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“Shaquille O’Neal teamed up with Hulk Hogan to defeat Ric Flair” When the Lakers legend made his first-ever WWE appearance and proceeded to make the NBA Finals the same season

Samir Mehdi
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“Shaquille O’Neal teamed up with Hulk Hogan to defeat Ric Flair” When the Lakers legend made his first-ever WWE appearance and proceeded to make the NBA Finals the same season

Shaquille O’Neal was ringside when Hulk Hogan defeated Ric Flair in 1994 for the WWE title and even presented the title to the wrestling legend. 

Shaquille O’Neal has made a name for himself as being perhaps the most active NBA legend outside of the league. His drive to sustain a considerable level of wealth after retirement led him to indulge in countless number of endorsements; everything from ‘Icy Hot’ to ‘Papa John’s’ was on the table for the Lakers legend and he’s still going today. 

When it comes to his involvement in culture, Shaquille O’Neal has done plenty. Perhaps some of his most memorable moments outside of the NBA came from when he made guest appearances on WWE and AEW. Over the past decade, he’s played up a rivalry with former World Heavyweight champ, Big Show, and participated in Royal Rumble as well.

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However, it should be interesting to look back at where Shaq’s relationship began and to do this, we need to take it all the way to 1994. 

Shaquille O’Neal and Hulk Hogan on the former’s first WWE appearance. 

Prior to the start of the 1994-95 NBA season, Shaquille O’Neal found himself shooting a promotional video alongside Hulk Hogan in preparation for his bout against Ric Flair, the defending WWE champion. The Magic center even sported ‘Hulkamania’s’ iconic red and yellow colored outfit.

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Hogan ended up beating Flair and Shaq was ringside for the entirety of the match. Following the victory, O’Neal himself handed him the title belt. 

Shaquille O’Neal would go on to take a long hiatus from WWE and would return to the ring in the early 2010s to ignite his long-standing feud against ‘The Big Show’. He would even go on to reunite with Hulk Hogan backstage during a ‘Raw’ segment. 

About the author

Samir Mehdi

Samir Mehdi

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Samir Mehdi is a senior strategist for the NBA division at The Sportsrush. Ever since he was 13 years old, he’s been obsessed with the game of basketball. From watching Kobe Bryant’s highlights on YouTube to now, analyzing and breaking down every single game on League Pass, Samir’s passion for the game is unwavering. He's a complete basketball junkie who not only breaks down current games but also keenly watches ones from the 60s’ and 70s’ while also reading comprehensive books on the history of the league. Samir’s life revolves around basketball and he hopes that shows in his work. Aside from work, he loves to spend time in the gym and with his friends at social gatherings.

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