Lio Rush Stands His Ground After Hulk Hogan Tribute Sparks Backlash

Lio Rush found himself in the middle of controversy after posting a tribute to Hulk Hogan—but he’s not walking it back. The AEW star addressed the criticism head-on, responding to those who slammed him for showing respect following Hogan’s death.

Rush originally took to social media shortly after the WWE Hall of Famer passed away and shared a message that acknowledged Hogan’s legacy without ignoring the imagery that defined his career.

“The response to Hogans passing can simply be put as sad.
R.I.P to a true Icon.
From the 🟡🔴, to the black⚫️⚪️.”

The post quickly drew criticism from users who referenced Hogan’s past racist remarks. Instead of deleting the post or apologizing, Rush followed up with a second statement, making it clear he wouldn’t be joining in on the negativity.

“I’m not going to jump in on the hate train. It doesn’t fulfill me in anyway. I won’t be celebrating the death of anyone. It’s lame.”

He closed by pointing out how deep Hogan’s impact ran, even for those now choosing to focus only on his flaws.

“If you have a personal opinion strong enough that you feel the need to share with the world on a day someone lost their life while family and friends mourn, that’s on you. If you were a kid watching hogan, you were dropping the leg, hulking up, waiving the finger, ripping off a shirt your parents bought you or playing air guitar to NWOs music.”

Rush’s decision to stay respectful while still acknowledging the complex legacy has added to the ongoing discussion surrounding Hogan’s death.

Was Lio Rush right to take the high road, or should Hogan’s past have kept him from commenting? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.