Why Hulk Hogan’s WWE Raw Backlash Is Self-Inflicted
Unforced Errors
Fo
r the uninitiated, a “heel” in wrestling spaces is someone who generates negative emotions from the crowd during a match.
Every Generation X wrestling fan remembers everything about wrestling legend Hulk Hogan, from when he picked up and slammed Andre the Giant at Wrestlemania to orchestrating the formation of pro wrestling’s most iconic faction, the New World Order (NWO), his match with The Rock, and everything in between.
Unlike WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque, Hogan, unfortunately, sees color.
Racist Incidents
Due to Hogan’s real-life heel turn, which includes racist incidents, his wrestling-adjacent persona took a nasty hit earlier this week during the most important moment in wrestling history when WWE debuted “Raw” on the streaming service Netflix.
When Hogan’s “Real American” theme song rang out as he entered the arena, fans booed him with the type of heat he’s probably never heard.
Hulk Hogan getting boo’d out of the arena 🔥
YOU LOVE TO SEE IT!#RAWOnNetflixpic.twitter.com/66aQoLkfPP
— The Movement – Pro Wrestling (@TheMovementXx) January 7, 2025
A Lack of Contextualization
When you’re connected to a song where the lyrics state: “I’m a real American. Fight for the rights of every man,” those words ring hollow.
Some have said Hogan was booed solely because of his bombastic support for President-elect Donald Trump and because the show took place in Los Angeles, in California, a solidly Democratic-leaning state.
Let’s stop that narrative in its tracks.
The show kicked off with The Rock, a self-proclaimed political “centrist” who has previous affiliations with Democrats and Republicans.
Later in the show, WWE legend The Undertaker, an unapologetic longtime MAGA supporter, received a raucous ovation from the rabid crowd.
Unforced Errors
The Undertaker, who had then-presidential candidate Trump as a guest on his podcast, makes occasional appearances on WWE programming such as Wrestlemania and NXT, the company’s minor league program.
The Rock and The Undertaker don’t have a negative reputation, nor do they have the unforced errors Hogan has curated for himself over time. Modern-day wrestling fans seem to see through Hogan’s tired and played-out theatrics and want nothing to do with him.
Conclusion
Currently, there’s a generation of wrestling fans whose frame of reference regarding Hogan isn’t his leg drop finishing move, the NWO, his reality television series with his family or his longtime crossover appeal. It’s his documented history of terrible behavior, including racism and union busting.
FAQs
Q: Why did fans boo Hulk Hogan?
A: Fans booed Hogan due to his documented history of racist incidents and his failure to take responsibility for his actions.
Q: Is it fair to say that Hogan’s actions led to the backlash?
A: Yes, Hogan’s unforced errors, including his documented history of racist incidents, led to the backlash.
Q: Can Hogan recover from this backlash?
A: It will be difficult for Hogan to recover from this backlash, as the damage has already been done.
Q: What can Hogan do to redeem himself?
A: Hogan needs to take responsibility for his actions, apologize sincerely, and make amends with those he has wronged.
