Several WWE stars reportedly declined to take part in the company’s recent tribute to Hulk Hogan. Two weeks ago, WWE held a 10-bell salute honoring the wrestling icon prior to RAW, NXT, and SmackDown events, where much of the roster gathered on stage; however, some notable names were absent, including Roman Reigns. It has since emerged that other prominent wrestlers such as Becky Lynch and The New Day also opted out of participating.
Reasons Behind Appeals to Boycott the Tribute
Billi Bhatti, speaking on the Dirty Sheets podcast, indicated that the decision by certain WWE talent not to participate was due to personal reservations about being associated with Hogan. Bhatti explained,
“It wasn’t a case of Roman Reigns saying I don’t wish to be out there, which was the case for the likes of Becky Lynch, Paul Heyman, The New Day, and Rhea Ripley, all of whom I think have ill feelings towards Hogan. This was overall a creative decision.”
—Billi Bhatti, Podcaster
Becky Lynch has been publicly critical of Hogan, especially concerning the nickname “Becky Hogan” that circulated among fans online, which she rejected firmly. Likewise, The New Day have voiced opposition to Hogan’s return to WWE, making their stance known in multiple instances. While Hogan is praised by many for his achievements, his career is also associated with controversy that impacts some performers’ willingness to celebrate him.
Additional Backstage Updates on WWE Talent Activity
Aside from the boycott news, Tyler Bate was seen backstage at WWE RAW’s recent episode at the Videotron Centre in Quebec, Canada, despite not appearing on the broadcast. According to Pwinsider, Bate has restored his original look by cutting his hair. He recently clarified that his absence from television since late May was not due to injury but rather to awaiting his scheduled return to WWE programming.
Moose Shares Respect for NXT World Champion Oba Femi
Moose, a competitor familiar with Oba Femi‘s in-ring talent, praised the NXT World Champion as a “generational talent” during an interview with Denise Salcedo. Moose reflected on their match at NXT Roadblock and their shared ring experiences, noting the learning process involved. He commented,
“Oh, man, I can say so many great things about Oba. He’s definitely going to go down as a generational guy. I’m glad that I was given the opportunity by WWE to have that match with him. I hope I’ve made it memorable for all the Moose fans and all the staff and coaches there in WWE, but I enjoyed that match also. It was definitely a learning experience for me, because it taught me how WWE does things, and it’s so different than how TNA does things and how TNA builds their matches.”
—Moose, WWE Wrestler
Regarding their encounter, Moose added,
“So it was definitely a learning experience for me, and it was also a learning experience for Oba because he did a couple of shows and he made a couple of stops in TNA. He saw how we did things. Which I’m sure he could tell you, is a little bit different than how they do things there. So, I’m happy that we had great chemistry. I’m happy that we delivered, and I felt like we over-delivered, because people didn’t realize how good this match was going to be until it was over. From everything I saw, we got high praise for it. So yeah, hopefully we get to lock horns again, and hopefully it will be a different outcome if we do.”
—Moose, WWE Wrestler
John Cena & Eric Andre Film New Movie in New Jersey
Outside the wrestling ring, WWE legend John Cena has been spending time filming a new movie titled Little Brother alongside comedian Eric Andre. The production recently took place in New Jersey, where the two have been working together over the past week.
Significance and Upcoming Developments in WWE
The choice of several WWE stars to boycott the Hulk Hogan tribute underscores ongoing tensions within the wrestling community regarding Hogan’s controversial legacy. The absence of high-profile performers such as Becky Lynch and The New Day reveals a deeper division in the company’s roster about honoring past figures with complicated histories. This stance could influence how WWE manages future tributes and recognizes its legacy talent. Meanwhile, backstage activity like Tyler Bate’s return preparations and Moose’s reflections on rising stars like Oba Femi point to the evolving dynamics within WWE’s current generation of superstars. As John Cena embarks on new artistic ventures, WWE continues to balance its rich history with present-day changes and future aspirations.
