One of the subplots in Rocky III is that the champ has gotten soft and is more interested in fame than boxing. As an example of this, Rocky “fights” wrestler Thunderlips (Hulk Hogan) for a charity bout. 
When WWF (currently WWE) owner Vince McMahon Sr. found out that Hogan took on the role without getting permission, he fired the wrestler. It took Hulkamaniacs another year or so before current WWE owner Vince McMahon Jr. bought the company from his father and brought Hogan back on as the star attraction.
