Though reports have circulated that professional wrestling icon Hulk Hogan's talks with the WWE about a possible return hit a speed bump , Hogan has yet to ink an extension with TNA, leaving his wrestling future up in the air with both promotions.
Reports last week indicated that Hogan was given a lowball offer by the WWE that would pay him in a year what Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Brock Lesnar make per match, but that wasn't the reason contract negotiations stalled out. According to various news outlets, Hogan was upset with the WWE's direction for him at its upcoming historic WrestleMania XXX pay-per-view in New Orleans.
While Hogan was hoping to face one of the WWE's biggest stars in CM Punk at the event, the WWE had other plans for Punk such as a feud over one of the main titles or possibly a dream match with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. Hogan was upset with the list of possible opponents WWE had compiled to face him at the company's premiere event. The names weren't leaked, but WrestleZone.com reported it was likely Jack Swagger or Fandango.
After the hitch in talks, rumors circulated that Hogan was going to return to TNA, but Pro Wrestling Insider is reporting that while it appeared Hogan was TNA-bound, he's yet to ink a deal.
"PWInsider.com has confirmed with sources on both sides that no deal has been signed between TNA and Hulk Hogan. So, Hogan remains a free agent," PWI's Mike Johnson said of the possibilities of Hogan signing with TNA.
With April's WrestleMania XXX event still over six months away, there have been many rumors as to possible matches at the event. While CM Punk vs. Austin remains an option, there could be a possibility of a dream match between John Cena and Hulk Hogan, much like in 2002 when The Rock and Hogan went toe-to-toe in a battle of wrestling's past vs. present.
Nothing has been confirmed by the WWE, but since Cena is its top drawing star it stands to reason he may fight for one of the company's major titles at the event, or even go after the Undertaker's undefeated streak at WrestleMania.
According to Bleacher Report, promoter Dixie Carter was paying Hogan around $35,000 per appearance and the WWE wasn't coming even close to matching that offer, but still PWI insists that Hogan has yet to work out terms on a new deal.
There could be many reasons for Hogan's hesitation, as TNA has started to have a series of financial problems due to low attendance, and the company has been cutting wrestlers from its roster left and right, while there have also been issues of wrestlers getting paid late.
With Hogan's status up in the air and TNA floundering, the door may still be open for a return to the WWE, the very place where Hulkamania began to take off in the 1980s.
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