Report: WWE Already Holding Talks About Booking Hulk Hogan As A Heel For Future Appearances

WWE and Hulk Hogan have already held talks about him turning heel for his future appearances on WWE programming, according to a claim from the Daily Mail.

Hogan made his first in-person appearance on WWE TV in two years during the Monday Night Raw premiere on Netflix on January 6. Hogan and a US flag-waving Jimmy Hart were booed out of the building, though, even as Hogan talked about how the fans had always been behind him. Hogan then only received more boos as he promoted his Real American Beer and WWE's new partnership with Netflix.

It has already been reported that Hogan believes he was booed because of his politics and the Daily Mail has claimed Hogan thought he was going to be cheered inside the Intuit Dome on Monday night and the Hulkster was initially disappointed by the boos.

A source told Daily Mail:

"Did Hulk think he was going to be cheered? Especially bringing out Jimmy Hart, who everyone likes, and who was also waving an American flag at the time... that is a resounding yes! So, when he came out, got booed, and then went to the back after his promo, he was instantly disappointed that the fans turned on him. But he wasn't p*ssed!

"Had it not been for him being there to promote his beer, he would have leaned into it a little more, but he just had to get through the promotion of it all. But after thinking about it, a few good things came out of it. The fact that he was booed, everyone talked about it, and he's been in the wrestling business long enough to know, that even a bad reaction goes a long way, because if they aren't cheering for you or aren't booing you then they don't care at all. 

"This has actually been a great promotion for his beer and as quickly as he was disappointed, he thought about it a little more and is actually excited by how it turned out. Hulk is a businessman, and he is going to take advantage of the fans' reaction all the way to the bank."

It was further claimed by the source that there have been talks about Hogan becoming a heel for his future appearances on WWE TV and plans are in place for him to be a bad guy to assist a wrestler on WWE's roster.

"There has already been discussion that the next time they put Hogan on TV is to make him a heel or a bad guy, because the last time he was a bad guy, it worked wonders for his career," the source told Daily Mail.

"They might base it toward what they had to do with The Rock last year. The last few times The Rock came back, they made him the hero and the fans hated it. The Rock leaned into being bad, they changed direction and now after last night, the fans like The Rock again. So by giving the fans what they want, you get what you want, and for them that is the adulation. Hogan and some of the writers have since talked and whenever Hogan comes back, if he were to be booed, they are going to expect it and lean into it 100%," they continued.

"Plans are for Hogan to be a bad guy again and to help out a future storyline with another wrestler."

Hogan has been a controversial figure since audio of him using the N-word several times leaked in 2015. Hogan has been booed on multiple occasions by WWE fans since he returned to the company in 2018, including infamously at 2021's WrestleMania 37. Hogan was also pictured with neo-Nazis on two occasions in 2024 during his Real American Beer meet-and-greet events.

While Hogan reportedly believes that he was booed because of his politics, another Donald Trump supporter in The Undertaker also made a cameo on the Netflix premiere of Raw and the fans loudly cheered for 'The Phenom.'

Although he arrived in Los Angeles wearing a Maga Powers t-shirt, the Daily Mail has further claimed that Hogan is allegedly adamant about not using his affiliation with Donald Trump in any WWE storylines.

Following his appearance on the Raw Netflix premiere, Hogan will maintain a presence on WWE TV for the foreseeable future as his Real American Beer is one of the sponsors featured on the Monday Night Raw ring mat. The sponsorship was added after WWE became a part-owner in Hogan's beer company.

Hogan had one of the most famous heel turns in pro wrestling history at WCW Bash at the Beach 1996 when he joined up with Kevin Nash and Scott Hall to form the nWo.