How Awesome Kong Destroyed Hulk Hogan's Best Friend In A Backstage Fight, Explained
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TNA aka Impact Wrestling hiring Hulk Hogan for a position of power both on-screen and backstage led to his friend Bubba the Love Sponge getting hired too. Hogan hates Bubba today, but he talked TNA into thinking the radio host would add something to the product at the time. Bubba had a very short run that featured a lot of controversy following his name.
Knockouts star Awesome Kong of all people ended up in a fight backstage with him. Fans became fascinated with this story due to how shocking and controversial it was. Both sides had a hostile exchange leading to the physical strikes being exchanged. This story deserves to be explored about how and why Kong destroyed Hogan’s buddy Bubba in a fight.
What Caused The Drama Between Awesome Kong & Bubba The Love Sponge
Bubba the Love Sponge instantly had backstage heat in TNA as Hulk Hogan’s friend that got more opportunities than he deserved. Fans hated him, and wrestlers felt he was acting like a bigger part of the show than he was. Bubba had radio wars with other shows that gave a glimpse into his ego. Wrestling was no different with Bubba having a weekly radio interview spot with Hogan about TNA and often saying rude things about other wrestlers.
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The shock jock radio style of Bubba saw him loving to say offensive things for attention. A controversial tweet lit the fire within Awesome Kong when Haiti was dealing with a devastating earthquake impacting many lives. Bubba basically mocked them all by cursing out the country of Haiti when the rest of the world was trying to find ways to help with the emergency.
The tweet had already upset many wrestling fans and anyone with a soul given the heartless nature of his comment claiming the world was being “cleansed” with the deaths. Kong having some loved ones from Haiti made the story feel more personal to her. A backstage confrontation between the two was the match that lit the fire to set up an explosive situation.
Awesome Kong Punched Bubba The Love Sponge In The Face
Awesome Kong approached Bubba the Love Sponge at the next TNA tapings event about his comments in a hostile confrontation. Bubba had no idea what was going on when she raised her voice and started swinging when he refused to answer why he tweeted that. There are different accounts of the incident, but one common aspect of the story shared by all parties is that Kong got the better of him.
Bubba took a few hits to the face before others got involved to separate them. Vince Russo’s account of the story was that he was the first that tried to stop her, but there was no way to prevent it. Some wrestlers supported Kong’s actions since they hated Bubba. Hulk Hogan’s other close friend, Eric Bischoff, hated Bubba, so he loved the action, but he did admit that she was out of line by starting a physical fight.
Fans clearly sided with Kong since she was one of the best performers in the Knockouts division, and Bubba was already a hated figure. TNA employees separating them ended the fight that night and made sure it didn’t continue. Kong was sent home, and Bubba tried to work the rest of the tapings doing his usual duties.
TNA Had A Falling Out With Both Awesome Kong & Bubba The Love Sponge
TNA sending Awesome Kong home led to her requesting her release after feeling disrespected by this and other actions from the company. The back and forth between both sides saw Kong no-showing events when she was allowed to return and getting suspended for it. TNA eventually granted Kong her release and vacated the Knockouts Tag Team Championship she held with Hamada. Kong had a lackluster WWE run and returned to TNA multiple times in the future.
Bubba the Love Sponge became the most hated man in wrestling by fans and the locker room. TNA tried placing him with The Band to get some heat from the disdain for him by fans, but it was a bad fit. Mick Foley allegedly hit Bubba with a stiff shot to the face in his final segment as revenge for the locker room. Bubba was eventually let go from his TNA role after a few more weeks since he was hurting more than helping.
The two interacted again when Bubba tricked Kong into appearing on his radio show to clear the air, but he bombarded her with a verbal attack. Bubba was universally hated for his acts and did little in wrestling before Hogan eventually ended their friendship. Some may argue Kong was in the wrong as well, but she was respected by many for destroying Bubba.
