Hulk Hogan Booed at Netflix’s Monday Night Raw Debut: Controversy, Politics, and Promotion Backlash

Hulk Hogan Booed at Netflix’s Monday Night Raw Debut

Wrestling icon Hulk Hogan faced an unexpected wave of boos during his surprise appearance at Netflix’s debut of Monday Night Raw at the Intuitive Dome in Los Angeles. The 71-year-old legend took the stage alongside his longtime manager, Jimmy Hart, to promote his new venture, Real American Beer, which has recently partnered with Netflix. Hogan, dressed in a vest featuring the beer's branding, aimed to excite the crowd but was met with jeers instead of cheers.

During his appearance, Hogan reminisced about his legendary career, calling the fans his “greatest tag team partner” and likening his beer brand to iconic wrestling partnerships such as those with Macho Man Randy Savage and Andre the Giant. He also praised the new WWE-Netflix collaboration as a historic moment, attempting to weave his beer into the narrative. Despite his efforts, the crowd remained unreceptive to his heavy-handed sales pitch.

The reasons for the negative reaction were unclear but may stem from Hogan’s controversial past. In 2015, a leaked video revealed Hogan using racial slurs, resulting in his temporary removal from WWE programming. Though reinstated in 2018 and inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame twice, the incident left a lingering stain on his reputation among fans.

Hogan’s vocal support for former President Donald Trump might have also contributed to the backlash. The wrestling legend has publicly aligned himself with Trump on several occasions, including a speech at the 2020 Republican National Convention and appearances at rallies where he coined the term “Trump-a-mania.” Such political affiliations, though in line with some WWE fan demographics, remain divisive.

The jeering crowd may also reflect a shift in wrestling audiences. While Hogan once symbolized wrestling's golden era, his attempt to blend nostalgia with commercial promotion appeared to miss the mark with today’s fans. The boos signaled a disconnect between his past legacy and his present-day public image.

Despite the cold reception, Hogan’s appearance underscored his enduring association with WWE. Whether promoting a new venture or reflecting on his storied career, Hogan remains a figure of intrigue. However, this event highlighted the challenges of reconciling past glory with a modern audience that increasingly scrutinizes the legacies of public figures.