thought the next generation should also receive fair opportunities.

According to Russo, the fact that he replaced Hogan's close friend Eric Bischoff likely led to them having a strained relationship.

"I knew the veterans were gonna cook me. Mac, you've been in the business. Paranoia's the number one sickness in the wrestling business. I remember that specifically about Hulk, man. The first time I ever locked eyes with him, I could just tell, man, because you gotta remember, man, before me it was his buddy Eric [in charge], and Eric was always protecting him, you know what I mean? He never trusted me from the jump, Mac. Never." [3:35–4:07]

In the same episode, Russo revealed why Hogan once filed a defamation of character lawsuit against him.

Please credit Sportskeeda Wrestling and embed the video if you use quotes from this article.

About the author

Danny Hart is a journalist who has been reporting on pro wrestling (WWE) at Sportskeeda since 2017. He grew up as a massive fan of football/soccer and wrestling, leading him to pursue a career in sports journalism.

Before assuming his current role, Hart worked as a football writer at Goal.com between 2009 and 2016. He prides himself on writing original content that is fact-based and highly accurate. Hart thoroughly proofreads his work before submitting it and relies only on credible sources for information.

Hart’s favorite pro wrestler is The Undertaker. He admires the 2022 WWE Hall of Famer’s ability to reinvent his character and remain relevant across his decades-long career. If given the keys to WWE’s creative department, he would bring back The Phenom for a farewell bout against AJ Styles in a stadium full of fans. Not only that, but he would love to have the multi-time world champion’s greatest rivals seated at ringside for the spectacle.

When not watching and covering sports, Hart enjoys long-distance running, playing video games, and listening to audiobooks and podcasts.

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Edited by Danny Hart