Hulk Hogan was thrown under the bus for repeatedly breaking their boundaries. Being PG and having one of your top legends calling people Nopes while having sex on camera and being a known compulsive liar, steroid abuser, cocaine user, pill addict and having the loyalty of a fish, is a pretty rocky situation. The fact that they even signed him after the sex-tape, shows that they really cared for him but at one-point. Enough seems to be enough. Can't say I wouldn't do the same.
As for JR. WWE has always been fond of trying to destroy him. They take shots at WCW for joking about his Bell's Palsy but Vince McMahon himself has taken the liberty to do the same. Maybe JR's reputation as a company man led Vince McMahon to see how far he can push him. Making him kiss his ass, making fun of his serious disorder and weight problems. They probably aren't doing it to be mainstream but more so as a running gag amongst the higher ups.
