Share Tweet Pin Email By Jessica Wedemeyer 6:44pm PDT, Jul 24, 2025 _ Hulk Hogan died at 71 on July 24, 2025. As fans mourned the WWE Hall of Famer, Wonderwall.com couldn't help but remember that his time in the spotlight wasn't all rainbows and butterflies... In 2015, the WWE fired the wrestling superstar after becoming aware of the existence of old recordings of him making racist remarks. "WWE is committed to embracing and celebrating individuals from all backgrounds as demonstrated by the diversity of our employees, performers and fans worldwide," the organization said in a statement. The wrestler (née Terry Bollea) released a statement to People magazine apologizing: "Eight years ago I used offensive language during a conversation. It was unacceptable for me to have used that offensive language; there is no excuse for it; and I apologize for having done it," he said. Three years later, Hogan made his big return to the WWE with the already-controversial Crown Jewel event in Saudi Arabia. More on that later... Keep reading for more wrestling controversies and scandals from over the years...

MORE: Follow Wonderwall on MSN for more top news and fun photo galleries _ On the March 31, 2019, episode of Last Week Tonight, John Oliver delivered a headline-making takedown of the WWE. Throughout the episode, the British comedian detailed the allegedly horrible treatment professional wrestlers receive from the WWE and boss Vince McMahon - which the wrestling exec (pictured) has denied. His biggest gripe? That the WWE essentially forces their wrestlers to sign as independent contractors as opposed to full-time employees (making them ineligible for company-provided health care benefits, paid leave or pensions) and makes them sign exclusivity contracts barring them from wrestling for other organizations (meaning their ability to make money is limited to what they can squeeze out of the WWE). Oliver also pointed out that because there is no off-season in professional wrestling, it's incredibly difficult for wrestlers to recover from injuries - especially considering they can't always afford the best treatment options! The comedian argued that these factors have contributed to the recent wave of professional wrestlers dying young. _ In May 1999, two-time WWF Intercontinental Champion Owen Hart died from injuries sustained while falling from the rafters of Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri, during the WWF's "Over the Edge" pay-per-view event. The fall took place as the Canadian wrestler was entering the ring as part of an elaborate stunt - he was being lowered from the rafters via cable and harness when the equipment somehow malfunctioned, triggering an early release that dropped him prematurely to the floor. At-home viewers were spared from witnessing the fall - they were watching a reel of highlights from Hart's career when he fell - but more than 16,000 fans in the arena had front-row seats to the tragedy. Hart's family sued the WWF - which courted controversy by continuing with the event following the fall - over the dangerous stunt. "You don't get up 60 or 70 feet in the air without being properly anchored down," Hart's father told CNN. "Somebody was careless or missed something or else Owen would still be here." The WWF ultimately settled for $18 million. _ In late 2018, the WWE made headlines when it decided to go ahead with the Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia despite pressure to cancel the event following the assassination of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi (pictured) at the hands of Saudi agents under the orders of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. "WWE has operated in the Middle East for nearly 20 years and has developed a sizable and dedicated fan base. Considering the heinous crime committed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, the Company faced a very difficult decision as it relates to its event scheduled for November 2 in Riyadh. Similar to other U.S.-based companies who plan to continue operations in Saudi Arabia, the Company has decided to uphold its contractual obligations to the General Sports Authority and stage the event," the WWE said in a statement. _ In 1993, Vince McMahon was indicted in federal court for regularly distributing anabolic steroids to his wrestlers, as well as employing a shady doctor, George Zahorian, to help them acquire various drugs without legitimate prescriptions. Dr. Zahorian was indicted for selling steroids to 37 WWF wrestlers and convicted of 15 charges of drug trafficking, but the prosecution wasn't able to prove that McMahon was guilty of criminal conspiracy - even though former wrestler Kevin Wacholz alleged in court that McMahon ordered him to use steroids. Ultimately, he was acquitted. Years later, according to Vice, it was reported that an unnamed state official tipped off an attorney for the WWF that Zahorian was under federal investigation for drug trafficking, allowing the organization to cut ties with the doctor before McMahon could be implicated. But tha