Lex Luger has revealed that he never saw himself as Hulk Hogan‘s successor in WWE, despite widespread belief that the company had positioned him to fill that role after Hogan’s 1993 departure.
Speaking on a March 2025 edition of his Lex Expressed podcast, Lex Luger addressed the comparisons that followed him throughout his WWE run and explained why he never felt pressure to become the next face of the company.
“People mentioned that all the time, but there will only ever be, in my mind then and now, one Hulk Hogan,” Luger said.
The WWE Hall of Famer stressed that he never wanted to imitate Hulk Hogan or compete with his legacy, choosing instead to focus on establishing his own identity.
“I never felt in competition, or wanted to emulate or follow in his footsteps, or be the next Hulk Hogan,” Luger explained. “I just wanted to be the best Lex Luger I could be with my character.”
Lex Luger Received A Massive Push From WWE After Hulk Hogan Left
Following Hulk Hogan’s exit from WWE, the company made a major push behind Lex Luger, transforming him from The Narcissist into an all-American hero. The move included patriotic red, white and blue ring gear and the famous Lex Express campaign, which saw Luger travel across the United States promoting WWE.
At the time, many fans and industry observers viewed the push as WWE’s attempt to create a new top babyface to replace Hogan’s enormous popularity. Luger, however, said that was never how he viewed the situation.
“I always felt there would never be another Hulk Hogan,” he said. “A lot of the fans mentioned that, but my thought process never went there at all.”
Despite WWE’s efforts, Luger never reached the same level of mainstream success enjoyed by Hogan during the height of Hulkamania. His run as one of the company’s leading stars lasted until 1995, when he left WWE and later reunited with Hogan in WCW.
