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Jesse Ventura, a well-known figure especially among older wrestling fans for his charismatic and intriguing personality, appeared on INSIGHT with Chris Van Vliet. During the interview, he discussed various topics, including whether he would ever forgive and forget Hulk Hogan's actions from the 1980s.
At that time, Hogan had revealed Ventura's plans to unionize wrestlers to Vince McMahon. Ventura made it clear that he has no intention of moving past this issue. He criticized Hogan as a narcissistic individual and expressed that he would like to hear an apology from the veteran wrestler.
“No. He betrayed me. When you have a guy who’s as narcissistic as Donald Trump, it ain’t gonna happen until I hear an apology from him (Hogan). He’s the narcissist like Hogan. You know, birds of a feather flock together. I heard he was at the Republican Convention. I already heard about that, Hogan was there. Somebody wrote here they’d have done better with Doink the Clown. It was in the paper here. They said, ‘Doink the Clown would have been better.’”- Ventura said, as quoted by Pwmania.
Ventura has also considered a return to WWE and stressed that the situation regarding his relationship with the company has improved somewhat. There is a strong possibility that this seasoned wrestler might make a comeback to where he belongs. Many fans are eagerly hoping for this scenario to unfold.
“My relationship with them now has much improved. We are on the verge right now, I can say this, contracts have been written, contracts have been agreed upon and all it requires is two signatures, one from them, and one from me and I will be back with the legends (deal).”
He explained that Vince McMahon's absence from WWE plays a role in his potential return. With WWE’s recent merger with Ultimate Fighting, the company has become more mainstream and corporate, making it easier to work with them as they are more open and less tied to the old wrestling practices.
Many believed that WWE needed to make a significant shift, modernize, and demonstrate to the world that it was open to changes and innovations in the wrestling industry. The arrival of Triple H at the helm of the company was seen as a crucial moment, signaling a turning point where it became clear that WWE would likely thrive under his leadership. It is also noteworthy that WWE has been losing its younger audience, but with these new moves, the company's intention is to rekindle interest among the younger.
Ventura referred to these practices as akin to "slavery," highlighting the drastic changes over time. Ventura also shared a compliment he received from his former agent, Barry Bloom, who noted that the modern contracts wrestlers receive owe a debt to Ventura. According to Bloom, Ventura was the first wrestler to push Vince McMahon to work with an agent, setting a precedent for better contracts in the industry.
Jesse Ventura and his relationship with Vince McMahon
Jesse Ventura had a great relationship with Vince McMahon before McMahon left WWE. Ventura admired McMahon and respected his influence in the wrestling world. Back in 1983, Ventura was considering quitting wrestling. He had saved up enough money to open his own gym, which was supporting him and his family. This financial cushion gave him the confidence to walk away from wrestling if needed.
When Ventura decided to move from AWA to WWE (then known as WWF), he did so with a clear plan. He asked McMahon for a six-year contract guarantee, which McMahon agreed to. Ventura’s contract ended almost exactly six years later, in 1990, when McMahon decided to let him go. This agreement showed how Ventura carefully planned his career moves and negotiated with McMahon.
It’s well-known that Vince McMahon has always been a distinctive leader with strong opinions. Many people struggled to work with him and quickly walked away. However, the leading names in WWE were determined to succeed in the wrestling world, despite McMahon's tough and often harsh demeanor. Their desire for success overshadowed all other concerns.
McMahon aimed to build a company that would become one of the biggest and most powerful in the industry. It’s important to acknowledge that he achieved this goal. WWE continues to grow year after year, with its success becoming more evident over time.
Ventura also revealed that McMahon had promised to support him in the political aspect of his career. However, Ventura became frustrated when McMahon did not follow through on this promise and failed to call him as promised. This was a moment Ventura still remembers vividly and likely influenced his change in perception of McMahon.
English (US)