Hulk Hogan’s Controversial Return: During WWE Raw’s Netflix Debut

The highly-anticipated launch of WWE Monday Night Raw on Netflix on January 6, 2025, had some memorable moments, but few more contentious than that of the return of wrestling icon Hulk Hogan. The appearance of the 72-year-old icon was to celebrate the new partnership that WWE has forged with Netflix and also to promote his Real American Beer brand; instead, boos cascaded from the packed 18,000-strong crowd at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles124.

An Unwelcome Surprise

As “Real American”—Hogan”‘s seminal 1990s entrance theme—started blaring through the arena’s public address system some two-and-a-half hours into the show, Hogan emerged onto the entrance ramp, resplendent in his famous red and yellow gear, with a T-shirt advertising his Real American Beer rand. What began as a stirring moment of nostalgia quickly degenerated into a cacophony of boos.

The Promo That Flopped

Undaunted by the initial boos, Hogan attempted to power his way through his pre-written promo. He began by informing the fans that they were his “greatest tag team partner” and thanked them for standing by him “through thick and thin.” His words were consistently drowned out by the resounding disapproval of the audience.

Hogan continued, pressing on in hopes of focusing again on WWE’s new deal with Netflix, labeling the partnership as “the greatest tag team partner of all time.” Even doing some name-checks of the most popular wrestling icons like Randy “Macho Man” Savage and Andre the Giant fell a little flat with this hostile crowd as well.

The Real American Beer Pitch

Much of Hogan’s physical segment was thus to promote his Real American Beer company, which this very week and day announced a massive deal wherein WWE13 was sponsoring, having literally just earlier that afternoon announced WWE had just become the brand a minority investor on Real American Beer—a ring mat for WWE Monday Night Raw with a bright “Real American Beer” brand visible from near-ring 1 activity.

However, Hogan’s segment was decidedly commercial in nature, which just further irritated an already disgruntled crowd; even his signature move of ripping his shirt off, with a WWE-Netflix t-shirt underneath, received sustained boos.

A History of Controversy

The very harsh reception Hogan received from people is because of all the controversies that have dogged this wrestler in the last few years. Chief among these is the leaked video in 2015 where Hogan was caught using racial slurs. Then, he was temporarily removed from the WWE Hall of Fame and also forced into some exile from the company.

While Hogan was reinstated to the Hall of Fame in 2018, his public image never fully recovered. More recent controversies, including his vocal support for Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election and offensive remarks about Kamala Harris, have further damaged his reputation.

The Aftermath

Indeed, this was such an immense negative reaction to Hogan’s segment that WWE didn’t put this segment up onto their very popular YouTube channel like they usually did with moments on their shows. 2 This single act in itself shows that WWE also realized this particular segment of Hogan had been a mistake in the first place.

In a post on social media, former WWE ring announcer Samantha Irvin mentioned that this was not the first time negative reception happened regarding Hogan-related content, even when it was off-air. She remembered how, during commercial breaks, they sometimes did a “Hulk Up Cam” that always drew boos from the audience.

Industry Reaction and Analysis

The incident sent shock waves throughout the wrestling fraternity and also amongst its following. Many in the wrestling business view this as a clear indication that Hogan’s transgressions from yesteryear have not only damaged but irreparably compromised his standing in today’s WWE audience.

Wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer said, “WWE clearly miscalculated audience reaction to Hogan in 2025. Those days of his universal cheers are long since gone, and this could have very well been the nail in the coffin of Hogan’s on-screen WWE career.”

Implications for WWE and Netflix

The Hogan debacle overshadowed what was supposed to be a triumphant debut for WWE on Netflix, which paid big to acquire the rights to Raw; this begs questions about WWE’s ability to read the room regarding their audience’s preferences.

According to sources, Netflix executives were not pleased with the negative publicity stemming from Hogan’s appearance. One company insider, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “This was not the kind of buzz we were hoping for on our first night. We expected WWE to put their best foot forward, and instead we got one of the most controversial figures in their history being booed out of the building.”

Future of Hulk Hogan in WWE

The question now is what, if any, role Hulk Hogan will have in the future with WWE following this incident. While the partnership between WWE and Real American Beer remains intact, the likelihood of Hogan being featured heavily in on-screen roles seems doubtful.

The WWE has yet to comment on the incident. However, sources close to the matter insist that serious discussions have taken place regarding how to handle any future association with Hogan on behalf of the company. As one source indicated regarding the case, “There is much negative worry over the fact that his presence in the WWE could turn out to be more of a liability rather than an asset. They will certainly have to take his usage into consideration again—if at all.”

Conclusion

The return of Hulk Hogan at the Netflix premiere of WWE Raw will, in all likelihood, go down in history as a cautionary tale of leaning on nostalgia without taking into consideration the shifting landscape of attitudes among today’s audiences. It is an important reminder that even the most iconic figures in wrestling history are not immune to the ramifications of their extracurricular actions.

As WWE continues with Netflix and is looking to expand its global reach, this incident might just make them reassess how they use their legends, especially those with questionable pasts. The overwhelmingly negative response to Hogan suggests today’s wrestling fans are more judgmental and less willing to separate the performer from the person behind the character.

Ultimately, Hulk Hogan’s less-than-well-received appearance on the Netflix debut of Raw may signal the end of an era—meaning it is time for WWE to move forward with new stars and leave some of its past behind.