Hulkamania Fades: Unpacking the Mysterious Backlash Against Hogan’s WWE Raw Netflix Debut

The Kids of Rap Legends Speak Out Against WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan
[Image description: A photo of O’Shea Jackson, rapper Wale, and Hulk Hogan]
The offspring of some of the biggest names in rap music aren’t exactly thrilled about being associated with one particular WWE Hall of Famer – and we’re not talking about just any Hall of Famer, but the infamous Hulk Hogan. For O’Shea Jackson Jr., the actor who’s also the son of Ice Cube, and rapper Wale, the disdain for Hogan is quite palpable.
A Recent Run-In with Hogan
According to a recent interview on "Sway’s Universe," Jackson Jr. shared his own personal encounter with Hogan at the premiere of "WWE Raw" on Netflix. It seems that the two didn’t exactly get along. In fact, the crowd was so incensed by Hogan’s appearance that they began booing him loudly, with Jackson Jr. himself joining in on the chorus of disapproval.
So, what’s behind this animosity towards the wrestling legend? For Jackson Jr., it all comes down to Hogan’s infamous 2015 tape leak, where he uttered a racial slur and admitted to being "racist, to a point." That incident is still etched in his mind, and he’s not the only one. The collective boos at the event were, in his eyes, a "pivotal moment in wrestling history," and he’s proud to have played his part in it.
Going Back to the Source: The 2015 Rant
For those who may not be familiar with the tape, Hogan’s 2015 rant was a defining moment in his career. In the footage, he admitted to using racial slurs and being racist towards certain groups. He later apologized for his actions, calling it "the biggest mistake of his life," but it was too little, too late. The damage was done, and his WWE career suffered as a result.
For many, including Jackson Jr., this incident is a hard thing to forget, and the recent boos at the premiere were a clear indication that his legacy is still complicated, to say the least. As Jackson Jr. so eloquently put it, "The racism, it’s just hard to forget how detailed that rant was… And if you look up his rant, it’s very detailed. And I get a lot of people online who are like ‘oh well, he would be mad if he found out about that whole generation.’ Yeah, well when I find out, I’ll be mad. But like right now, yeah bro. Bringing him out here, what you think was gonna happen?"
The Kids of Rap Legends Speak Out Against WWE Hall of Famer Hogan
With that, it’s clear that O’Shea Jackson Jr. and other kids of rap legends won’t be giving Hulkamania a run for its money anytime soon. While the wrestling world may have moved on, the impact of those few minutes of hate speech in 2015 will forever be etched in the minds of those who witnessed it.