In the wake of Hulk Hogan’s passing on July 24, 2025, WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart has offered a candid and nuanced assessment of the late wrestling icon’s career and legacy. While Hart acknowledges Hogan’s undeniable impact on the wrestling business, he also critically highlights a perceived failure by Hogan to elevate or support fellow wrestlers during his storied career.
Speaking on the recent episode of “The Masked Man Show,” Hart paid tribute to Hogan’s monumental footprint in professional wrestling, saying, “You can never deny what Hulk Hogan did, like his footprint in the wrestling business will always be huge, like maybe as big as it ever is going to get.” However, Hart quickly added a pointed criticism: “But there was a lot of wrestlers that didn’t do that. Hulk Hogan never did that for anybody. He never pulled anyone else up”[1][2].
Hart contrasted Hogan’s approach with that of another wrestling legend, Roddy Piper. Hart specifically acknowledged Piper as one of the few wrestling stars who actively helped elevate others, including himself—a gesture that Hart says significantly aided his own rise. “Roddy Piper was one of the few guys that reached down and pulled me up to his level, like helped pulled me up … Roddy Piper made me and contributed back to the next generation,” Hart explained[1][2].
The Hitman’s critique extends beyond Hogan’s in-ring legacy into backstage dynamics. Hart recalls that after winning the WWE Championship in 1992, he expected support or camaraderie from Hogan but was met with hostility instead. “I always thought the day I won the belt, I always thought Hulk Hogan would come up and pat me on the back and tell me how glad he was that I was the guy they picked to pull the sword out of the stone for him. And, you know, unfortunately, that’s not how it was. The second I won the belt, I was the enemy,” Hart said on The Ringer Wrestling Podcast[3][4].
Hart also drew parallels with Jake “The Snake” Roberts, another wrestler he felt similarly about. “Jake Roberts never did anything for anybody else; he only did for Jake Roberts. I look at Jake Roberts and Hulk Hogan as just two guys,” Hart remarked, implying a certain self-interested mentality prevalent among some of wrestling’s biggest stars of that era[1][3].
The tension between Hart and Hogan dates back more than three decades, with one of the most notable incidents occurring at WWE SummerSlam 1993, when Hogan refused to drop the WWE Championship to Hart. This marked the beginning of a well-documented rivalry that extended beyond the ring, fueled by backstage politics and differing philosophies regarding the business[1][3].
Despite their personal and professional differences, Hart did not dismiss Hogan’s contributions to wrestling’s worldwide popularity. Celebrities and fellow wrestlers such as The Undertaker, Ric Flair, and Kurt Angle have also paid homage to Hogan’s transformational role within WWE and the industry at large in recent weeks[1]. Hogan’s role as arguably wrestling’s first global megastar helped bring professional wrestling to a mainstream audience in the 1980s and 1990s, a fact Hart acknowledged even in his criticism.
Sources close to WWE confirmed that these candid comments from Hart mark the most detailed public critique of Hogan since his death. They reflect longstanding backstage grievances but also a broader wrestling industry dialogue about legacy, mentorship, and how top stars contribute to the next generation of talent[1][3].
As wrestling fans and professionals continue to process the loss of Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart’s reflections serve as a reminder that a legacy is complex—made up not only of the glories visible to the public but also the unseen dynamics behind the scenes. While Hogan’s name will forever be synonymous with wrestling’s rise to cultural prominence, Hart’s perspective challenges the community to critically assess how influence and leadership are wielded beyond the spotlight.
For those quoting Bret Hart’s insights, please credit “The Masked Man Show” and Wrestling Inc. for the transcription of his interview.[1]