Shaq Says Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair Ruined Kayfabe for Him

On a recent episode of The Big Podcast with Shaq, NBA icon Shaquille O’Neal recalled the day he realized pro wrestling’s rivalries aren’t always what they seem.

The revelation came during a house party he hosted in Orlando, when several wrestling legends stopped by for snacks and small talk.

“So, I did a WWE event at my house in Orlando and said, ‘Hey, all the wrestlers come by.’ Hulk Hogan came in, a couple of other guys came in, Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan… and Macho Man. And all these guys start eating my hors d’oeuvres and talking with each other. Growing up I always thought they hated each other.

You know what’s crazy? It actually was a sad day for me, because I thought—even though I’m a professional, make a whole bunch of money—I thought that wrestling was real.”

For anyone unfamiliar, kayfabe is the long‑standing code of keeping the illusion alive. Wrestlers are expected to stay in character in public so fans never see sworn enemies acting friendly. Seeing Flair, Hogan, and Savage chatting like old pals in his living room shattered that illusion for Shaq on the spot.

The four‑time NBA champion still loves the business. He wrestled Big Show in a battle royal at WrestleMania 32 and later teamed with Jade Cargill and Cody Rhodes on AEW Dynamite. The broken kayfabe just gave him a peek behind the curtain he will never forget.

Shaq ended the story with a laugh, but you could hear a hint of the wide‑eyed kid who once believed every piledriver was life‑or‑death.