-- ESPN interviewed Hulk Hogan ahead of his appearance tonight on the Legends Night being promoted for WWE Monday Night Raw. Here are a few highlights with a link to the full interview at the bottom.
On the reaction he receives backstage from WWE superstars
"It's a mixed bag. Some people I get a really warm reception from. Some of the younger guys are really cold to me, like I'm coming to steal the main event. And I'm like, 'I can't do this anymore, guys! I'm not a threat!'
"Going back with all the legends will be a lot of fun. When I've gone back before by myself, there have been certain wrestlers, like Edge and Seth Rollins, that have told me to my face that the only reason they got into this business was because of me. The newer kids ... I don't think they know who I am all the way?
"The wake-up call that really got me was with 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin. We weren't really close at all, but over the last few years have become good friends. It caught me off guard when he called me one day, and we're chatting about cars or something and all of a sudden he goes, 'Damn, Hogan. I was on the internet the other day and I can't believe all the stuff you did in your career!'
"When Stone Cold didn't realize that I did "The Love Boat" and Johnny Carson, then I understood why the young people didn't know."
His thoughts on Undertaker's farewell and the WWE Network documentary
"I didn't expect it to be done so open and honestly. I mean, he retired and came back, and put his boots in the ring and all of that. But this was the final 'final' goodbye. Putting the nail in the coffin -- I know, great cliché there. But opening up and showing people what he was about, that he was totally dedicated to this business, had wrestling in his blood on day one and was a good dude and a family man. I think the whole thing was done really well. It was a good move."
If he would like to do a documentary and farewell like Taker
"I haven't really thought about it. There's still more business to be done with me even though I'm not actually wrestling anymore. I don't know how to approach that as far as timing goes. And it could only be done by the WWE, because they're the only ones that could do it correctly and give it justice. Hopefully, down the road there'll be a spot to do it that way."
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