When wrestling star Hulk Hogan was greeted with hostility in the ring during a promotional event at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, the much-anticipated Netflix premiere of “Monday Night Raw” was marred by controversy.
Hogan showed up out of the blue to push for a new partnership between his beer brand and WWE. But the crowd’s response was anything but friendly. During his segment, which was set against an American flag, many people in the crowd showed their disapproval by making thumbs-down gestures that were caught on camera.
In an interview with Fox News, Hogan tried to avoid the crowd’s negative comments by talking about politics. He unexpectedly talked about Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., implying a possible partnership called “MAGA-powers” that would focus on nutrition and exercise for young people. “In the wrestling business, when you’re getting ready to draw some big money, you got to shoot an angle, put some hot spice on the feud,” he said.
Even though Hogan’s showing caused a stir, the evening also featured Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, John Cena, and other WWE superstars to show off the star power of WWE’s new TV show.
This launch is a big step forward as WWE goes to Netflix. It is the result of a multiyear deal that was made in January. The agreement shows Netflix’s growing dedication to live shows and premium sports events, bringing its offerings to a bigger audience.
