Hulk Hogan did not receive a warm welcome from the WWE universe during his recent guest appearance on the All-Star debut of Raw on Netflix, as he was met with merciless boos from the sold-out Los Angeles crowd. While some speculated that the backlash stemmed from his outspoken political views, particularly his support for President Donald Trump, it’s more likely related to the racist language he used that was caught on tape a decade ago. In contrast, The Undertaker, who has also publicly supported Trump, was celebrated warmly at Raw as he shared the spotlight with Rhea Ripley.
The former champion was scheduled to appear this weekend at WWE’s upcoming primetime Saturday Night’s Main Event special on NBC; however, reports indicate that this appearance has been canceled, with Chris Featherstone stating that Hogan will not be attending due to “family commitments.”
I’ve been informed that Hulk Hogan will not be appearing on #SNME due to family commitments. pic.twitter.com/yEOAyAk7jB
— Dr. Chris Featherstone, Ph.D. (@chrisprolific) January 24, 2025
This situation is intriguing, especially considering that Hulk Hogan had previously promoted the show and that earlier reports indicated he would be there. Could these “family commitments” have emerged last minute, or is this simply a cover for Hogan and WWE to avoid further embarrassment from a negative reception? Only time will tell.
Despite his controversial history, Hogan has made sporadic appearances for WWE since being reinstated in 2018 after his 2015 firing due to the leaked tapes. Nevertheless, his Netflix appearance was the first live event in quite some time. With WWE currently enjoying a resurgence reminiscent of the Attitude Era, they no longer rely on aging stars like Hogan to drive numbers or engagement, especially given his complicated legacy. If the Netflix Raw turns out to be Hogan’s last WWE appearance for a while, the impact may not be significant for the promotion.
