Over the years, Hulk Hogan has been instrumental in propelling numerous talents to success within WWE, with Kevin Owens being one of the names he claims to have discovered. Let’s delve deeper into this assertion and its veracity.
As an esteemed figure in professional wrestling, Hogan’s influence on the industry cannot be overstated. He first spoke about Kevin Owens following the latter’s debut on the main roster in 2015, asserting that he was the one who recognized The Prizefighter’s potential.
During an interview on Radio Yorkshire in November 2015, Hogan reminisced about observing Owens during his early days in NXT. He commended Owens for his old-school approach to wrestling, praising his ability to generate heat and dominate his opponents.
“I hate to brag about it but I’m the first one to point the finger at Kevin Owens. I saw him on NXT, like his second match, and saw him just chop, beat, grind and beating his guy down. Doing it the old school way and really understanding how to get heat. Doing it the old school way and I said, ‘That’s the guy.’ I said, ‘That’s the guy. I don’t care if he looks like a wrestler or looks like an ice cream salesman. I don’t care. That’s the guy,'” Hogan remarked.
While Hogan has expressed admiration for the multi-time WWE champion, Kevin Owens has not publicly acknowledged Hogan’s role in his career.
However, it’s worth noting that Owens already had a significant following outside of WWE before his NXT debut, suggesting that WWE’s interest in him wasn’t solely due to Hogan’s influence.
Furthermore, Owens’ impressive tenure in NXT and his memorable debut against John Cena indicate that WWE had big plans for him regardless of Hogan’s endorsement.
Ultimately, whether Hogan truly “discovered” Owens is subjective, and without further evidence, it’s challenging to ascertain the full extent of Hogan’s impact on Owens’ career.
