News broke this morning that Hulk Hogan has died at the age of 71. While most of the wrestling world lined up to post RIPs and tributes, some big names stayed quiet, and with good reason.
Hogan’s legacy has always been messy. But for Black wrestlers and others who called him out after his 2015 racism scandal, that legacy was beyond repair.
What some people don't seem to get is that Hogan's words were never misconstrued or anything.
He literally said, "I'm a racist" on tape. I'm gonna guess there are many who've never actually heard this clip.pic.twitter.com/Fh7HE2uBiE
— Zinfamous (@ZinfamousHD) January 7, 2025
Here’s a list of major WWE wrestlers that never seemed to forgive him, and what they’ve said publicly.
Mark Henry Never Bought Hulk Hogan’s Apology
When Mark Henry played "Real American" at the club and stopped it to say "F*ck Hulk Hogan" 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/R4McJbGtt9
— Wrestling Pics & Clips (@WrestleClips) June 12, 2025
Mark Henry was one of the first to respond when Hogan was reinstated to WWE’s Hall of Fame in 2018. He didn’t sugarcoat it:
- Called the apology “not enough”
- Said Hogan needed to “show remorse in actions, not just words”
- Said trust had to be earned back, and Hogan hadn’t earned it
He also pushed WWE to hold a closed-door meeting with Black talent about the incident, something that wouldn’t have happened if Henry didn’t apply pressure.
Booker T: “Let Down” By Hulk Hogan, His Childhood Hero
Booker T initially took a diplomatic tone but became more honest over time.
- Said the tape “set us all back”
- Recalled looking up to Hogan as a kid and feeling betrayed
- Said on his podcast that the racism scandal changed how he viewed the industry
Booker hasn’t posted about Hogan’s death as of this writing.
The New Day Didn’t Want to Be Associated with Hogan
The notoriously cheerful and funny New Day during Hulk Hogan at #WWEHOF pic.twitter.com/CEVBjCrZGL
— Jacqui Picone (@jacquipicone) April 7, 2019
Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, and Big E released a rare joint statement after Hogan was reinstated. It was clear and deliberate.
“We are not in support of Hogan’s reinstatement… His apology didn’t come off as genuine… We will not associate with him.”
All three skipped Hogan’s WWE comeback segments. None have posted a tribute today.
CM Punk: Veiled Shots and No Respect
Punk has never gone at Hogan by name, but he’s made several pointed remarks:
- Slammed “fake heroes” who “hid behind patriotism”
- Criticized WWE for bringing back problematic legends while ignoring real issues
He also hasn’t said a word about Hogan’s death.
Randy Orton: Subtle Signal
Orton liked a post in 2020 calling Hogan racist. He never clarified it, and he’s never praised Hogan publicly since the tape leaked.
He worked for years alongside Hogan-era legends but stayed silent during Hogan’s return tours. Still no statement from him today.
The Rock: Spoke Once, Then Stayed Quiet
The Rock didn’t completely ignore Hogan’s racism scandal in 2015. He addressed it publicly at the time, saying:
“I’ve known Terry for a lot of years … I had not known the man to be racist. He said what he said, and he’s paying the price.”
Since then, he hasn’t praised or condemned Hogan further, and hasn’t posted a tribute following his death.
Some legacies are too messy to fix. Hogan’s may have defined wrestling, but not everyone in wrestling was willing to forgive. even after he died.
