# The Legendary Bribe: Verne Gagne’s $100,000 Offer to The Iron Sheik to Break Hulk Hogan’s Leg
The most famous “expensive bribe” story in Hulk Hogan’s career involves his iconic WWF Championship win over **The Iron Sheik** on January 23, 1984, at Madison Square Garden—the match that truly launched Hulkamania.
According to a well-corroborated wrestling legend, **Verne Gagne** (promoter of the rival American Wrestling Association and Sheik’s former trainer) offered The Iron Sheik **$100,000** to “play dirty” by legitimately breaking Hogan’s leg during the match, refusing to drop the title, and bringing the WWF belt back to the AWA (or another territory).
Hogan has told this story multiple times, claiming he only learned about it afterward. But crucially, **The Iron Sheik himself confirmed it** in interviews (including on Chris Jericho’s podcast in 2015 and WWE.com). Sheik said Gagne called him the night before, promising the cash plus jobs in AWA and other promotions like Jim Crockett’s NWA if he “shot” on Hogan (turned it into a real fight) and crippled him.
Sheik refused out of loyalty to Vince McMahon Jr. (who had just made him champion by beating Bob Backlund) and immediately told the McMahons about the offer. He viewed it as biting the hand that fed him, emphasizing respect in the business.
The match went as planned: a quick squash where Hogan hulked up, hit the leg drop, and won the title in under six minutes—kickstarting the WWF’s national expansion and the golden era of wrestling.
While some details vary (e.g., whether other promoters like Crockett were involved), both Hogan and Sheik corroborated the core: a six-figure bribe to sabotage Hogan’s big moment. It’s seen as a desperate move by old-school promoters fearing Vince Jr.’s rising empire.
For U.S. wrestling fans, this tale underscores the cutthroat territorial wars of the 1980s and how close we came to no Hulkamania. Sheik’s decision helped change wrestling history forever.
As Verne Gagne bribe Iron Sheik, Hulk Hogan leg break offer, Iron Sheik refuses $100k, 1984 WWF title change backstory, and Hulkamania birth controversy trend in wrestling circles, it’s a reminder of the real drama behind the scripted spectacle.
In summary, the “expensive bribe” was **$100,000** from Verne Gagne to The Iron Sheik to legitimately injure Hulk Hogan and derail his championship win—but Sheik stayed loyal, and the rest is history.
By Mark Smith
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