Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan emerged as two of the most iconic figures in professional wrestling, rising to prominence during the same era but in different organizations, with Flair leading the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and Hogan as the face of WWE. When Ric Flair eventually joined WWE in the early 1990s, many fans anticipated a high-profile WrestleMania dream match between Flair and Hogan, yet this highly anticipated confrontation never happened.
Following Hulk Hogan’s passing, Flair shared his thoughts on why this dream match did not occur on a WWE pay-per-view event, addressing the topic in an interview that shed light on the dynamics behind this missed opportunity.
Ric Flair’s Perspective on Why WWE Never Booked the WrestleMania Hogan Match
After dominating the NWA for years, Ric Flair made a significant move to WWE in 1991, a development that caused considerable excitement among wrestling fans. It was widely expected that Flair and Hogan, as two of wrestling’s biggest stars, would headline WrestleMania 8 in a bout that could be called the match of the decade. However, WWE pursued a different creative direction, and before Flair left WWE in 1993 to join WCW, he and Hogan only crossed paths on television and in house shows, never in a one-on-one match on a WWE pay-per-view.
In an interview with Ariel Helwani after Hogan’s death, Flair discussed the reasons behind the unrealized WrestleMania dream match. He offered a candid explanation:
“I don’t know the answer to that. I’ll tell you what I think: I don’t think Hulk wanted to leave on a losing note, which I totally understand because who am I, after what he’s done for the company. And number two, I don’t know, maybe they thought it wouldn’t draw like it should, I have no idea. The one thing that I know for sure is that I never ever got over in New York.”
—Ric Flair
What Actually Happened at WrestleMania 8 and Why It Was Different From Expectations
Ric Flair arrived in WWE with momentum, having won the 1991 Royal Rumble and capturing the WWE Championship shortly after. This success positioned Flair as the company’s top star. Many assumed his rising stature would culminate in defending the WWE Championship against Hogan in the main event of WrestleMania 8, continuing Hogan’s long-standing place at the top of the card.
Instead, WWE booked Hogan in a feud against Sid Justice, while Flair’s WrestleMania 8 match was against ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage for the WWE Championship. Flair recounted being surprised by the decision to give him the Royal Rumble victory and how it represented an escape from frustrations he had experienced:
“You know what Vince did? He said, ‘I’m not going to give you a guarantee, I’ll shake your hand to make you more money.’ I never asked him for anything. I was just so anxious to get away. I didn’t know I was going to win the Royal Rumble. I walked in that day and Vince said you’re winning the Royal Rumble, I said, ‘What?’ I didn’t expect that. I just wanted freedom from being belittled by Jim Herd. I built WCW and I’m not ashamed to say that.”
—Ric Flair
The Ric Flair vs. Hulk Hogan Rivalry Realized in WCW Following WWE
After Hogan’s departure from WWE, he joined WCW, where he encountered Ric Flair once again. Unlike WWE, WCW quickly capitalized on this rivalry by booking the pair in high-profile matches on pay-per-views, starting at Bash At The Beach 1994. Hogan defeated Flair for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship in that event, marking the first time the two wrestled a one-on-one match on a major PPV.
Although their matches were well promoted and carried significant star power, the bouts never reached classic status, partly due to both wrestlers aging and WCW’s often erratic booking decisions. Despite this, several notable encounters between Flair and Hogan took place in WCW over the years:
- WCW Bash At The Beach 1994 — Hogan defeated Flair for the title
- WCW Clash Of The Champions (August 24, 1994) — Flair defeated Hogan by count out
- WCW Halloween Havoc 1994 — Hogan retained via Steel Cage Retirement Match
- WCW Nitro 1996 and 1999 — Multiple matches with varied outcomes
- WCW SuperBrawl 1999 — Flair defeated Hogan in a First Blood Steel Cage Match
- WCW Uncensored 2000 — Hogan defeated Flair in a Strap Match
Their rivalry extended into WWE when an aged Hogan and Flair clashed on an episode of Monday Night RAW in 2002, a matchup widely seen as less impactful than what had been possible earlier in their careers.
The Enduring Legacy and Missed Potential of the WrestleMania Dream Match
The anticipated WrestleMania Hulk Hogan Ric Flair match remains one of wrestling’s greatest what-ifs, as the timing and company decisions prevented it from becoming the monumental showdown it could have been. While Flair’s arrival in WWE generated hope for a historic WrestleMania main event against Hogan, the plan never fully materialized, with both stars instead fulfilling parts of their legacies in separate ways initially.
The matches they did have in WCW, although significant, never matched the excitement of a potential WrestleMania headliner during their prime. This missed opportunity leaves fans reflecting on the impact such a match might have had on wrestling history, reminding audiences of the complex factors behind booking decisions in the wrestling industry.
