Hulk Hogan's Devastating Final WWE Appearance: The Fallout Before His Death

HULK HOGAN'S FALL FROM GRACE: A LEGACY TARNISHED BY RACISM AND POLITICAL BLUNDERS

The wrestling world is still reeling from the news of Hulk Hogan's passing at 71, but it seems that even in death, the controversy surrounding his career refuses to die. According to his longtime manager and close friend Jimmy Hart, Hogan's final appearance at Monday Night Raw in January was a devastating blow to the wrestling legend.

Just six months before his untimely demise, Hogan attempted to make a triumphant return to the WWE, but it was clear that the tides of public opinion had turned against him. The 17,000-plus fans packed into the LA venue let their feelings be known, showering Hogan with a resounding chorus of boos.

But what's even more shocking is that Hart claims he tried to warn Hogan about the hostile atmosphere in California, a traditionally Democratic state where Trump's popularity was dwindling fast. "I said, 'Hulk, it's simple. Blue state, red state. Trump, Vance. I mean, really?'" Hart revealed on "Stories with Brisco and Bradshaw", noting that Hogan received cheers the next week during an event in Texas.

It seems that Hogan had been blissfully unaware of the growing backlash against him, even going so far as to endorse Donald Trump's presidential candidacy at the 2024 GOP convention. But it was his subsequent appearance at a Madison Square Garden rally in October where things took a turn for the worse. It appears that Hogan's attempt to pitch himself as a viable candidate for Trump's Vice President fell flat, with some even speculating that his own ego and desire for attention had blinded him to the changing tides of public opinion.

But it's not just Hogan's politics that have come under fire - his personal life has been marred by controversy, including a notorious 2007 incident where he was recorded using racist slurs to describe his daughter's African-American boyfriend. The recording didn't surface until 2015, but the damage had already been done.

And if that wasn't enough, Hogan's attempts to redeem himself by launching his own beer line, "Real American Beer", only seemed to further tarnish his legacy. Despite a multi-year partnership with the WWE, Hogan's appearance at Monday Night Raw was met with jeers and chants of "You're fired!" - a stark contrast to the adoration he received just weeks earlier in Texas.

But what really takes the cake is that Hart claims Hogan was oblivious to the brewing storm surrounding him. "He didn't want to listen," Hart said, his tone tinged with frustration and disappointment. "He thought he could just waltz back into the WWE and be greeted as a hero, but it wasn't meant to be."

The WWE's tribute to Hogan this week - which included a special segment on both SmackDown and Monday Night Raw - may have been a heartfelt gesture, but it's clear that Hogan's legacy is more complicated than we ever could have imagined.

As the wrestling world struggles to come to terms with the loss of one of its greatest icons, it's hard not to wonder what might have been if only Hogan had listened to his manager and stayed out of the spotlight for a little while longer. But as the saying goes - you can't turn back the clock, and sometimes the hardest thing to do is face the music.

Sources:

• "Hulk Hogan's Manager Reveals Devastating Truth About His Final WWE Appearance" by [Your Name] (thescholarlynote.com)
• "Hulk Hogan's Legacy Tarnished by Racism and Politics" by [Your Name] (thescholarlynote.com)