Vince Russo Says Hulk Hogan Was “Set Up” for Crowd Backlash at RAW on Netflix Debut

The fallout from Hulk Hogan’s reception at WWE RAW’s Netflix premiere continues to spark conversations, with former WWE writer Vince Russo now chiming in with a conspiracy theory about the situation.

Hogan’s January 6 appearance at RAW in Los Angeles saw him face a torrent of boos from the crowd. Fans even chanted “F*** Hulk Hogan” off-camera, booed a pre-recorded commercial featuring him, and showed their disdain for the WWE Hall of Famer throughout his promo. While the negative reaction shocked Hogan, Russo has a theory about how it all went down.

Speaking on BroDown on Backstage Pass, Russo speculated that Netflix executives may have orchestrated Hogan’s appearance, only for WWE to set him up for failure.

“Here’s where my conspiracy theory kicks in. Was it the Netflix executives that wanted Hogan there? So what did they do? They set him up, man. The wrestling people set him up, told him to put the beer over because they knew. Well bro, either they knew or they’re completely clueless,” Russo said.

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The boos didn’t stop with Hogan. Jimmy Hart, who accompanied Hogan, also faced backlash from the crowd. Russo expressed disbelief over the reaction to Hart.

“What was more devastating to me was bro, you’re booing Jimmy Hart. Oh my God, Jimmy Hart is the closest thing to a Saint that I know. And poor Jimmy Hart had to be out there, man. And they’re booing him out of the building. I felt bad for Hulk, but I really felt bad for Jimmy Hart.”

Whether you buy into Vince Russo’s theory or chalk it up to shifting fan attitudes, one thing is clear: Hulk Hogan’s appearance on WWE RAW’s Netflix debut was anything but smooth. As for Jimmy Hart, the boos directed his way left plenty of fans—and Russo—shaking their heads. Love them or hate them, Hogan and Hart’s reception proves that no one is safe from the modern wrestling crowd’s harsh spotlight.

What’s your take on Vince Russo’s comments and the crowd’s reaction to Hulk Hogan and Jimmy Hart? Share your thoughts on whether this was a setup or simply a reflection of changing fan sentiment.