Why Hulk Hogan was booed on Netflix's WWE Monday Night Raw debut
Topics: Dwayne Johnson, John Cena, Netflix, Social Media, WWE, Wrestling
Ellie Kemp
Featured Image Credit: WWE/Getty Images
Topics: Dwayne Johnson, John Cena, Netflix, Social Media, WWE, Wrestling
Former wrestling legend Hulk Hogan was humbled as he was booed out of the arena live on WWE's Monday Night Raw.
The professional wrestling TV show made its Netflix debut on January 6, bringing back a whole host of stars, including John Cena, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, and Women's World Championship winner Rhea Ripley.
Yet, 72-year-old Hogan - real name Terry Bollea - received anything but a warm welcome.
Hogan made a surprise appearance to announce his new sponsorship deal with WWE - via his Real American Beer brand, no less.
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The controversial star walked out to his entrance song 'Real American' around two and a half hours into the live show, accompanied by manager and close friend Jimmy Hart as he plugged his light beer.
And Hogan faced a cacophony of boos as he did so.
Appearing unfazed, he continued with his speech, even addressing the angry crowd as he said: "You, the fans, have been my greatest tag team partner because you guys have stuck with me through thick and thin dudes."
But fans kept on vocalizing their disapproval, with many taking to social media in amazement over the moment - which can you watch below.
Watching Hulk Hogan get booed out of a building filled with 18k people restored my faith in humanity 😭 #WWERAW #RawOnNetflix pic.twitter.com/f8qBP7uILt
— Public Enemies Podcast (@TheEnemiesPE3) January 7, 2025
There are a number of reasons why people could've been booing the wrestler - whose impressive career has seen him win six World Wrestling Entertainment championships.
While Hogan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005, he was removed a decade later when clips of him apparently using racial slurs surfaced.
This removal was short-lived, though, and Hogan was reinstated in 2018.
At the time, the WWE said he deserved a second chance after making 'numerous apologies and working with young people, where he is helping them learn from his mistake'.
But Hogan's increasingly vocal support for President-elect Donald Trump could also be behind the barrage of hate.
Days after Trump survived an attempted assassination while rallying in Pennsylvania last July, Hogan declared Trump 'my hero' during a Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Hogan said: “What happened last week, when they took a shot at my hero and they tried to kill the next president of the United States, enough was enough.
“I said, ‘Let Trump-a-mania run wild, brother! Let Trump-a-mania rule again. Let Trump-a-mania make America great again!'"
Interestingly, Trump has been inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame since 2013, while Linda McMahon - the wife of WWE co-founder Vincent McMahon - is set to return to Trump's cabinet as Education Secretary.
She previously served as Small Business Administrator between 2016 and 2019.