World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk, aged 47, sparked controversy during the Royal Rumble kickoff show by dismissing fond memories of the late WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan. In a panel discussion, host Peter Rosenberg reminisced about childhood admiration for Hogan, stating, “Remember back in the day when we were kids, everyone loved Hulk Hogan.” Punk, whose real name is Phillip Brooks, quickly responded with a quip: “I dunno where you grew up.”
The Kickoff Show Exchange
This exchange highlighted Punk’s longstanding disdain for Hogan, who passed away suddenly at age 71 last July. Earlier, Punk had remained stoic during a 10-bell salute honoring Hogan on Monday Night Raw, showing no visible emotion.
Fan Reactions to Punk’s Comments
Online responses varied widely. One fan criticized Punk, calling him “always an edgelord wanting to be different.” Another labeled him a “douchebag” for breaking character to target “the most popular wrestler in history.” Supporters, however, celebrated the moment, with one stating, “I’m so glad we live in a timeline where top stars of today can take a massive shit on Hulk Hogan.” A third commenter noted, “Seriously. No chill, straight talk from Punk here…”
Punk’s Ongoing Feud with Hogan
Punk has openly expressed admiration for wrestlers like Bret Hart and Roddy Piper but maintained a bitter rivalry with Hogan. Last January, during a promo ahead of the previous Royal Rumble, Punk declared, “You put Hulk Hogan in the Royal Rumble, I’ll throw his dusty ass over the top rope, and I’ll kill Hulkamania once and for all.” In a 2021 interview, he went further, branding Hogan a “piece of sh*t” and accusing him of dominating the spotlight while refusing to elevate emerging talent.
Fellow WWE star Becky Lynch echoed similar sentiments last year. After fans shared memes dubbing her “Becky Hogan” following her WrestleMania return, she reacted angrily, saying she had been compared “to the scummiest person on Earth after everything I’ve done.”
Hogan’s Complicated Legacy
Hogan emerged as one of wrestling’s all-time icons in the 1980s and 1990s, captivating fans and expanding WWE’s global reach. He starred in films like Rocky III and became a larger-than-life cultural figure. However, his off-ring reputation suffered setbacks, including his 2015 removal from the WWE Hall of Fame after a recorded racist rant surfaced, in which he used the n-word. He was reinstated in 2018.
In his final WWE televised appearance on the inaugural Raw episode on Netflix in January 2025, Hogan faced resounding boos from the Los Angeles crowd as he entered the stage.
