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Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Hulk Hogan continues to ignore the real reason WWE fans are booing him
Hulk Hogan's return to "WWE Raw" for its Netflix debut in January was billed as a nostalgic celebration — a hero's welcome for one of the most iconic figures in the history of professional wrestling. However, instead of an expected roaring ovation, the crowd at Los Angeles' Intuit Dome met Hogan that night with a torrent of well-deserved boos. In an interview Monday on Uncrowned's "The Ariel Helwani Show," Hogan was asked about the crowd's reaction to his return, and he seemed to deflect any responsibility for it. Hogan speculated that the boos were due to his previous role as the villainous "Hollywood Hogan," and even attempted to tie the boos to his support for U.S. President Donald Trump. Advertisement "They're still nipping at my heels," Hogan said, referring to his critics. "I can go out there and get booed in LA. I was Hollywood Hogan with the black beard and doing the bad guy thing. Or The Rock can get booed in LA or John Cena gets booed in LA, but when I get booed, there's a whole different reaction, media-wise." This response is telling in its avoidance of the real issue. The boos weren't about Hogan's "bad guy" persona or his political leanings at all. In fact, this wasn't the first time Hogan faced public backlash. He was heavily booed when introducing Titus O'Neil at WrestleMania 37 in 2021, signaling that many fans hadn't forgotten his past remarks. Both reactions were about something much more serious: The fact that Hogan has failed to properly address the deeply hurtful and racist remarks he made back in 2015. In July 2015, a leaked recording from a 2007 sex tape revealed Hogan making intensely offensive remarks. In the tape, Hogan expressed disgust over the possibility of his daughter dating a Black man and infamously admitted, "I am a racist, to a point," all while repeatedly and freely using the n-word. Advertisement Hogan spoke to ABC News about the incident later that year. 'No, I'm not. I'm not a racist," he said. "I never should have said what I said. It was wrong. I'm embarrassed by it. But a lot of people need to realize that you inherit things from your environment." Despite that explanation, the incident resulted in Hogan's firing from WWE and his removal from the Hall of Fame. If, for some reason, you believe his use of the n-word was an isolated incident, a simple Google search will show you that Hogan's racist remarks span long before the 2015 leaked footage. In 2011, WWE Hall of Famer Booker T spoke on an interaction where Hogan used the n-word in front of him in response to a now-infamous Harlem Heat promo where Booker T mistakenly used the term after saying he was coming for Hogan. 'I thought I was going to be totally blackballed from that. And Hulk Hogan actually came to me and told me not to feel bad about it, but said, 'You know what? I'm a good n-word,'' Booker T said. Advertisement This interview led to Hogan in 2012 questioning on a radio spot why Booker T could use the word and he could not. 'Well, Booker T used to do that to me, and every time I pull up YouTube there's that famous thing with Booker T and his brother is there and they're all talking trash, and Booker T says, 'I'm coming for ya Hogan, you ni-er' — and not 'ni-a,' he goes 'ni-r,'' Hogan said. Hulk Hogan sat down for an interview with "Good Morning America" in 2015 to explain his racist remarks. (Heidi Gutman/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) (Heidi Gutman via Getty Images) While Hogan was eventually reinstated by WWE in 2018 after issuing an apology to the company's talent locker room, many wrestlers publicly criticized the apology as insincere. Mark Henry, Shelton Benjamin and Kofi Kingston were among those who voiced their discontent, with Benjamin recently tweeting: Message to Hulk Hogan: You lost me forever with your 'don't get caught' …or as you would call it 'apology' speech. Beyond racial controversy, Hogan's reputation as a self-serving figure in the locker room further clouds his legacy. As more wrestlers from his generation speak openly over the years about their experiences, many have accused him of refusing to put younger talent over, leveraging his backstage influence to stay on top, and prioritizing his own brand over the industry he claimed to love. These actions paint the picture of a man more interested in protecting his image than in supporting the wrestling community. Advertisement This week's appearance on "The Ariel Helwani Show" was yet another missed opportunity for meaningful self-reflection and growth. Instead of addressing the pain caused by his words, Hogan focused on superficial metrics, such as boasting about the "3.2 billion impressions" his WWE return garnered. He still seems to value publicity and numbers over a sincere reckoning with the gravity of his past mistakes. Until Hogan takes full responsibility for his past actions and offers a heartfelt, unambiguous apology to the Black community, the boos and criticism will likely continue. His failure to confront the consequences of his words speaks volumes about his character — or rather, his lack of character. The time for Hogan to be held accountable is long overdue. Redemption, after all, is not a right — it's earned. And in Hogan's case, he has done nothing to deserve it.
Newsweek
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Bad Bunny May Be Returning To WWE: Report
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Whispers are circulating within the professional wrestling world, suggesting a potential return for the globally renowned music artist Bad Bunny to the WWE ring. Recent reports and social media activity have fueled this speculation, hinting at a high-profile tag team encounter that could see the "King of Latin Trap" back in action. Earlier this week, it was reported that WWE is considering a potential tag team match featuring the current WWE Champion, John Cena, and Travis Scott. The initial theory posited that Cody Rhodes, given his storyline developments culminating at WrestleMania 41, would likely stand as one of their opponents. This potential matchup immediately sparked considerable interest among fans, envisioning a unique blend of music and wrestling stardom colliding in the ring. Adding further fuel to this speculation is a report from Dave Meltzer in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Meltzer stated, "There have already been reports of Scott & Cena doing a tag team match. The theory was that Bunny would be on the other side." Meltzer noted that while Cody Rhodes is a strong babyface, his partner for this potential clash remains unconfirmed. However, the report mentioned that should the plan to include Bunny move forward, WWE would necessitate "a wrestler of the level of Cena on the face side" to ensure a balanced and compelling contest. Rhodes would certainly fit that bill. Bad Bunny enters the ring during the WWE Backlash at Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot on May 06, 2023 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Bad Bunny enters the ring during the WWE Backlash at Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot on May 06, 2023 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Gladys Vega/ Getty Images More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation Adding an intriguing layer to these reports, Paul "Triple H" Levesque, WWE's head of creative, took to the social media platform X earlier this month. His post served both as a congratulatory message to Bunny on releasing his latest album, "Debí Tirar Más Fotos," and as a significant foreshadowing of a potential WWE return. Bunny's previous time with WWE have already established his genuine passion for the sport and his ability to deliver compelling in-ring performances. His WWE journey began in 2021, ending in his official in-ring debut at WrestleMania 37, where he teamed with Damian Priest. He even briefly held the WWE 24/7 Championship. His participation in key matches at major events such as the 2022 Royal Rumble and the highly acclaimed San Juan Street Fight against Damian Priest at Backlash 2023 in his native Puerto Rico solidified his credibility as more than just a celebrity guest. Bunny has previously stated that he genuinely felt like a professional wrestler during his WWE stints. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
