In January, WWE made a groundbreaking move by debuting Monday Night Raw on Netflix, featuring appearances from WWE Hall of Famers Hulk Hogan and Jimmy Hart. However, the response from the live audience in Los Angeles was unexpectedly harsh, as the crowd booed Hogan throughout his segment. This WWE RAW Hulk Hogan booed reaction left a deep impact on those involved.
Jimmy Hart Recalls the Intense Atmosphere in Los Angeles
On a recent episode of Stories with Brisco and Bradshaw, Jimmy Hart shared his memories of the Netflix debut. He explained how Hogan wore a Trump-Vance t-shirt during the segment, which Hart believed contributed to the crowd’s negative response. Arriving in Los Angeles, Hart sensed the tension right away when boos began to echo through the venue.
We were going to Los Angeles now… I told Hulk, ‘Wow… blue state, red state. He had a Trump-Vance t-shirt on, which he did some pre-publicity, right? I’m going, ‘Oh my gosh, this is going to be good’… So we come flying into LA, baby… he’s got that Trump-Vance t-shirt on. We get out, man, we go, and all of a sudden I hear a few of the people like, ‘Booo.’ I’m going, ‘You know what, this doesn’t feel right.’ [Hulk said] ‘Jimmy, don’t worry about it.’
—Jimmy Hart
The Emotional Impact on Hulk Hogan After the Booing
Though Hogan initially tried to remain unfazed, the overwhelming booing visibly affected him. Hart described how the late wrestling legend was deeply hurt by the crowd’s reaction once they returned backstage. Hart attempted to offer comfort by explaining the political divide affecting the audience’s response.
But that devastated him. And we got in the back and he said, ‘What do you think happened?’ I said, ‘Hulk, it’s simple, blue state, red state. Boom.’ I said, ‘I mean really… I’m okay with it.’ He goes, ‘What do you think?’ I said, ‘I’m okay. I felt like I was managing the Hart Foundation against the British Bulldogs or the Killer Bees or somebody.’ So I didn’t, you know, I’m like, ‘Whoa, I’m waving that boy, they booed.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah!’
—Jimmy Hart
Significance of the Incident and What It Means Moving Forward
The hostile reception experienced by Hulk Hogan highlights the intersection of entertainment and political divisions within the audience. The WWE RAW Hulk Hogan booed reaction at the Los Angeles Netflix debut serves as a reminder of how external factors like political expressions can influence fan responses during live events. For WWE, navigating this dynamic will be critical as it continues expanding through new platforms like Netflix, where audience expectations and demographics vary significantly. The incident also reveals the personal toll such reactions can have even on legendary figures like Hogan, marking a poignant moment in WWE history.
