First, I believe a lot of the issues stem from a lack of forethought or quick thinking on Hulk Hogan’s part. Much has been made of his use of the words “trinket” and “toy” to describe his own WWF World Title belt to Japanese media before his match with The Great Muta in Tokyo in 1993, where he was competing for the IWGP title. Hogan’s intention was simply to emphasize the importance of the upcoming match and the title he was pursuing to the media audience.
There’s no real controversy here. Hogan did something similar in 1995 by associating the Giant (Paul Wight/The Big Show) in WCW with Andre the Giant, his most famous opponent, despite everyone knowing Paul Wight wasn’t on Andre’s level. This is part of wrestling’s nature—wrestlers promote what will draw interest. They don’t always speak their true thoughts but rather what will generate excitement.
How often do we genuinely believe a wrestler when they claim that an upcoming match is the toughest they’ve faced? It’s a common tactic: each upcoming event is the biggest and most important. This is because the past has already been sold, while the future is still up for grabs in terms of ratings, sponsorships, and ticket sales. Given this, we can forgive Hogan for doing what he always did: hype the next main event. In this case, he was promoting the title he was pursuing next. Additionally, in 1993, the media landscape wasn’t as viral as it is today, so Hogan might not have anticipated that his comments would reach beyond Japanese media.
There seems to be a language barrier at play here. Hogan’s full statement and mannerisms suggest he was searching for the right words. He points to the WWF Winged-Eagle Belt on the table and says: “This is a toy… a trinket… something you hang on the Christmas tree.”
He then contrasts it with the IWGP belt held by The Great Muta, describing it as an “ornament.”
Two potential interpretations arise from this:
- Hogan might have been using different terms to describe the WWF belt as something he had already won and considered an ornament of past achievements.
- Given the audience and the sensitivities of racial terms (such as “oriental,” which was still used ignorantly in 1993), he might have wanted to avoid any similar connotations with the English word “ornament.”
The term “ornament” could make sense here. A Christmas tree ornament symbolizes a past achievement, something celebrated but now part of history. Hogan might have been suggesting that while the WWF belt was significant, it was a completed chapter, and his focus was now on the IWGP belt.
If you believe Hogan made a calculated jab at his own promotion, calling his own WWF Championship as a trinket, and Vince McMahon to create a buzz for his impending hiatus and eventual return to WCW, that’s a valid interpretation. Hogan has a history of knowing when to exit the spotlight and when to return for maximum impact. His career has shown a pattern of strategically timing his departures and comebacks.
For instance, after the first wave of Hulkamania waned, Hogan let the title go to controversy and took a break, returning to align with Randy Savage as the Mega Powers. When his momentum was overtaken by the Ultimate Warrior, Hogan again stepped out of the spotlight, this time to deal with the steroid scandal. When the Warrior failed to maintain momentum, Hogan returned to capture the title once more. He also faced media backlash after his failure to address the steroid issue on the Arsenio Hall Show, leading to another exit and return cycle.
In WCW, Hogan faced similar patterns. When fans grew tired of his WWF persona, he left, allowing the nWo storyline to become popular before making a significant return. When the nWo angle grew stale, he returned with a nostalgic red-and-yellow gimmick. In this context, calling the WWF title a trinket might have been a deliberate move to downplay his past promotion while elevating the IWGP title and creating anticipation for his WCW return. If asked directly about his intentions, Hogan’s response would likely be as ambiguous as his earlier statements on the Arsenio Hall Show…
