WWE confirms it cancelled contract with Hulk Hogan for alleged racist tirade

The WWE has confirmed that it has cut all ties with wrestling legend Hulk Hogan, but the exact reason for this sudden decision is still unknown. It might be linked to the resurfacing of a radio interview in which he used the n-word, or it could be related to another recording that the public hasn’t heard yet.

As previously reported, wrestling blogs began noticing that most references of Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, were removed from WWE.com. He was even erased from the roster of WWE Hall of Famers.

WWE stayed quiet until this morning, when the company finally issued a statement, which was posted on Twitter by ESPN’s Darren Rovell.

“WWE terminated its contract with Terry Bollea (aka Hulk Hogan),” the statement reads. “WWE is committed to embracing and celebrating individuals from all backgrounds as demonstrated by the diversity of our employees, performers and fans worldwide.”

Some speculated that this sudden decision to cut ties with one of the most recognizable faces in wrestling might have to do with a 2012 radio interview, in which he discussed using the n-word. However, that has been online for anyone to hear since 2012.

The National Enquirer is reporting that audio on a sex tape includes Bollea going on a racist tirade, suing the N-word and other racist language. This is the same sex tape that Bollea is suing Gawker for releasing in October 2012.

Bollea’s only response to the controversy so far is a mysterious tweet.