WWE

Just because you can play in the NFL doesn't mean you're tough enough to WRESTLE -- so says Hulk Hogan who tells us all sorts of NFL tough guys have tried to cross over to the ring ... and FAILED.

And not just no-name scrubs ... we're talking some pretty famous NFLers who couldn't quite hack it with Vince McMahon's organization ... guys like Oakland Raiders legend Lyle Alzado.

Unclear why Alzado -- a maniac on the field -- didn't get a contract with the WWE (then WWF) ... but Hulk says he wasn't the only NFL star who didn't make the cut.

Hogan names names ... Bill Fralic (4-time Pro Bowler), John Matuszak (2-time Super Bowl champ) ... and explains that it takes a special sort of toughness to fake fight in the squared circle.

"You gotta be able to work hurt," Hogan says ... "You can't be taking a day off from wrestling because you twisted your pinkie if you're wrestling the main event at Madison Square Garden."

So, does Hogan think Sam has a shot?? Check out the clip ...

UFC honcho Dana White tells TMZ Sports he's definitely interested in having a conversation with CM Punk about fighting in the octagon ... now that Punk's no longer with the WWE.

White was at an event in NYC to celebrate the new UFC-Reebok partnership when he told us he likes Punk and knows he's a fan of MMA -- and would be open to having a conversation with the 36-year-old about joining the organization.

"I don't know if he can fight or anything like that ," White said ... "but sure, I wouldn't mind talking to CM Punk."

As for rumors about Brock Lesnar wanting to get back into MMA at the end of his contract with the WWE -- White says, "If and when his deal if up with them and he wants to fight, I'm, sure he'll call me."

A former WWE wrestler is suing Vince McMahon's company claiming he contracted Hepatitis C during a bloody WWE wrestling match ... and he's not the only one.

The man behind the lawsuit is Billy Jack Haynes -- who claims the WWE went out of its way to put wrestlers in danger by encouraging steroid and cocaine use and hiding important medical information from the wrestlers.

Haynes -- who wrestled for McMahon from 1986-88 -- says the organization never warned wrestlers about the long-term health risks of the concussions they suffered in the ring ... such as the brain disease CTE.

In the suit, filed in federal court in Oregon, Haynes also blames the WWE for his Hep C diagnosis -- saying he contracted the illness during blood-soaked matches with infected wrestlers.

Haynes says the WWE is at fault for not doing a better job to protect the wrestlers from exposure.

Haynes has brought the suit on behalf of himself and others -- he's demanding more than $5 million.

8:28 AM PT-- The WWE has issued a statement denying the allegations ... saying, "Billy Jack Haynes’ lawsuit against WWE is an example of ‘throwing everything against the wall to see if anything could possibly stick.’"

"Billy Jack Haynes spent only two years of his 14-year wrestling career with WWE. It would be impossible to know if he contracted Hepatitis C as a result of his wrestling career or from something else."

Ex-WWE announcer Justin Roberts isn't taking a break after getting 86'd from the company Friday ... he's jumping into a new ring -- literature ... he's writing a book about his life.

Sources close to Roberts tell us he bolted for Hawaii a few days after his WWE contract wasn't renewed, and while he's there he plans to write about his struggle to break into the wrestling biz.

We're told he wants the book to be part inspirational, part instructional.

Former WWE wrestler Tommy Dreamer got more than a mouthful at a wrestling show in New York ... and what he got in his mouth will totally gross you out.

Dreamer was in a tag match against Joey Ryan and Candice LaRae earlier this month at an FWE wrestling show ... when he got offended because his opponent was sucking on a blow pop during the bout.

So, Dreamer took the lollipop out of Joey's mouth and started sucking on it himself!! The thing got passed back and forth multiple times ... even AFTER it took a few trips South.

Watch. It's disgusting, and the most 100% NOT FAKE thing you'll see in pro wrestling.

Dennis Rodman tells TMZ Sports ... his role of unofficial ambassador to North Korea is still going strong -- and now plans to bring WWE-style wrestling to Kim Jong Un country.

Rodman was out in L.A. last night when he opened up about his plans -- telling us KJU expressed interest in having some Royal Rumble style action in his part of the world -- and Dennis says he's more than happy to help bring it over.

Of course, Rodman knows a little something about the wrestlin' world -- he fought alongside Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage as a member of the NWO back in the '90s.

As for Kim Jong Un, who's reportedly been M.I.A. for the past couple of weeks -- we asked Rodman if he knows where he is ... to which he cryptically replied, "We know."

Uhhh ... CIA, line 1?

Former wrestler Sean O'Haire had a nasty alcohol addiction he couldn't kick ... even though the WWE went to lengths to help him get clean -- including providing him years of treatment.

Sources close to the situation tell us O'Haire went to WWE-sponsored rehab six times in the past 6 years ... including once earlier this year. After he left, we're told the wrestling company made multiple attempts to get in touch with O'Haire -- but he was M.I.A.

12:50 PM PT -- According to local police, O'Haire committed suicide. He was found in his bedroom beside his bed, with a red rope tied around his neck and connected to the bedpost. His body was discovered by his father, who then called 911.

Former WCW and WWE wrestler Sean O'Haire was found dead Tuesday at his home in South Carolina ... TMZ has learned.

The coroner in Spartanburg, SC tells TMZ a cause of death is unknown at this time, but no foul play is suspected. They are awaiting toxicology reports that might shed light on things.

O'Haire (whose real name was just Sean Haire) made his debut with the WCW in 2000 and along with partner Chuck Palumbo, was the final WCW tag team champions when the organization folded.

Once in the WWE, he was Rowdy Roddy Piper's protege, but when Piper left in 2003 ... O'Haire fizzled out and eventually left the WWE in 2004.

He eventually transitioned into kickboxing and MMA before becoming a hair stylist.

Jake "The Snake" Roberts was rushed to a Las Vegas hospital Wednesday night ... and doctors say he has double pneumonia.

The WWE Hall of Famer fell ill on a flight from Atlanta to Vegas ... and was immediately hospitalized when he landed. We're told he's been in and out of consciousness ever since.

Wrestler Sinn Bodhi -- who has been at Jake's bedside all night -- tells us Roberts went to a doctor 2 weeks ago, and was told he had the flu and needed rest.

Bodhi says Jake's been in pain since ... but didn't think it was a big deal because of the prognosis.

We're told Roberts is in ICU, and his immune system is in bad shape. Doctors are letting him rest for a few days while they take more tests.

Hulk Hogan is ticked off at WWE Champion Brock Lesnar for an unscripted insult he made in the ring. What did Brock say that was so offensive? He called him … old.

Wait, that's it? But Hulk is, ya know … old.

He's still got it.

Mike Tyson is still the champ when it comes to slap-boxing ... and Jon Jones learned that the hard way outside of WWE SummerSlam in L.A. Sunday night.

The two were goofin' around in front of Staples Center -- when the fighters squared off ... with some open-handed pugilism.

Jones handled himself pretty well ... until Mike moved to his inside and tagged the UFC superstar right on the jaw -- and even Jones admits if the brawl was full-force ... "He'd kill me."

Now that's a fight we'd LOVE to see.

Brock Lesnar's appetite was still in full effect after his epic SummerSlam victory Sunday night ... so he decided to wash down John Cena with a steak dinner.

Lesnar hit up Morton's in downtown Los Angeles with Paul Heyman after becoming the WWE World Heavyweight Champion. He brought his championship belts with him to dinner ... and they still have Cena's name on them!

But Lesnar didn't let his performance rest on its laurels ... he was still talking serious smack about Cena even after the match. He also drops a hint about the future of dual belts.

WWE Superstar Titus O'Neil made friends with a homeless man on the streets of L.A. Saturday night ... and now, they're bffs.

O'Neil had some leftover food from dinner ... and decided to hit the streets around his hotel to find a homeless person -- when he ran into John from Detroit.

Titus says, "What was supposed to be a quick encounter turned into a few hours of learning and laughter with a complete stranger."

The 37-year-old wrestler introduced John to other wrestlers in town for Sunday's SummerSlam ... and hung out with him in the hotel.

Triple H took the plunge this morning -- accepting the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, but he refused to give fans what they really want to see ... his wife getting doused.

WWE's Chief Operating Officer was outside Staples Center to join the trend sweeping the nation, and scoffed at haters who think the challenge isn't helping the cause. (Fact is, ALS donations have skyrocketed)

HHH also says he didn't challenge his wife Stephanie McMahon to do the I.B.C. because she's busy with SummerSlam on Sunday.

But that's not the only reason ... check out the video, every guy will understand.

Step aside Benicio Del Toro ... the real collector from "Guardians of the Galaxy" is Dave Bautista -- and he just copped a one of a kind treasure for his collection.

Fun fact ... Dave is an avid lunch box collector -- he's got around 100 -- so "GOTG" director James Gunn had a custom Drax box made for the former wrestling champ. The first of its kind.

Bautista didn't just receive ... he also gave custom WWE Championship belts to some of his co-stars like Chris Pratt and Zoe Saldana.

The WWE is getting the smackdown from some fans after two "Russian" characters ripped Americans for blaming Russia for the MH17 tragedy.

Right before Alexander Rusev's pay-per-view bout last night ... his manager Lana teased hecklers with a very thinly veiled reference to the Malaysia Airlines crash, saying ... "You blame Russia for current events?"

Lana added that America is to blame for "war-mongering in Afghanistan and Iraq."

By the way, Lana is played C.J. Perry -- an American actress with a shaky Russian accent.