Hulk Hogan reportedly admitted to reporters in Australia that his “fight” with Ric Flair that left Hogan’s face covered in blood was staged for publicity. Hogan made the admission at Sydney Football Stadium when he showed up “looking fit and healthy” for the press conference. “It took me about half an hour to get freshened up before I ran back out, it got a bit crazy,” Hogan told Australia’s Wentworth Courier newspaper. “I didn’t plan on going backwards off the stage, that was a bit of a shock.”

Hogan admitting the fight with Flair was a work came after Hogan’s Hulkamania Tour received tremendous press across Australia, even becoming a top story on the leading news website in the country. Hogan’s first tour date is Saturday night and it will be interesting to see if there is any negative backlash from the staged fight that many members of the Australian press bought as a legitimate brawl. Images of Hogan’s face covered in blood were splashed across the websites of major newspapers and news outlets on Wednesday linking to stories that suggested the fight was real, which made some reporters gathered at the press conference seem silly for buying into the stunt.

Speaking of Hogan, whilst we don’t have it confirmed, there are reports that 4 of the American Gladiators, from the show Hogan used to host are in contact with the WWE. Those rumored to be in contact with the company are Breaux Greer (Hurricane), Alex Castro (Militia), Tanoai Reed (Toa and also a stunt double for The Rock) and Beth Horn (Venom). More on this if it becomes available.