This past Monday, during the debut of WWE Raw on Netflix, Hulk Hogan made a special appearance to promote his “Real American Beer” and commemorate the show’s transition to streaming. However, the six-time WWE Champion was met with a surprising and overwhelmingly negative reaction from the live audience at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, as boos echoed throughout his promo.
Former WCW executive Eric Bischoff addressed the incident on his podcast, 83 Weeks, speculating on the reasons behind the hostile response. Bischoff suggested that the unfavorable reception could stem from Hogan’s perceived alignment with right-wing political figures, particularly Donald Trump.
“If you’re someone who hasn’t spent a lot of time in California, particularly LA or San Francisco, you’ve heard all the stories about how liberal it is and all that, but until you’ve been there and realized just how intensely liberal and Democrat California is, you might not think that could possibly be the reason why Hulk got booed,” Bischoff said. “But Hulk and Trump are kind of joined at the hip now in the eyes of many, at least publicly.”
Bischoff went on to express his sympathy for Hogan, noting that he looked “incredibly uncomfortable” while enduring the hostile reaction. “I felt bad watching it,” Bischoff admitted, adding that he believed Hogan might have considered cutting a heel promo to turn the crowd’s reaction into part of the segment. Ultimately, Hogan opted to stick with his original script.
The incident highlights the evolving dynamics between public figures, their perceived political affiliations, and audience reactions, especially in regions known for their liberal-leaning populations like California. Despite the boos, Hogan’s appearance was a prominent part of the Raw debut on Netflix, and his “Real American Beer” promotion still drew attention amidst the controversy.
If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit 83 Weeks and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.