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Hulk Hogan Will Not Appear in WWE 2K16

Down for the count.

470 Comments

Hulk Hogan will not appear in the next version of the 2K's professional wrestling franchise, WWE 2K16.

Hogan made headlines earlier this week when the WWE severed ties with the wrestler for allegedly using "racial slurs in a conversation caught on a sex tape." (via CBS News)

No Caption Provided

A representative from publisher 2K wrote in a statement to GameSpot, "We are highly respectful of the way that our partners choose to run their business and manage our partnerships accordingly. We can confirm that Hulk Hogan will not appear in WWE 2K16.”

The WWE has since removed Hogan's photos, articles, and merchandise from its website.

In a statement to People.com, Hogan offered up an apology for his behavior, stating, "It was unacceptable for me to have used that offensive language; there is no excuse for it; and I apologize for having done it."

Hogan's earliest video game appearance was the Commodore 64 game MicroLeague Wrestling in 1987. However, he is probably better known as the cover star of the first officially licensed WWF game, WWF Wrestlemania for NES in 1989.

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bigrod69

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Oh no, we can't have someone in a game that uses a word that is 250-million times per minute by blacks in America... Truly the idiotic word police are out of control.

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skyx26

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Soooo, let me get this straight: a black guy can call another black guy a nigger, but a white guy can't call a black guy nigger???

THAT is racist!

I'm not american, btw, so I don't really understand the fuzz about that word...

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coop36

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@skyx26: Its no use trying to make sense of it. Americans dont understand it either.

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odgnj5

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WWE could have used this incident to actually talk about racial issues instead they decided to sweep it under the rug like most self serving corporations because they are scared of being labeled racist. At the very least we are owed some random black guy pinning hulk hogan.

I don't think people should lose their job because they said something stupid. Everyone says stupid things. You don't make society better by ignoring it and banishing the stupid. You make society better by informing the ignorant not demonizing them.

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bigrod69

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Edited By bigrod69

@odgnj5: Well unless he has a point that is backed up by statistics and everyone knows is true, then you sweep it under the rug and pretend it didn't happen because that way you don't have to talk about it - because if you did talk about it you'd realize he really isn't that far off base.

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odgnj5

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@bigrod69

Statistics are correct but they don't tell the whole story. It has been proven many times in psychological studies that all humans regardless of race discriminate against black males. Black cops use excessive force on black males the same rate while cops do. The reason possibly for this is as a society our laws and media create fear of the black male. Whether its intentional or not is up for debate. The poor are also discriminated against because they can't defend themselves. The ratio of blacks that are poor are higher then whites in addition to the other points made that's why these statistics exist. Read into more yourself.

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skyx26

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@odgnj5: +1

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Sketchrebel

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I just dont know what the campaign story was going to be and hope it didn't involve NWO because that will be terrible smh. So are they removing everything Hogan from The Network? come on

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deactivated-5e90a3763ea91

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I don't care much about wrestling, but damn, the witch-hunts are pretty much non-stop in today's society.

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skyx26

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@Ovirew: Yep, say something about black people, jews, or woman and you are pretty much going to end sued, fired, and hit on the streets!

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coop36

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@skyx26: Yet theyre free to say or do as they wish. Dont like it? Theyre victims of... things!

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UrbanMessiah

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Well, guess we now know who will be the most created wrestler now....personally, I don't really care as I've never used Hogan in any wrestling game ever. Him gone really isn't a big deal...

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Mantiis

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Edited By Mantiis

I see both sides of this, but WWE is wrong. Hogan should have been sharp enough to realize some degree of conservatism, for the sake of self preservation, if he knew he was being recorded. That said, the WWE are a bunch of hypocrites. Don't tell me for a second those micks aren't racist themselves. They've been playing the race card to raise promotions for decades. Mexicans- Lie, Cheat, Steal; Whites- always some redneck, white-trashy character; Blacks- they're deliberately careful with this one- as I cannot recall a parody to the stereotype for the life of me, except for maybe something to do with rap or voodoo. It is clear, however, that racism only extends to how the WWE chooses to use it in the WWE (masked), and that they had to take a crap on the man who made them the company they are today to take a bullet- for shame. Wrestling sucks now a days, anyways..thanks to WWE.

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UrbanMessiah

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Edited By UrbanMessiah

@mantiis: I agree it's kind of a hypocritical move on the WWE's part because you just know Mamahon probably drops more N bombs than Paula Deen behind closed doors. And if you think the WWE has been 'careful' with the way they portray blacks? You must either be new to watching the WWE or you've missed a whoooooole lot of it.

Honestly, if this had happened maybe, say, two years ago, Hogan would've gotten his ass chewed out, made a public apology and the WWE would've let it go. However, after all of the racially charged events in the news this year, I can see why the WWE wants to distance themselves as far as possible from someone that now comes across as a racist publicly. It's smart self preservation PR...makes them come across more as wholesome family entertainment...well, overlooking the sex and violence.

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TheArbulu

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@mantiis: You know...not that I'm much into professional wrestling myself...I see its entertainment value and totally gets it. What I came here to comment about is...I read your comment top to bottom and though "Wow...the UFC is seemingly going down this road as well"...

Of course, both sports have nothing to do in common with each other - even though UFC hired CM Punk for some reason... But some conspiracies - often thought as minor back in the day -, are gaining ground by leaps and bounds, accusing UFC's president Dana White of fixing fights to benefit American fighters, eventually leading them to title contender position...the exception to the game would be the featherweight division (where José Aldo is a take-no-bullshit, in-your-face reigning champ - exactly what Dana hates) and the Heavyweights, where Fabricio Werdum defeated Cain Velasquez.

But just look at all the lobby American fighters get: Luke Rockhold will get a title shot at Chris Weidman when Ronaldo Jacaré was clearly a more deserving fighter (Dana himself stated this); Donald Cerrone was never one to trash-talk and all of a sudden he became an impossible asshole against lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos and don't get me started on Connor McGregor - who's actually Irish but not a one fighter got that much in favour from Dana White...

The only place where he's got virtually no pull would be, again, on the heavyweight division, since the 4 main contenders are, respectively: Junior dos Santos (Brazilian), Andrei Arlovsky (Russian), Stipe Miocic (American-born, much more related to Croatia) and...I don't know...Alistair Overeem (Dutch)? Travis Browne could be a choice had he not been accused of assaulting his girlfriend...

Sorry for the long words...it just that your comment got me typing :)

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yukushi

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if we where to start recording what everybody say in private millions of us would lose our jobs, I am sure many of you said offensive things in private think about that before you judge.

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SpecTrum

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So what he said is offensive and all but....I feel the hate is too much. Many people blow this whole PC thing out of proportion. He said something offensive in private, who cares? It doesn't even mean he's racist.

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Sketchrebel

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@spectrum: why is it offensive?

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UrbanMessiah

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@spectrum: Except for the parts where he proclaims himself as racist...other than that, I guess you're right.

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Setzera

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Edited By Setzera

Let they who are without sin cast the first stone.

(inb4 people throwing stones because it's the internet)

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coop36

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@Setzera: Its trendy to pretend (in public) to be above these things. Oh, I can only imagine the skeletons these SJW's hide in their closets.

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itchyflop

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Edited By itchyflop

A monster of a man, a great entertainer, in my opinion a legend.

I hate the world we live in, lawyer greedy scheme.

Fools making sex tapes, if you don't wanna get burned don't do it!!!!

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Mantiis

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@itchyflop: Its not the world you should disdain, but the people who live in it. Trust no one, and see if those you allow to enter your life can earn your trust. Especially these days. Everyone has their own selfish agenda- and its to put themselves on top- not you. Children and the elderly are the exception. If these words sound misanthropic, well, they probably are- but that does not diminish them. I'm self made, been on my own since I was 17, and this is what I have learned. Who did this to the Hulkster? The world? No. He had his part, but it was greedy, selfish, and hypocritical people trying to take a step to the right so that they can look good promoting (raising money) as a "family friendly" tv show- and take more of the parent's money. People.

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itchyflop

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@mantiis: yeah im starting to realise.

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sampson3121

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@itchyflop: think you missed the point

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itchyflop

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@sampson3121: I don't follow? 2K dropped hulk from a game series which he's always been in since he started because of his actions or slanderous comments made on a sex tape?

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sampson3121

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@itchyflop: "lawyer greedy scheme" ? I don't follow?

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itchyflop

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@sampson3121: how did they find out about the sex tape? who benefits from it?

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sampson3121

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Edited By sampson3121

@itchyflop: does it really matter? i mean the guy has just destroyed his career.

he was in bed with his best friends ex girlfriend. she most likely did it. the whole story will soon come out.

from what i know, it was a video tape they made while having sex. he was drunk and let his mouth get the better of him.

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itchyflop

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@sampson3121: yeah exactly!! so who is benefitting from this? the ex who made the tape? the best friend? the lawyer(s) of either maybe?

Its getting ridiculous, they'll sue you for anything these days.

He got pissed, went to bed with a person who no longer is with his friend and said some drunken shit while doing it. haven't we all done that.

privacy is being invaded by greedy people looking to make a buck from someone, and as you've quite rightly stated, now his career is destroyed because of it.

what can we do now without getting sued, ill ask that instead.

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JonnyC0mbat

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@sampson3121: Just a bit. However, he redeems himself with the Xenon 2 avatar.

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DangerLevel10

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I dont think he did anything wrong. When targeting a single person out of hate. What do you target? If she was to bring home a deadbeat white boy, and he objected. What do you think his words are? Most likely "You mean to tell me you bring home this white trash piece of $*%^ who hasnt worked a day in his life, and probably beats women?"

Race is much easier to target, when that is the most distinct quality in said person. If a black man saw his daughter take home a mexican boy, what do you think his words would be, if he didnt approve?

The problem isn't what Hulk Hogan said, but what we as a nation have problems with. I myself was worried about offending the black people i worked with, until they started messing with me, and it broke the ice. I wonder if people got offended by the racist comments said in Gran Torino, when it was showing how actual humans can talk without making someone cry, for words they heard are supposed to offend them. Grow a pair America. Dont let the government dictate how you should think, dress, act, speak, and vote.

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sampson3121

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@dangerlevel10: you just don't get it.

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coop36

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@sampson3121: Why? Because he doesnt agree with your narrow minded world view? Go pound sand.

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SLAMMIN23

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i know what hogan did was wrong he did apologize for it i wont be getting this game anyway wrestling games are that great anymore wwe can shove it and 2k sports can shove it making wrestling games to.

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uk_friday

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Hulk Hogan on a video game is almost as dull as seeing this guy who can barely walk wrestle. He needed to be retired off... As for the game? well its going backwards and will suck just like the last one....It shows how bad it is when you see people saying the best wwe game was on the N64...and even then it had a save issue

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Chaotic_Eden

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There's such a thing as being over-sensitive. In the recent years, this SJW and Feminist uprising has pretty much given way to being witch hunted over the most minor of things. He's a person just like anyone else. I can understand if he was up there like Donald Trump's ass talking about how N words are killing all kinds of people and stuff, but he was in a private moment.

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sampson3121

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@chaotic_eden: it's business. they don't want a racist representing their brand. smart move by them. I always liked Hogan, but I have to say how sadden I am by his words.

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Sketchrebel

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@sampson3121: what was racist about it? he gave a recount of a story that included a common racial slur

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Chaotic_Eden

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@sampson3121: Man, this shit was 8 years ago. I've said some racist shit in the past, when I wasn't as wise as I am now. People can change. Whether he has or not may be up for discussion, but he's already apologized. The fact that that isn't enough shows you how ridiculous our society is. It's enough to make me not even care about racism.

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sampson3121

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Edited By sampson3121

@chaotic_eden: first of all, he wasn't fired because of some government policy. 2nd, 8 yrs ago he would have been in his 50's, that's not like someone being in their late teens early 20's saying it. 3rd, racism isn't a fad like hair styles or clothing. a company can decide weather or not what an employee said is enough to ruin their image or not. They heard the tape and decided to get rid of him. What bothers me the most is I really liked the guy, or at least his image. now I just feel sorry for him cause I'm pretty sure he isn't a full on racist person. but I lost respect.

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Chaotic_Eden

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Edited By Chaotic_Eden

@sampson3121: I'm not saying it wasn't a smart thing to do. It quite obviously was. He said something scummy and that might hurt their image in the eyes of our pussified society. My problem isn't with the company, my problem is with the society. The society that will judge someone for what happened 8 years ago and that he wholly apologized for. It isn't even anyone's fucking business what he feels like inside, what mattered was his actions. Like I said, he didn't make his feelings public, and you didn't hear a damn thing about him mistreating his black peers or whatever.
THAT makes what he says incredibly trivial. And I think it's pretty hilarious that you judge him on it.

I don't even like Hulk Hogan, that's the funny thing.

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sampson3121

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@chaotic_eden: been called the N word all my life in different situation. TRIVIAL? when i hear the word it never is.

This has everything to do with a company not wanting his rep to tarnish their business, nothing more, nothing less. He's sorry because it came out. Micheal Richards and Mel Gibson were sorry to. for me it sucks when the people you admire say such bad things. you would think these celebs would learn by now that privacy, weather they like it or not, is not an option for them. Dog The Bounty Hunter has his show still. Hulk will be back in no time as well.

I believe he's honestly sorry.Wonder who'll be next.

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coop36

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@sampson3121: But its ok for blacks to say nigga all day every day? Pure hypocrisy.

It must be lonely up on your pedestal, Im sure youve never said anything about honkies/crackers around your friends, huh? I sure as hell have met plenty racist blacks. Welcome to reality.

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angrycreep

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Edited By angrycreep

I believe they said that It happen 8 years ago? Can't believe that something that happened that long ago can still come back and bite you in the ass like that. The man apologize and still that means nothing he's getting the full wrath of what came out of his mouth years ago. Now I'm gonna go in record and honestly say that I don't even know if his apology is even sincere to start with, plus he might even be a racist and what came out of his mouth was no accident at al. I guess we will never know that and the only want who knows that for sure is Hulk Hogan himself.

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Retroxgamer0

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@angrycreep: hogan apoligized and said he respects people of all skin color, people have tweeted that they've known him 25 years and hes sorry, and even his daughter has tweeted to say if you knew her father hes a sweet man and wishes no harm. ontop of that, hogan quit the company before being fired, and said he wished not to boggle down wwe with his issues.

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