Lio Rush has found himself amidst controversy after paying tribute to Hulk Hogan, choosing not to shy away from the backlash. The AEW star directly addressed the criticism he received for honoring Hogan following the wrestling legend’s death.
Shortly after Hogan, a WWE Hall of Famer, passed away, Rush took to social media to acknowledge Hogan’s significant impact on wrestling, while also recognizing the complicated aspects of his legacy.
Rush’s original message read:
“The reaction to Hogan’s passing can be simply sad. Rip to true icon. From 🟡🔴, from black to black⚫️⚪.”
The tribute sparked negative reactions from some who brought up Hogan’s history of racist remarks. Instead of deleting the post or apologizing, Rush responded with a follow-up statement refusing to engage in negativity.
He said,
“I’m not going to jump into a train of hatred. I won’t meet me anyway. I won’t celebrate anyone’s death. It’s lame.”
Rush further emphasized the powerful influence Hogan had on fans, noting,
“If you were a child watching Hogan, you would drop your legs, hand over your fingers, buy your parents, play a shirt that plays an air guitar in nwos music.”
By choosing to both honor and acknowledge Hogan’s complicated legacy, Rush has fueled the ongoing debate around the wrestling icon’s death.
Is Rush doing right by focusing on Hogan’s impact, or should Hogan’s controversial past have kept him from commenting? Share your thoughts below.
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Fan Take: This discussion around Lio Rush’s tribute highlights how wrestling legends’ complicated legacies continue to affect the industry. For WWE fans, wrestling is as much about respecting history as it is about confronting its flaws, which could push the sport toward a more nuanced understanding of its past heroes.
