Hulk Hogan’s life and career meant different things to different people, and sometimes even conflicting things to individuals who grew up watching the professional wrestler.
An American icon who helped turn pro wrestling into a billion-dollar industry, Hogan would be embroiled in various legal battles and scandals during his later years, many of which he never recovered from in the public eye.
As The Ringer’s David Showmaker wrote in his obituary after Terry ‘Hulk Hogan’ Bollea died last week, “the Reagan-era superhero lived long enough to become a villain, become a hero again, and become a villain again.”
All of which is to say that people had varying thoughts to share about Hogan when news broke of his passing. WWE star Chelsea Green was among those who offered positive words, appearing on CBS News’ 24/7 show on Thursday and saying, “polarizing political views aside, he was an absolute icon.”
Green’s comments struck a nerve with many who felt that Hogan deserved to be remembered as much for the negative aspects of his public life as the positive ones. Not to mention that his support of President Donald Trump sparked a lot of emotional responses. Many people expressed their feelings on social media to Green, who initially tried to offer a clarification in a since-deleted X post on Friday.
“Political views aside, Hulk Hogan’s influence on the wrestling world was clearly undeniable. He inspired millions and shaped an entire generation of fans, my husband [Matt Cardona] included. We are mourning the loss of an icon… a legend. My love goes out to his family,” Green wrote in a now-deleted Twitter/X post.
Later, she returned to X to offer further clarification and ensure it was clear that she was not taking racism lightly.
A significant part of my role at @WWE involves engaging w the public & responding to questions, often on live platforms. Yesterday, I was asked to comment on Hulk Hogan on live tv.
Let me be clear: my stance on racism is unwavering. I do not condone it—period.
If my response (or…— CHELSEA GREEN (@ImChelseaGreen) July 25, 2025
“A significant part of my role at @WWE involves engaging w the public & responding to questions, often on live platforms,” Green wrote on X. “Yesterday, I was asked to comment on Hulk Hogan on live tv. Let me be clear: my stance on racism is unwavering. I do not condone it—period. If my response (or tweet) seemed dismissive of real concerns, I sincerely apologize. That was never my intention. I tried to acknowledge a death respectfully, even when the legacy is complicated. I am learning one day at a time and will continue to learn.”
Later that same day, she posted that due to “name-calling” and “death threats,” she had decided to take a break from social media.
I’ve tried to keep my page positive and comedic, but today, a lot changed… and it hit harder than I expected. The name calling, the death threats, the faceless accounts.
Social media was supposed to be a fun place and it hasn’t been for a while. It’s been overwhelming and I…— CHELSEA GREEN (@ImChelseaGreen) July 26, 2025
“I’ve tried to keep my page positive and comedic, but today, a lot changed… and it hit harder than I expected. The name calling, the death threats, the faceless accounts,” she wrote. “Social media was supposed to be a fun place and it hasn’t been for a while. It’s been overwhelming and I need to step away for a little bit.”
This might be a perfect metaphor for Hogan’s legacy. To some, his positives outweigh the negatives. To others, his negatives negate the positive. And right or wrong, there’s no room for nuance for those who find themselves in the middle.
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.