In what can only be described as a plot twist straight out of a soap opera starring Hulk Hogan and a pint of beer, the Hulkster’s appearance on the WWE Raw Netflix debut caused an uproar that even The Immortal One couldn’t Hulk up from. Promoting his “Real American Beer,” Hogan instead got a frothy reception of boos so loud they could’ve powered Madison Square Garden for the night.
Reports from Fightful Select revealed that WWE officials were about as thrilled with the segment as Hogan was with his 1993 fingerpoke of doom. The company had hoped for a feel-good moment but instead got a PR headache as the reaction became the talking point of the evening—and not in a “Stone Cold Steve Austin saves the day” kind of way.
Hogan’s Thoughts? “Brother, I’m Bummed!”
According to backstage sources, Hogan was “surprised and disappointed” by the crowd’s hostility, though he didn’t linger on the negativity. Like a true wrestling veteran, he brushed it off, presumably with a flex and a “whatcha gonna do, brother?”
While some speculated the boos were fueled by his political leanings—Hogan has voiced support for President-Elect Donald Trump—others pointed to an amalgamation of factors. Backstage insiders claimed a few WWE staffers had already raised concerns about potential backlash but were seemingly overruled.
What’s Next? Beer, Bros, and Damage Control
Despite the rocky debut, WWE isn’t throwing in the towel on the Real American Beer campaign. Hogan is slated for more appearances, though WWE is reportedly rethinking its strategy. One idea? Pairing him with another WWE legend or a current superstar to ease the “booze to boos” ratio.
If that doesn’t work, maybe Hogan should try a new tagline: “Real American Beer—For When You’re Over It, Brother!”