It was always going to be a controversial call, but WWE took the plunge and announced that Hulk Hogan had been reinstated to the Hall of Fame after a three-year suspension.His firing back in 2015 had been well-documented, as had the reasons why the company decided to swiftly cut all ties with the wrestling icon.
HULK'S RETURN
However, that never stopped the rumours that The Hulkster was going to make a return to the company, and that was cemented on Sunday night before the Extreme Rules pay-per-view.
Hogan was initially spotted flying into Cleveland the night before, indicating that he was going to drive into Pittsburgh where a meeting was taking place.
In what Mark Henry claimed to be a 50-50 split, the reaction to Hogan's reinstatement has been split online.
However, it's been more negative by WWE stars themselves that have spoken out regarding his reinstatement.
First, the New Day had their say with their statement on Twitter.
Kofi Kingston, Big E and Xavier Woods weren't going to let it get in the way of their day-to-day business in WWE, but didn't feel the apology was genuine enough.
Then, Titus O'Neil cleared up some false rumours where he claimed he didn't storm out of Extreme Rules, but echoed New Day's statement of the apology not sounding genuine enough.
Now, Rajah has shared the Wrestling Observer's report on WWE's thoughts regarding the backlash surrounding Hogan's return.
REACTION
According to the source, it's being said that WWE did not expect the amount of controversy that the Hulk Hogan saga has received following his reinstatement to the Hall of Fame, while they basically misread what many of their modern wrestlers took from the Hogan story.
However, that's not to say WWE didn't expect some backlash.
The source has added that the WWE was anticipating some minor media backlash that would be critical of the move to bring Hogan back.
What they didn't expect, though, is that there would be so much controversy from within their own locker room as WWE stars never publicly 'second guess' these types of major decisions the company makes.
The most interesting part of the whole story, however, is that WWE officials were reportedly thinking that all or at least most of the stars would sympathise with Hogan.
The reason behind this thought process was that they would feel sorry for him because he was taped without his knowledge and because he's Hulk Hogan - a global wrestling icon that most of them grew up watching.
Instead, it's being said that a lot of the wrestlers felt that Hogan wasn't actually sincere enough in his apology, while it felt like his speech was conveying a message that he was a victim of being recorded who embarrassed the company.
It's safe to say, WWE certainly misread the entire situation.
What do you make of the reaction WWE had hoped to receive following Hulk Hogan's return?