Hulk Hogan Booed on His Netflix "Monday Night Raw" Debut
On January 6, 2025, the legendary Hulk Hogan made an unexpected return to the WWE spotlight during Netflix's live broadcast of Monday Night Raw from the Intuitive Dome in Inglewood, California. However, what should have been a triumphant moment for the wrestling icon turned into a scene of heavy boos and harsh crowd reactions. Hogan, known for his heroic persona in the ring and his role in revolutionizing wrestling in the 1980s, was met with anything but applause.
Hogan, flanked by his longtime manager Jimmy Hart and wearing a vest promoting his newly launched "Real American Beer," entered the arena to the sound of his iconic entrance theme, "Real American." The moment, which many had anticipated eagerly, quickly soured as the crowd let out a wave of boos. Despite the icy reception, Hogan pressed on with his promotional message, trying to align himself with WWE's latest partnership with Netflix.
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He shared with the audience, "In the past, I’ve had incredible partners, like the Macho Man Randy Savage, and giant-sized partners like Andre the Giant. But tonight, the greatest partner WWE has ever had is Netflix, the greatest tag-team partner of all time." Hogan, ever the showman, went on to plug his beer brand, telling fans that the combination of WWE and Netflix marked a historical moment. Still, the boos persisted, and it was clear that not everyone in the audience was excited by his presence.
Fans shared their disbelief on social media, with one commenting, “Watching Hulk Hogan get annihilated with boos while trying to sell his ripoff Bud Light beer was incredible. And I grew up a Hulkamaniac.” The heavy backlash might have been linked to a number of factors, especially given Hogan's controversial history.
Although he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, Hogan’s image was tarnished in 2015 when a private video surfaced where he used racial slurs, leading to his removal from the Hall. While he was reinstated in 2018, some fans have never fully forgiven him. Furthermore, Hogan’s outspoken support for controversial political figures, like Donald Trump, has likely fueled further division among WWE’s fanbase.
Despite the tension during his appearance, Hogan wasn’t the only WWE legend to show up. Fellow wrestling icons Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, John Cena, and The Undertaker all made appearances during the show, each receiving positive reactions from the crowd. Their acceptance was in stark contrast to Hogan's cold reception. Fans seemed eager to celebrate these legends, perhaps because their legacies are less clouded by controversy in recent years.
Ultimately, Hogan's attempt to reinsert himself into WWE’s current narrative—now intertwined with Netflix—was met with resistance. His boisterous energy and attempt to push a product might have been too much for a crowd already skeptical of his past actions. While Hogan might have been trying to promote both his beer and the WWE-Netflix partnership, it became apparent that some fans were not ready to forgive or forget his past, and his presence did not have the desired effect.
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