You probably grew up thinking Hulk Hogan was the ultimate hero. The yellow and red, the vitamins, the prayers—it was a whole vibe that defined the 80s. But if you talk to "The Body" Jesse Ventura, he’ll tell you a completely different story. It’s a story about a secret meeting, a high-stakes betrayal, and a phone call that basically changed the trajectory of professional wrestling forever.
When we talk about hulk hogan union busting, we aren't talking about some corporate boardroom strategy. We're talking about the locker room politics of 1986, right on the cusp of WrestleMania 2.
The Night the Union Almost Happened
Back in the mid-80s, pro wrestlers were (and still are) classified as independent contractors. No health insurance. No retirement plan. No royalties on those VHS tapes that were starting to fly off the shelves. Jesse Ventura, who had a background in the military and had seen how unions worked in Hollywood through SAG, decided it was time to organize.
🔗 Read more: Where Can I Watch the Braves Game: The 2026 Season Survival Guide
The plan was simple but bold. Ventura wanted to get the locker room to stand together before WrestleMania 2. He figured if the talent refused to go out on the biggest night of the year, Vince McMahon would have no choice but to listen. It was leverage, plain and simple.
Jesse spent weeks whispering in corners, trying to get the "boys" on board. He wasn't even asking for a piece of Hogan's pie; he just wanted a safety net for the guys at the bottom who were wrecking their bodies for a few hundred bucks a night.
The Betrayal at the Top
Here is where things get messy. For a union to work, you need the top guy. You need the person who moves the needle. In 1986, that was Terry Bollea—Hulk Hogan.
Instead of joining the cause, Hogan took a different route. He went straight to Vince McMahon. In the recent Netflix documentary Mr. McMahon, Hogan finally admitted it. He told Vince, "Hey, Jesse’s stirring shit up, man. He’s trying to start a union."
Hogan’s logic? He was "on Vince's team." He felt that a union would "destroy the business" at a time when things were finally taking off. Of course, it’s worth noting that Hogan was making more money than almost the entire roster combined. When you're the king of the mountain, you usually don't want to change the shape of the mountain.
Why Hulk Hogan Union Busting Still Matters
You might wonder why we care about a 40-year-old locker room grudge. Honestly, it’s because the effects are still felt today. Professional wrestling remains one of the only major sports or entertainment industries without a union.
- Healthcare: Wrestlers still pay for their own insurance despite the high injury rate.
- Royalties: While the Screen Actors Guild ensures actors get paid when shows rerun, wrestlers have fought for years to get a fair shake on streaming revenue.
- Classification: The "Independent Contractor" label allows companies to avoid paying payroll taxes and providing benefits, a status that has been challenged in court but never overturned.
The Fallout for Jesse Ventura
Ventura didn't find out it was Hogan who ratted him out until years later. It happened during a legal deposition in 1991 when Jesse was suing for royalties. Under oath, Vince McMahon was asked how he knew about the union push. He didn't hesitate. He pointed the finger right at Hogan.
Jesse has been vocal about this ever since. He’s called Hogan a "backstabber" and a "rat." For Jesse, it wasn't just business; it was a personal betrayal by someone he considered a friend. He argues that if Hogan had stood with them for just one night, the entire industry would have been transformed for the better.
The "Company Man" Defense
In fairness to the other side of the argument—and there always is one—Hogan and his supporters claim the business was too fragile back then. They argue that the massive overhead of a union would have killed the expansion of the WWF (now WWE) before it could become a global powerhouse.
But critics point out that every other major sport—NFL, NBA, MLB—has a union and they’ve all managed to become billion-dollar entities. The "fragility" argument often looks more like a "profit margin" argument when you dig into the numbers.
What Wrestlers Can Do Now
While the hulk hogan union busting incident is a dark chapter in wrestling history, the conversation hasn't stopped. Recent years have seen figures like Zelina Vega and even former wrestlers-turned-politicians bring up the "U-word" again.
If you’re a fan or someone interested in labor rights within the entertainment industry, here are the real-world takeaways:
- Support Independent Initiatives: Organizations like WrestleVoters or labor advocacy groups often highlight the working conditions of performers.
- Understand the Contractor Loophole: Knowledge of how "independent contractor" status is used to bypass labor laws is the first step in advocating for change.
- Follow the Legal Precedents: Keep an eye on ongoing litigation regarding worker classification in the gig economy, as these rulings eventually trickle down to the wrestling ring.
The reality is that Hulk Hogan’s decision in 1986 solidified a power structure that remains largely unchanged. Whether he was protecting the business or just protecting his own paycheck is a debate that will likely continue as long as there’s a ring in the ground.
The best way to honor the history of the sport is to acknowledge both the triumphs in the ring and the complicated, often harsh reality of the business behind the curtain. Understanding the impact of the WrestleMania 2 betrayal helps explain exactly why the industry looks the way it does today.