Hulk Hogan’s appearance at Netflix’s debut of Monday Night Raw became a highly talked-about moment when he was met with boos.
This response from the crowd highlighted the growing shift in WWE fan culture.
Here’s a breakdown of what happened and how the audience reacted to the legendary wrestler’s surprise entrance.
A ‘New Era’ of WWE fans reacts to Hulk Hogan’s entrance
On January 6, Hulk Hogan made a surprise appearance at the opening night of Netflix’s Monday Night Raw at the Intuitive Dome in Los Angeles.
The 71-year-old wrestling icon, real name Terry Bollea, entered to his famous walkout song, “Real American.”
He wore a tank top promoting his beer brand, Real American. However, his arrival was met with an overwhelming chorus of boos.
Despite this negative reaction, Hogan pushed through. He addressed the crowd, saying:
“Well let me tell you something, maniacs, I’ve been in this business for over 40 years, and the greatest part of my life was being part of the great WWE, guys.”
Hogan’s attempt to win over the crowd is met with disdain
Hogan continued to thank his “fans” for being his “greatest tag team partner” and expressed appreciation for their support over the years.
However, his speech was overshadowed by the negative energy from the crowd.
The boos continued as Hogan mentioned his past partners, like Macho Man Randy Savage and Andre the Giant. He even attempted to highlight WWE’s historic partnership with Netflix, calling it the “greatest tag team of all time.”
The audience’s displeasure seemed rooted in multiple controversies surrounding Hogan.
A 2007 video surfaced of Hogan using a racial slur, which led to his removal from WWE’s Hall of Fame in 2015.
They reinstated him three years later, but he has since supported controversial political figures, including President-elect Donald Trump.
Social media reflects the negative reaction to Hogan’s appearance
The response to Hogan’s presence wasn’t just negative in the arena. On social media, WWE fans expressed their disdain.
Public Enemies Podcast shared a clip of the moment, captioning it, “Watching Hulk Hogan get booed out of a building filled with 18k people restored my faith in humanity.”
Other fans echoed similar sentiments on Twitter. One user wrote, “Highlight of my night. They didn’t wanna hear s**t he had to say and neither did I.”
Another fan tweeted, “Best part of the show,” while someone else remarked, “It’s a new era indeed. Thank you WWE fans, I was wrong about you.”
Fans from Los Angeles celebrated the moment, with one writing, “They boo’d the living shit outta Hulk Hogan. It’s like music.”
Hulk Hogan’s appearance at Netflix’s Monday Night Raw premiere proved to be an awkward moment for the WWE veteran.
The boos from the crowd signaled a shift in WWE’s fanbase, one that has grown more vocal and less tolerant of past controversies.
Social media reactions further emphasized that Hogan’s once-revered status may no longer hold the same weight among today’s WWE fans.