Hulk Hogan is indeed a WWE legend, but that doesn’t mean he’s a fan favourite in 2025.
During WWE’s debut on Netflix, Hogan made an appearance on RAW in front of 17,000-plus fans in Los Angeles primarily to promote his beverage ‘Real American Beer’.
WWE announced a multi-year partnership with Hogan’s beer the day before RAW and the logo was plastered on the ring mat during the show.
Yet, when Hogan came out to speak to the crowd, it didn’t take long for them to let him know exactly how they felt.
The Hulkster, now 71, tried to tell the WWE audience they were the best tag team partner he ever had. Their response was to boo him out of the building.
Hogan was chucked out of the WWE in 2015 after a tape surfaced of him making racist remarks, including the use of the n-word.
Hulk Hogan obviously expected cheers but that was not on the cards in Los Angeles
Back in 2015 audio emerged of a racist rant from Hogan about his daughter Brooke’s (second right) love life
In a video made public by The National Enquirer, Hogan said: ‘I guess we’re all a little racist’ and used the n-word while referring to his daughter’s love life, and includes him repeating the phrase ‘f***ing n******’ several times.
According to Radar, the audio features him using a number of racist remarks in a rant about his daughter Brooke, 27, who was trying to launch a music career, to Heather Clem, the wife of a friend.
He is reported to have said that ‘a black billionaire guy’ had offered to bankroll her, then speculated about her sex life’.
Hogan told Clem: ‘I don’t know if Brooke was f***ing the black guy’s son… I mean, I don’t have double standards.
‘I mean, I am a racist, to a point, f***ing n******. But then when it comes to nice people and s***, and whatever.’
He continued: ‘I mean, I’d rather if she was going to f*** some n*****, I’d rather have her marry an 8-foot-tall n***** worth a hundred million dollars! Like a basketball player!
‘I guess we’re all a little racist. F***ing n*****.’
Back in 2015, Hogan told Good Morning America he was at an all-time low as he begged his former legion of fans to take him back.
At the time of the audio, Hogan’s daughter Brooke had been trying to start a music career
Jimmy Hart waving the American flag did not help subside the boos that rang out
‘Please forgive me,’ the 12-time world champ pleaded – both to America as a whole and to his daughter Brooke Hogan, whose boyfriend was the focus of the then 62 year old’s racist tirade.
‘If anybody should have disowned me it should have been her,’ said Hogan. ‘I was upset about something that happened between her and her boyfriend.’
Apologising at the time, he told outlet People: ‘Eight years ago I used offensive language during a conversation.
‘It was unacceptable for me to have used that offensive language; there is no excuse for it; and I apologise for having done it.’
He would then in 2023 describe the controversy as ‘a speed bump’ and claimed it was ‘not who I was’
He was banished from WWE for three years before being welcomed back into the Hall of fame in 2018, having described the incident as the ‘biggest mistake’ of his life but many were not happy with his ‘apology’ when he was brought back.
It was said Hogan spoke about being careful what you say around a camera rather than the content of what he said.
The former 12-time world champion was clearly taken aback by the reaction to his appearance on Monday night and stuttered over his words a little before finishing his rehearsed promo.
Hogan was also a celebrity endorser for Donald Trump’s recent presidential campaign
In the 1980s, Hogan was the driving force behind WWE’s rise from a regional promotion around New York to an international brand.
He is undoubtedly one of the most popular and successful babyfaces of all-time and the catalyst to what made WrestleMania so successful, main eventing eight of the first nine events.
But in recent years, his beloved status is long gone.
More recently, Hogan became a celebrity endorser for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign in the United States, which he went on to win.
WWE is making more money than ever and has a stacked roster by any era’s standards.
There is no need for a Hogan appearance, though you can see why WWE may have thought it was a good idea given the historic nature of the show and how he ties into that.
Many fans groaned at the idea of Hogan appearing and it only got worse with the content of his promo. One has to think both Hogan and WWE will take the hint.
Source link
