When Hulk Hogan swaggered into WWE Raw in May 2002, dragging The Undertaker’s Harley out into the arena, one expected the showdown to turn into a lesson in live‐TV humility.
As fans recall, Hogan mounted the Deadman’s chopper—only to have the engine sputter and die as soon as he kicked at the pedal. What followed was a comedic spectacle: Hogan huffing, puffing, and rocking the bike back and forth while the audience watched in stunned amusement.
By the time Hogan finally got the Softail churning—a full thirty seconds later—it was clear that this wasn’t just a scripted moment; it was mechanical karma. “When you’re dealing with mechanical things, they sometimes just bite you in the a**,” The Undertaker confessed in a 2023 SHAK Wrestling interview, admitting he burst out laughing as Hogan’s struggle escalated into perfect slapstick.
Fans dissected every frame, noting how the bike’s flooded cylinders seemed almost too on‐cue, and speculating whether WWE had secretly timed the stall to play up Hogan’s stubborn “Hulkamania” pride. One user stated, “They might’ve planned the glitch just to reset the angle—safety first, spectacle second.”
Stunt experts agree that on‐set mishaps aren’t rare. According to the Associated Press, U.S. film and television sets logged at least 194 serious accidents—and 43 fatalities—from 1990 to 2014, with stunt workers among the most vulnerable.
In wrestling, where stunts blur the line between reality and illusion, hidden safety measures are the norm: padded costumes, rehearsed sequences, and strategic camera cuts all combine to protect performers while preserving the aura of danger.
Ted Sharon, head of performance at SUNY Fredonia and certified by the Society of American Fight Directors, explains, “Every stunt involving heavy machinery undergoes a meticulous risk assessment.
Bikes, in particular, require rehearsals in the exact arena layout, plus contingency plans if the engine overheats or stalls.” His insight suggests that Hogan’s misfire may have doubled as a rehearsed pause, allowing the crew to adjust equipment without breaking character.
Behind the scenes, WWE producers weren’t immune to panic. Wrestling veteran Bruce Prichard recalled backstage chaos: Vince McMahon stormed over, demanding, “Ellis, fix that damn bike!”—referring to their stunt coordinator. Only after Hogan finally limped the bike into position did Raw’s director cut to pre‐taped footage, rescuing the segment from further on‐air embarrassment.
Even today, the Undertaker acknowledges its legacy. On his Six Feet Under podcast, he admitted that the bike drama remains one of his favorite unscripted moments, “so bad it was good”.
For wrestling fans and motorcycle enthusiasts alike, the incident is a reminder that even the biggest stars can’t outmuscle a stubborn engine. It also underscores how WWE’s blend of showmanship and safety often hides more than it reveals.
