Rumors of free agent wrestling icon Hulk Hogan returning to the WWE in time for WrestleMania 30 this April 6 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans have run rampant, and while the Hulkster recently said that he felt he had more matches in him and would love to compete at the event he helped turn into a national phenomenon in 1985, Hogan told reporters Wednesday that he wanted to be at WrestleMania, but not in a wrestling capacity.
Hogan was at LAX Wednesday night, where he was greeted by fans, and TMZ caught up with the WWE Hall of Famer, who said that he wanted to attend WrestleMania 30 but wasn't looking to wrestle.
"I haven't been to WrestleMania for years," Hogan told TMZ. "My new wife Jennifer, she's never been to one brother. I'm gonna have to wear masks like Mil Mascaras and sit in the front row," he quipped.
Hogan was asked about a possible "reunion" with other wrestlers if he were to return, but Hogan wasn't sure if anything like that would happen.
"Reunion? With who?" he asked TMZ before saying, "I have no idea, brother."
Hogan helped launch the WrestleMania franchise on March 31, 1985 in Madison Square Garden when he teamed with Mr. T to take on "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff in the show's main event, but he hasn't appeared at a WrestleMania since the 21st event back in 2005 on the night after he was inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame.
Hogan's stance Wednesday night was different than what has been reported in the past as the 60-year-old was reportedly "training like a mad man" for a return to the WWE's biggest pay-per-view of the year after his contract with TNA expired in October. Hogan recently said he'd love to return at WrestleMania but also hinted that he'd be there even if it was in a non-wrestling capacity.
"I would love to be at WrestleMania XXX," Hogan told Philadelphia's ABC affiliate at an autograph signing earlier this month. "I would love to have a ringside seat. But, the truth is I need a job. I quit TNA. I've just been hanging out on the beach. Never say never."
Hogan even hinted that he may "Hulk up" for the event and a source told Wrestlingheadlines.com last week that a Hogan deal with the WWE was "looking good but nothing is set in stone until it is."
Hogan's long-time manager and friend Jimmy Hart also said that Hogan told him he'd be there--even if it is as just a fan.
"Hogan knew I was doing this press tour with WWE promoting [the 50 Years of WWE DVD]," Hart said from Mobile, Ala., last week, according to the Baltimore Sun. "He told me to say exactly this: Hulk Hogan will be at WrestleMania if he has to buy a ticket and sit at ringside."
With the WWE still laying out its plans for WrestleMania anything can change between now and then and Hogan may very well make his return in New Orleans at WrestleMania 30.
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