As was previously reported, plans were being put in place awhile back for Hulk Hogan to join The Bullet Club in New Japan. However the deal ended up falling through because Hogan was asking for more money than NJPW felt he was worth. Also New Japan was afraid that Hogan would leave the company as soon as he got a call from Vince McMahon about a potential return to the WWE.
On the latest installment of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer elaborated further on the subject of Hogan almost going to New Japan and joining the Bullet Club. He provided more details about Hogan asking for more money than NJPW felt he was worth considering his limited role due to injuries keeping him from wrestling.
Meltzer stated, “There have been talks and the gist of it is that it’s not cost-effective because I think he wants more money than he’s worth at this stage of the game.”
Meltzer went on to explain the difference between Hogan going to New Japan and Chris Jericho’s recent run with the company. He said that it was a different situation for Jericho because they had the whole storyline and angle already mapped out. However with Hogan, they worried about mapping things out because they felt he would most-likely jump back to WWE as soon as the phone rang with an offer from Vince McMahon. He went on to point out how Hogan is notorious for this, after an angled in 2003 he shot with Jeff Jarrett, but then he jumped to WWE as soon as Vince called.
The original idea in place was to put Hogan in The Bullet Club, following an interview where he expressed interest in working with the group. However, with Hogan unable to compete in the ring, he would be limited to a sort of “ambassador” role with the group which New Japan wasn’t willing to meet Hogan’s asking price.
“He’s such a larger than life character that he takes over everything and I don’t know that’s good to overshadow [your stars]. Your product is Okada, Naito, and Omega and The Young Bucks and Ishii and these guys and you have this guy and he goes and overshadows them and then leaves…I’m pretty negative on the idea. It could happen [but] I don’t think it’s the right move for New Japan.”
