On Monday night’s episode of Raw streaming on Netflix, WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan made a highly anticipated return to television. However, his appearance at the packed Intuit Dome was met with loud boos from the audience. The negative reaction quickly caught the attention of mainstream media and WWE executives. On Tuesday, reports surfaced suggesting that while WWE has no plans to sever ties with Hogan, the company is now reevaluating how to use him more strategically, potentially by limiting or eliminating his live appearances.
According to a report from Fightful Select, WWE had initially planned for Hogan to make “several appearances” as part of the promotion for his Real American Beer brand. However, some within the company were displeased that Hogan’s unfavorable reception became a prominent topic in the media, with outlets like CNN and Variety covering the backlash. Certain individuals within WWE had even anticipated the possibility of such a reaction and raised concerns beforehand.
After his segment, Hogan reportedly expressed that he was “surprised and disappointed” by the overwhelmingly negative crowd response. According to the report, those who spoke to Hogan said he ultimately shrugged it off. While it remains unclear whether Hogan attributed the reaction to his political affiliations, many backstage believed other factors also played a role in the audience’s response.
In the aftermath, some fans speculated online that Hogan should have embraced the boos by appearing as his nWo persona. However, a WWE source dismissed this as an impractical idea, emphasizing that Hogan’s appearance was primarily intended to help promote Real American Beer rather than to garner fan support for the 70-year-old legend.
Fightful Select also confirmed earlier reports that WWE is reconsidering how to involve Hogan in future events. Despite this reassessment, the partnership with Real American Beer is expected to continue. One potential adjustment being discussed is replacing Hogan with a more contemporary WWE star or another iconic figure to represent the product in future promotions.
