As the wrestling world pays homage to the late Hulk Hogan, a prominent WWE figure has voiced dissent regarding these tributes. Jamar Hampton, a performer from the WWE Performance Center, publicly criticized the recent honors given to Hogan following his death on July 24, 2025, stirring controversy surrounding the WWE controversy over Hulk Hogan tributes.
Hogan, who was 71 years old at his passing, left a lasting legacy in sports entertainment but also carried a history of serious controversies. One notable incident involved racist remarks directed at Brooke Hogan’s then-boyfriend, which led to his WWE contract termination on July 24, 2015. Despite this, Hogan was reinstated into the WWE Hall of Fame on July 15, 2018, reflecting his complex standing within the company and its fans.
In the days after his passing, WWE held ten-bell salutes across SmackDown, RAW, and NXT as a mark of respect. However, Hampton took to Instagram—though later deleted his post—to question the sincerity of these commemorations, highlighting a perceived hypocrisy in celebrating a figure with a controversial legacy.
“#WWEEvolve wrestler Jamar Hampton, also known as Troy Yearwood from #WWELFG, publicly criticized #WWE during a live #WWENXT broadcast for paying tribute to Hulk Hogan. pic.twitter.com/zyVbO69Lri” —Pro Wrestling & MMA News
Hampton, who has also performed under the ring name Troy Yearwood since 2024, is known to WWE audiences from his appearance on the first season of WWE LFG (Legends & Future Greats) and a WWE EVOLVE episode aired on June 11, 2025.
Kevin Nash Responds to Critics Defending Hulk Hogan’s Legacy
Kevin Nash, fellow WWE Hall of Famer and longtime associate of Hogan, addressed the backlash surrounding Hogan’s tributes on his Kliq THIS podcast. Nash urged detractors to cease their criticism out of respect for Hogan’s family and legacy.
Nash, who along with Hogan and Scott Hall helped revolutionize professional wrestling through the formation of the New World Order (nWo) stable in 1996, dismissed the criticism by emphasizing Hogan’s passing and the pain it causes those close to him.
“For the people who want to go after Hogan for doing this or that—You know what? How about f*** you, man. He’s dead. How about his kids, man? Can you just lay off the man? Ain’t nothing going to change now. Think about his kids. Think about his friends and his family and if you don’t have anything good to say—Shut the f*** up,” —Kevin Nash
The nWo storyline was a pivotal moment in wrestling history, leading to the intense Monday Night Wars between WCW and WWE. This rivalry gave WCW a ratings lead for 83 consecutive weeks, changing the landscape of sports entertainment forever.
The Lasting Effects of Hogan’s Controversial Legacy on WWE
The debate stirred by Jamar Hampton’s remarks highlights a deeper tension within the wrestling community regarding how to honor figures with complicated pasts. While WWE seeks to celebrate Hulk Hogan’s contributions, some wrestlers and fans remain uneasy about overlooking previous misconduct.
This controversy comes at a time when WWE is navigating the balance between honoring its legends and addressing evolving sensitivities about past behaviors. The dialogue around Hogan’s legacy is likely to persist as WWE commemorates its icons while being mindful of their full histories.
As WWE continues to reflect on Hogan’s impact, the conversations ignited in the wake of his death may prompt ongoing examination of how tributes are handled within the company, particularly as newer talents like Hampton voice their perspectives.
