Whether it's WWE or anywhere else, no matter where the Hulkster performs, he's always going to have many fans interested regardless of where he's wrestling. With that said, with the WWE Hall of Famer's in-ring wrestling career winding down during the 2000s, he made sure to capitalize on a nostalgic run during that period. With his in-ring matches becoming more limited during the mid-aughts, it made the final matches of Hulk Hogan that special. In 2007, he got set to face WWE Raw's color commentator {& fellow WWE Hall of Famer} Jerry "The King" Lawler at Memphis Wrestling's PMG Clash of Legends event, which was a big deal in the independent wrestling scene at the time. However, the Federation forced the King out of the event, and he was replaced by Paul Wight, better known as The Big Show at the time.
Fans Still Loved To Watch Him Wrestle, Even Past His Prime
Legends matches are some of the most exciting events in the wrestling industry. Even as certain wrestlers that long reached their prime and are slowing down, many fans would still love the idea of them getting in the ring one more time. There's a reason why WWE has utilized part-time performers over the past decade, even if they're long past their prime. WWE Hall of Famers like Hulk Hogan, "Nature Boy" Ric Flair, and The Undertaker can wrestle for decades, and there's a good chunk of fans wanting to tune in for their matches, despite them being out of their prime.
Hogan is somebody that many want to see wrestle to this day. Despite how much older he is and his many injuries over the years, if the Hulkster wanted to wrestle tomorrow, many fans would be delighted at the possibility. Regardless if he's retired and can hardly be physical, the former WWF & WCW World Heavyweight champion is still a big name in the wrestling industry... and because he's a big name, his name value would attract business.
It's no different from the match he was supposed to have with Jerry Lawler in 2007 at the PMG Clash of Legends event. Even without a WWE environment, Hulk's name value would sell tickets. It also helped that he was going to face a consummate professional like the King, a bona fide Legend in Memphis Wrestling since the 1980s.
However, as this match was going to be a big deal, to where it was going to air on TV, it's no surprise that the Federation got involved in taking Jerry out of the equation, with Hulk having no choice but to wrestle another opponent.
WWE Canceled Hogan Versus Lawler In 2007
Despite getting promoted heavily to wrestling Hulk Hogan on April 12th, 2007, Jerry Lawler announced in a press conference that his planned match with his fellow WWE Hall of Famer was canceled. The reason was that their match would have been featured in the Hogan Knows Best TV show, which aired on VH1. As the King was a weekly character on Monday Night Raw, airing on NBCUniversal's USA Network, WWE didn't allow their performers to appear on a competing network.
As the former IWGP World Heavyweight champion was also present at the press conference, he expressed his disappointment over the turn of events of the Federation canceling his match with Lawler, as Hogan felt it was a personal shot against him. However, the show had to go on, so Memphis Wrestling's Corey Maclin announced that Paul Wight would take the former AWA World Heavyweight champion's place to face the Hulkster.
Otherwise known in WWE as The Big Show, the former WCW Giant had just recently departed from the Federation before getting inserted into the PMG Clash of Legends event. This would be his first match since leaving in December 2006. Although canceling the bout between the WWE Hall of Famers was disappointing, Hogan taking on Wight was a viable enough alternative that would attract business for an independent wrestling event, given their history in World Championship Wrestling.
Memphis Wrestling Filed Suit Against WWE
On April 27th, 2007, Hulk Hogan defeated Paul Wight in the main event of PMG Clash of Legends, with the event attracting good business for Memphis Wrestling. However, the controversy didn't end there, surrounding them and the Federation. As reported by Memphis Daily News, in January 2008, Corey Maclin filed a claim against WWE and its CEO Vince McMahon at the Shelby County Circuit Court. According to the lawsuit, Maclin alleged that they violated section two of the federal Sherman Anti-Trust Act. Corey's lawsuit stated that their interference with the PMG Clash of Legions event stemmed from WWE's real feud with Hogan.
Regardless, without Jerry "the king" Lawler, Memphis Wrestling at least generated good business, as 2,200 fans attended, garnering $104,500 USD in gate revenue. In the end, the Hulkster returned to WWE that year on the 15th Anniversary episode of Monday Night Raw, appearing to put behind his beef with the Federation over the incident with Memphis Wrestling.
Source: the Sportster
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