What’s Next for Hulk Hogan?

Expendable by the WWE, could Hulk Hogan Return to the Big Screen?

The wrestling world was rocked recently by news of the WWE ending its long-time, and often rocky relationship with Hulk Hogan, following the release of a decade-old recording of the Hulkster engaging in a tirade that included language offensive to many.

According to a blog report from www.BettingSports.com, Hogan’s presence has been completely erased from the WWE’s website and online store, after the company issued a terse statement that it had “terminated its contract” with the six-time WWF/WWE heavyweight champion.

Hogan’s rant has also received widespread negative reviews in the press and sparked social media outrage, leaving the 61 year-old’s celebrity future in doubt.

But bad press is nothing new for Hogan, who has taken his lumps in the media before.

Hogan’s attempts at becoming a family-oriented movie star were met with some nasty reviews from film critics.

The former WWE superstar’s portrayal of interstellar superhero Shep Ramsey in 1991’s Suburban Commando generated crushing reviews, including one from the legendary Roger Ebert, who wrote that the film left him “feeling kind of tired of going to the movies”, while eFilmCritic.com described Hogan’s performance as “consistent, consistently awful”.

The Hulk had to endure more of the same following the release of films like “Mr. Nanny” and “Santa with Muscles”, which grossed a paltry $221,000 at the box office while being ripped by critics, with Variety describing Hogan’s performance as seldom rising “above the level of good try.” “above the level of good try.”

Hogan’s career as a professional wrestling superstar may be over, but is this the last we will see of the master showman? Not likely.

After putting us out of the misery of his family film career, Hogan bounced back on the small screen, receiving solid reviews after playing a vital role in a brief story arc in the hit 1990s sitcom Suddenly Susan.

Hogan’s turn opposite Brooke Shields rekindled his flagging acting career and proved to be a strong reminder of what was likely his most popular role on the big screen, as wrestler Thunderlips in 1982’s Rocky III.

But similar to today, Hogan’s participation in the filming of Rocky III outraged then-WWF boss Vince McMahon Sr., who booted Hulk from the sports entertainment leader.

Hogan would return to the WWF after Vince McMahon Jr. took over from dear old Dad two years later, leading to an explosion in the popularity of the WWF that fundamentally changed its status in pop culture.

Now that Hogan has time on his hands, could a return to the big screen be in the works?

Well, if there is room for Wesley Snipes and Mel Gibson to revive their movie careers following troubles that virtually destroyed their star images, maybe we can look forward to Hogan joining them in a future installment of Stallone’s money-making movie franchise, The Expendables.