WWE controversially brings back Hulk Hogan at already controversial Saudi Arabia event

(Image credit: Screenshot/Twitter/WWE)

published 2 November 2018

WWE apparently felt that hosting an event in Saudi Arabia weeks after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi wasn't enough controversy for one day.

At WWE's Crown Jewel wrestling pay-per-view event Friday, Hulk Hogan returned to the ring for the first time since he was fired in 2015 due to a racist rant; he had been recorded speaking angrily in 2007 about his daughter dating a black man, using the N-word repeatedly and saying "I am a racist, to a point," per The Guardian. Hogan apologized for the remarks, and WWE said in a statement at the time that it is "committed to embracing and celebrating individuals from all backgrounds."

Three years later, Hogan is back, returning at a Saudi Arabia show that the company had been encouraged to cancel in response to the Saudi government's reported murder of a critical newspaper columnist. In fact, two of WWE's biggest stars, John Cena and Daniel Bryan, were written out of the show, reportedly because they refused to attend in protest of Khashoggi's murder. WWE didn't just have Hogan return for a brief segment in the middle of the event, either; instead, he opened the entire show. Hogan received cheers from the crowd but jeers on social media, where many mocked the company for the comically bad timing. Watch a clip from Hogan's return below. Brendan Morrow

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Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.

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