WWE Hall of Famer Calls Hulk Hogan Situation a 'Big Overreaction'

Since 2015, Hulk Hogan has spent his days in WWE exile. After a hidden camera caught Hogan using some highly contentious racial epithets, WWE hit "delete" on their original mythological hero.

However, during the course of 2017, rumblings have begun to surface of Hogan's return to WWE. No intentions have leaked, but most of the wrestling community feels that Hogan reuniting with WWE is a foregone conclusion. Whether that is right or wrong, is an entirely different debate.

But Jerry Lawler thinks that enough time has passed. On a recent episode of his podcast, Dinner with the King, Lawler and co-WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy Hart discussed the future of Hogan in WWE:

"In the wrestling world, you never say never. I thought it was way big overreaction what happened with Hulk in this most recent situation — the reason why he's not in WWE at the moment. But I think that has definitely blown over. It was never a big deal to begin with. And I don't think anybody even thinks about that anymore. I do think a lot of people would like to see Hulk come back.

"I think, right now, the ball is in Hulk's court. If he wants to come back, I think he would definitely be able to come back."

Jimmy Hart would add his own observations:

"You have seen clips of the Hulk being sprinkled into video packages lately on WWE programming. So I think one day that Hulk will be back where he deserves to be, with the WWE. I really do."

Calling the Hogan saga a big overreaction will likely get Lawler some unwanted attention. In 2017, any form of racism whether subtle or egregious is simply not tolerated. As a publically traded company, WWE had no choice but to swiftly reprimand Hogan and place distance between themselves and his comments.

Professional wrestling has come a long way to remove itself from its negative stigmas. If WWE were to keep a loose association with Hogan during his social firestorm that makes them look like they are endorsing him. And that is press simply do not need.

However, we don't have to agree with Lawler's assessment of how big of a social encroachment Hogan made. But we can agree that Hogan's return to WWE is imminent.

The first real target for a Hogan come back would be a WrestleMania 34 in New Orleans. However, all we can really do is speculate. Hogan appearing back on WE TV may be a sentimental moment, but many fans may not be willing to forgive his transgressions.