WWE ended its relationship with Hulk Hogan in 2015 after a leaked recording where he admitted he was racist.
Although WWE’s Netflix debut was a hit, not everyone was met with a warm welcome.
Highlights
- Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan appeared at WWE’s Netflix debut alongside Jimmy Hart, who was heavily booed by the audience.
- WWE ended ties with Hulk Hogan in 2015 after a tape emerged of him using a racist slur.
- He returned to WWE in 2018 and got reinstated into the WWE Hall of Fame.
During Monday Night Raw, Hulk Hogan made a surprise appearance, but his quick speech in front of an American flag primarily attracted boos from the audience at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.
As the camera panned across the audience, thumbs could be pointed down as the booing intensified throughout his product plug.
Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, tried hyping up the unruly crowd by talking about his legacy and crediting fans as the “greatest tag team partner” he’s had in his career. He said,
“You, the fans, have been my greatest tag team partner because you guys have stuck with me through thick and thin dudes,”
Hulk Hogan
The retired professional wrestler then promoted his Real American Beer brand. He said,
“You know, I got a new tag team partner right now. I got Hulk Hogan’s Real American Beer that I’ve teamed up,” “And in the past, I’ve had a whole bunch of partners down the line. I’ve had incredible partners like ‘ooh ya’ the Macho Man Randy Savage. I’ve had giant-size partners, like Andre the Giant.”
Hulk Hogan
However, the Hulkster told the crowd they were watching history in the making with the “greatest partner the WWE has ever had.”
Despite being loudly booed by the audience, he ended the speech by saying,
“But the greatest partner the WWE has ever had, is the fact that tonight, we’re making history, and the WWE has tag teamed up with Netflix, the greatest tag team partner of all time,”
Hulk Hogan
The WWE announced a multi-year partnership with “Real American Beer” in a press release just hours before Raw started.
WWE Cut Ties With Hulk Hogan After He Admitted That He Is Racist
Hulk Hogan is one of the biggest names in wrestling, but in 2015, the WWE terminated his contract after a tape emerged of him using a racist slur.
National Enquirer and Radar Online publicized an anti-black rant in July 2015 made by Hogan on a leaked sex tape recorded in 2007.
In the recording, he is heard expressing disgust with the notion of his daughter dating a black man, reference by repeated use of the racial “n” word.
Once the recording went public, erupting in a media scandal, Hulk apologized for the remarks, which he said were “language that is offensive and inconsistent with own beliefs.”
However, three black wrestlers who worked in the WWF and WCW with Hogan made supportive comments.
Virgil commented, “Hogan has never given me a reason to believed he is a racist,” while Dennis Rodman said he “most certainly is not a racist.”
Mark Henry said he was pleased by WWE’s “no tolerance approach to racism” response and was hurt and offended by Hogan’s manner and tone.
On July 24, 2015, WWE ended their contract with Hulk Hogan, stating that they are committed to embracing individuals from all backgrounds, although Hogan’s lawyer said he chose to resign.
A day prior, WWE removed almost all references to Hogan from their official website.
His DLC appearance from WWE 2K15 was also removed from sale, and his character was cut from the upcoming WWE 2K16 game during development.
During the interview with ABC on August 31, 2015, Hogan pleaded for forgiveness for his racist comments, attributing these to a racial bias inherited from his neighborhood while growing up.
He claimed that the word “n” was used liberally among friends in Tampa; former neighbors disputed this claim.
During the following years, numerous African-American wrestlers supported Hogan, including The Rock, Big E, Mr. T, and many more.
However, on July 15, 2018, Hogan was reinstated into the WWE Hall of Fame. Later that night, he was invited backstage to WWE’s Extreme Rules pay-per-view event.
Hulk made his on-screen return on November 2, 2018, as the host of Crown Jewel.
Additional Information
- Hulk Hogan has an estimated net worth of around $30 million as of 2025.
- He has a daughter named Brooke Hogan and one son, Nick Hogan.
- Hogan was born to his father, Peter Bollea, and his mother, Ruth Bollea.
