WHAT THE HULK?
Moment Hulk Hogan brings the house down as he rips off shirt on RNC stage in nod to WrestleMania past & ‘hero’ Trump
More on the unlikely friendship between the former president and WWE wrestler
WWE personality Hulk Hogan is switching gears from fighting in the ring to endorsing political candidates, but he still gave fans a taste of his wrestling days at the Republican National Convention.
Hogan, 70, born Terry Gene Bollea, spoke on stage at the RNC in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to express his support for former President Donald Trump's re-election campaign.
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Hogan gave an impassioned speech in favor of Trump and became so overcome with emotion he furiously ripped off his shirt.
"I didn't come here as Hulk Hogan, but I had to give you a little taste," he told the crowd before ripping his American flag shirt in half revealing another shirt with "Trump-Vance" inscribed on his chest.
"I've seen some great tag teams in my time," Hogan said of his WWE days.
He then referred to Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, as the "greatest tag team of my life."
Read more on the RNC
It comes as:
- Trump relives moment he came within quarter-inch of death
- Melania gives royal wave as she enters RNC
- Kid Rock called out for ‘lip syncing’
- Obama u-turns … Biden could drop out of race by the weekend
- Covid-stricken Biden walks slowly from Air Force One
- Hunter on other side of country despite Joe’s illness
- Donald’s granddaughter Kai becomes breakout star of RNC
- Trump shooter’s motive still unknown
- Dems accused of ‘slitting their own throats by airing dirty laundry’
- ‘Writing is on the wall’ for Joe, says ex-Obama aide
"At the end of the day, my hero up there, my gladiator, we're going to bring America back together," he added.
"I'm here tonight to let the world know that Donald Trump is a real American hero - and I'm proud to support my hero as the next President of the United States," Hogan said.
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Hogan explained that he was compelled to speak at the RNC after Trump's assassination attempt.
Hogan joined multiple notable figures in the world of fighting including, former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon's wife Linda McMahon, and later CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Dana White.
Donald Trump beams with Hulk Hogan in throwback snaps as wrestler shows support at RNC after begging to be running mate
The wrestler has been a longtime supporter of Trump, telling TMZ in 2015 that he wanted to be his running mate.
When asked which presidential candidate he would fight, Hogan responded, "I don’t want to be in the ring with any candidates. I want to be Trump’s running mate."
Following the assassination attempt on Trump on July 13, Hogan shared a photo from the rally and expressed his political beliefs in a caption on Instagram.
"No President, past or present, should face such a horrific act," he wrote.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with President Trump, law enforcement and the Secret Service who bravely protect and uphold our shared values."
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In an interview on Fox News ahead of his RNC speech, Hogan told anchor Bret Baier that he felt compelled to take the stage after the assassination attempt.
“When they took a shot at my hero Donald Trump I realized I could not be silent anymore," he said.
“It rattled me to my core.”
When asked what his speech would entail, he responded, "It’s going to be like body-slamming a giant at Wrestlemania."
POLITICAL AMBITIONS?
Hogan has expressed his political beliefs in the past and even teased ambitions in government.
He told Fox News' Brett Baier ahead of the RNC that he's thought about running for office "several times."
Hogan has seemed to shift his political viewpoints, having previously endorsed Barack Obama for president.
Republican National Contention Speakers Day 4
The Republican National Convention is aiming to go out with a bang on it's final day.
Here are the list of speakers expected to address the crowd:
- Montana Senator Steve Daines
- North Carolina Representative Richard Hudson
- Linda McMahon
- Mike Pompeo
- Steve Witkoff
- Alina Habba
- Tucker Carlson
- Hulk Hogan
- Franklin Graham
- Lee Greenwood
- Eric Trump
- Dana White
- Donald Trump
Several "everyday Americans" are expected to speak as well, including:
- Diane Hendricks
- Diane Evans
- Pastor Lorenzo Sewell
- John Nieporte
- Carrie Ruiz
- Annette Albright
The day will also include a performance from singer-songwriter Kid Rock.
UNLIKELY PAIRING
Trump has had a long history with WWE and was a close friend of Vince McMahon.
During his speech, the former president praised Hogan, asking the crowd, "How about the Hulkster, how good was he?"
McMahon resigned from the WWE earlier this year due to allegations of sex trafficking and sexual assault.
Trump first started appearing in WWE broadcasts in the 1980s but became a part of the show's plot in the late 2000s.
He and McMahon acted out a feud on WWE's Monday Night Raw that climaxed at WrestleMania 23 when Trump shaved McMahon's hair.
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Trump was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013.
His paths crossed multiple times with Hogan, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005.
Trump's main policy points
DONALD Trump closed the Republican National Convention on July 18, telling supporters he wanted to become president for "all Americans.
- Implementing tax cuts, including no tax on tips
- Protecting Social Security and Medicare - Trump said 'incomes will skyrocket and the middle class will prosper like never before'
- Protecting borders - He pledged to end the 'border nightmare.' That means two things on day one - 'Drill baby Drill,' as he said, and close the borders
- Finishing building the wall
- Keeping our 'sons and daughters safe'
- Replenishing the military and building a military 'dome' - Trump insisted he could stop wars with just a phone call and said no military would be able to penetrate the USA if he came into office
- Ending the war in Ukraine and imposing tariffs on Iran
- Vowing to "beat" China
- Working to decrease prices and ease inflation
- Bringing down the cost of energy
- Making cities 'safe, clean and beautiful' again
- Making it possible for Americans to buy gas-run cars by ending the electric vehicle mandate on the first day of his presidency
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