In a surprise that no one saw coming, Hulk Hogan became the biggest talking point of Netflix’s “WWE Raw” debut, and not in a good way. There, to promote his “real American ale”, Hulkster was showered with boos, the reaction becoming so hostile that it was subsequently covered by the mainstream media. Many have attempted to determine the cause of Hogan’s negative reception, with most attributing it to his support for President-elect Donald Trump.
A few days later, a few more details regarding Hogan and WWE’s reaction to this segment emerged. Combative selection reports that, shockingly, WWE wasn’t thrilled with how the segment played out, much less the fact that it dominated much of the conversation coming out of the show. As for Hogan, the WWE Hall of Famer was reportedly “surprised and disappointed” but ultimately “turned him down.”
It is unclear whether Hogan believed the reaction was due to his political beliefs, although many behind the scenes believed it was only one factor in Hogan’s negative reaction. It also wasn’t entirely unexpected from some within WWE, who say they expressed concern about Hogan getting booed before the show, ultimately to no avail.
As for what’s next, Hogan’s partnership with WWE on “Real American Beer” is expected to continue, and Hogan is expected to make more appearances, but to what extent remains to be seen. A WWE source pushed back on the idea that Hogan was leaning into the reaction to his first appearance, but suggested that WWE would “consider the context in which Hogan is used in the future.” One idea being considered would be for Hogan to be paired with another WWE legend or modern WWE star, while promoting beer in future appearances.
