In a recent documentary, Goldberg expressed frustration over the negative crowd reaction to Hulk Hogan’s final WWE television appearance. On January 6, during the Netflix premiere of WWE RAW, Hogan was met with loud, sustained boos—just months before his death.
Hogan passed away on July 24 at age 71. His public image shifted in 2015 after the release of an audio recording in which he used racist language. Speaking on TMZ Presents: The Real Hulk Hogan, Goldberg said the crowd’s hostility was deeply personal for Hogan.
“I think that hurt him immensely that night because that was his base. Those were his fans. That was his home. I’m sure it hurt him to the core. It really did. I was appalled by it.”
The documentary also featured Vince McMahon, who expressed disappointment with how Hogan was treated. McMahon argued that Hogan “wasn’t a racist” despite making “some racist things” and believed the WWE Hall of Famer deserved more respect for his role in shaping the industry.
The January 6 event at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles marked Hogan’s final live WWE appearance. The crowd’s reaction drowned out his promo and reportedly left him shaken. Those close to him noted that while he had been booed before as a heel, the rejection that night—directed at him as a person—was especially painful.
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