Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan received a hostile reaction from fans, as he made an appearance during World Wrestling Entertainment’s (WWE) debut on Netflix.
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The company’s Monday Night Raw show premiered on the streaming service on January 6 from the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The company later announced that 17,514 attended the event live, and the show was intended to be a showcase for WWE that included appearances from legends such as Hogan.
The 71-year-old, real name Terry Bollea, entered to much fanfare and spoke to the crowd to promote WWE’s deal with Netflix, as well as his new drinks brand Real American Beer. Unfortunately for him, he was met with a chorus of boos during his segment.
Hulk Hogan has been synonymous with wrestling since the ’80s, when he helped make WWE a global sensation with their Wrestlemania event. For years he was a hallowed figure among fans, but recent controversies seem to have changed that view.
In 2012 a sex tape was leaked online by the website Gawker, which showed Hogan using racial slurs. WWE briefly distanced itself from Hogan, removing him from their Hall of Fame in 2015 before reinstating him in 2018. The wrestler’s public support of President Donald Trump also caused some division among audiences.
One fan online approved of the crowd’s reaction, saying it restored their “faith in humanity”. While another at the event claimed those in attendance were booing Hogan “like it was a sport”.
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
We booed Hulk Hogan like it was a sport #WWERawonNetflix #WWERaw #WWEonNetflix pic.twitter.com/3GyG8jGVXx
— b4 the bell podcast (@b4thebellpod) January 7, 2025
It isn’t the first time the star has been booed when returning to the company. During 2021’s Wrestlemania 37 event, an opening segment featuring him dressed as a pirate was met with hostility from the crowd in Tampa, Florida, Hogan’s home state.
Other legendary wrestlers appeared on the Jan 6 broadcast, the first of a 10-year deal between WWE and Netflix. Dwayne Johnson made an appearance until his wrestling name The Rock, reuniting with current star and real-life cousin Roman Reigns. John Cena also came out to start his wrestling retirement tour, while The Undertaker also made an appearance. All were warmly received by the crowd.
Last year, Hogan asked fans at an event in Ohio if they wanted him to “body slam” Presidential candidate Kamala Harris, while fellow retired wrestler Shawn Michaels offered rappers Kendrick Lamar and Drake a chance to “settle” their feud in a wrestling ring.