D-Von Dudley Urges Forgiveness Over Hulk Hogan’s Racist Remarks After His Passing

D-Von Dudley has now come to Hulk Hogan’s defense over Hogan’s racist remarks, following the Hulkster’s recent passing.

While speaking on the DukeLovesRasslin podcast, D-Von Dudley talked about the racist comments Hogan made in the past. He said he doesn’t support or excuse what Hogan said, especially as a Black man who knows how painful those words were.

But he also believes everyone has done or said things they regret, and that forgiveness matters. He mentioned the Bible teaches that if you don’t forgive others, you won’t be forgiven yourself.

D-Von also said people can’t ignore everything Hogan did for wrestling. Without Hogan, there might not be WWE, AEW, TNA, or even the strong wrestling business we have today. He believes Hogan helped make wrestling what it is now.

“We all are guilty in one way, shape, or form of saying something or doing something that wouldn’t be considered appropriate. I’m not condoning in any way what happened or what was said at his lowest point—because listen, I’m African-American. I get it. Okay? If anybody gets it, it’s us as African-American people.

But at the same time, you can’t deny what this man has done for the wrestling business. If it wasn’t for Hulk Hogan, there would be no WWE, there would be no AEW, there would be no TNA. There would be none of this. We wouldn’t even be having this platform right now. We’re able to still be relevant in this business because of that man. The business is hot right now.

So for people to say what they say about the comments he made—I get it. I understand why you’re hurt by it. I was hurt by it too. But like the Bible says, forgive. Because if you don’t forgive your brother, I will not forgive you. And that’s exactly what the Bible says.”

Dudley shared a story about Hogan apologizing to him in person. Hogan told him he wasn’t that kind of person and felt like social media was making him out to be someone he wasn’t.

Hogan said he loved and respected D-Von, and praised him for how he kept going even when people tried to bring him down. D-Von said Hogan didn’t have to say those things, but he chose to anyway.

“He apologized to me. He pulled me aside and said, ‘Devon, I’m not that type of person. I’m not.’ He said, ‘They’re killing me on social media. They’re making me feel like I am. I know I might have said things in the past or done things in the past. Brother, I love you.’ And you know what? He didn’t have to tell me that. He didn’t have to pull me aside and say that, but he did.

In his world, if you really think about it—and I’m not taking anything away from myself—but I’m a nobody compared to what this man has done. He didn’t have to do that with me, but he did. He said, ‘Devon, I love you, brother. I love and respect everything that you’ve done, how you’ve gotten yourself out of this hole, and no matter how many times they try to knock you down, you keep getting up. I have so much respect for you.’ And that was then.”

D-Von also called out people who were quick to criticize Hogan when he was alive but are now saying good things after his death. He said many of those same people probably have their own mistakes they wouldn’t want made public. He called that hypocritical and said people should learn to forgive while someone is still alive, not just after they’re gone.

“You sat there and you buried this man for the comments he made. Yes, I get it. But I also know these same people have done things that, if brought to light, fans wouldn’t be happy with. People wouldn’t be happy with it—and you’d probably be put in the same boat as Hogan. Yet, you buried the man when he was alive. I get it, you were upset. But now that he’s gone, it’s kind of like you’re being hypocrites.

I’m not just talking about people in the industry—I’m talking about people in general. You’re being hypocrites about it. Don’t say good things about him now that he’s gone. Try to correct how you felt before, and how you couldn’t let it go.”

Hulk Hogan will forever be remembered for his contributions to the world of professional wrestling and even though some people think his racist remarks were all he was about, D-Von Dudley clearly doesn’t think that’s the case at all.

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