Hulk Hogan was booed by the crowd Monday night at WWE Raw’s Netflix debut in Inglewood.
The loud jeering started when Hogan walked into the Intuit Dome event to the song “Real American.” It persisted while the 71-year-old wrestler-turned-actor, who’s had his share of controversy, promoted his brand, Hulk Hogan’s Real American Beer, and congratulated Netflix for its partnership with WWE Raw.
Audience members put their thumbs down during Hogan’s brief speech at the Los Angeles area event, which kicked off Netflix’s live streaming of “Monday Night Raw.” WWE, which stands for World Wrestling Entertainment, signed a multiyear deal with Netflix in January 2024, according to Deadline.
Controversies surrounding Hogan have included steroid use, a leaked sex tape and a recording of him using racist language, which led to his temporary removal from the WWE Hall of Fame, USA Today reported.
Recently Hogan has played a role in politics as a vocal ally of President-elect Donald Trump. He came on stage and ripped his shirt off, his trademark move, to the cheers of the delegates at the Republican National Convention in July in Milwaukee.
One audience member at the Netflix event posted on X, formerly Twitter, that it was great to see Hogan booed while he was promoting his “ripoff Bud Light brand.”
Besides Hogan, the Intuit Dome show featured celebrities such as wrestlers-turned-movie stars Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and John Cena. Both have acted in the “Fast & the Furious” franchise.
Hulk Hogan’s path from the ring to the screen
Hogan, who was born Terry Gene Bollea on Aug. 11, 1953, in Augusta, Georgia, started his professional wrestling career in 1977. He became famous after signing for the World Wrestling Federation, which later became the WWE, in 1983.
Hogan went on to appear in commercials and guest-starred on TV shows such as “Baywatch,” “The Love Boat,” “Walker, Texas Ranger” and “The A-Team,” according to Amazon-owned Internet Movie Database, imdb.com. He also acted in movies such as “Rocky III” (1982), “No Holds Barred” (1989), “Suburban Commando” (1991) and “Muppets from Space” (1999).
Hogan, the father of two children, starred in a reality show, “Hogan Knows Best” (2005-2007 on VH1). He married Sky Daily, his third wife, in 2023.
A Hogan biopic was planned for Netflix. It would have starred Chris Hemsworth, who has played the muscular god Thor in Marvel Studios movies, as the wrestling celebrity. But the biopic was canceled last year, according to various sources. Hogan was an executive producer on the film.
Dave Mason covers East County for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at[email protected] or 805-437-0232.
