Donald Trump has a long history with the WWE. In fact, he’s in the company’s Hall of Fame. So it’s probably not surprising that the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee where Trump was officially named the GOP nominee for president again earlier in the week has turned into a WWE reunion.
Beyond the ring, Mr Hogan has been involved in a string of high-profile controversies. During the early 1990s, he was implicated in a federal investigation into steroid distribution by WWE. In 1991, he admitted on the Arsenio Hall Show to using steroids for medical purposes but denied using them to enhance his wrestling performance. In 2015, a video made public by The National Enquirer revealed Mr Hogan making controversial remarks, including using a racial slur while discussing his daughter’s partner. In the video, recorded in 2007, Mr Hogan said: “I guess we’re all a little racist.”
WWE terminated Mr Hogan’s contract and removed references to him from their website and Hall of Fame, but he was reinstated in 2018 after the company said he deserved a “second chance”. In 2012, a sex tape featuring Mr Hogan and Heather Clem, the wife of his friend Bubba the Love Sponge, was leaked, with Gawker Media publishing a portion of it. Mr Hogan sued Gawker for invasion of privacy, leading to a highly publicised trial. In 2016, Mr Hogan won the lawsuit, resulting in a $140 million (£107 million) judgment against Gawker, which led to the company’s bankruptcy.
Three members of the WWE family — Kid Rock, Linda McMahon and Hulk Hogan — will be featured on the final night of the RNC Thursday at Fiserv Forum and another one — Glenn Jacobs (known to wrestling fans as Kane) — has been spotted around town and has posted on social media about RNC events. Here’s more on each of them and what they’re doing at the RNC.
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Kid Rock will perform at 2024 RNC
Music legend Kid Rock, who was inducted into the celebrity wing of the WWE Hall of Fame in 2018, will perform Thursday night. The Detroit native who is one of the most popular recording artists has contributed to the backdrop of WWE through his hit songs for years.
Several of his songs have been themes of pay-per-views, including at WrestleMania 34. And Mark Callaway, known to wrestling fans as The Undertaker, used Kid Rock’s “American Bad Ass” for his entrance in the early 2000s as he headed to the ring on his motorcycle.
McMahon was sitting by Trump on Wednesday night at the RNC.
Linda McMahon is the wife of Vince McMahon, the former CEO of WWE. Trump was involved in a celebrity hair vs. hair battle of the billionaires match with Vince McMahon at WrestleMania 23 in 2007. Trump’s selected wrestler Bobby Lashley defeated McMahon’s wrestler Umana. Trump then had the honors of shaving McMahon’s hair.
WWE Hulk Hogan will speak tonight at the RNC
Wrestling icon Hulk Hogan will warm-up the crowd before Donald Trump formally accepts the Republican Party’s nomination for president. He will join a fight-themed speaking line-up on the final day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee that also includes Dana White, chief executive of Ultimate Fighting Championship and Linda McMahon, former chief executive of WWE, the professional wrestling promotion company.
Earlier this week, Republican senator Byron Donalds referenced the WWE star when he said delegates should expect Trump’s entrance on Thursday to look like “Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania”. The 70-year-old, who captivated millions of wrestling fans worldwide at the peak of his career in the 1980s and early 1990s, has often spoken of his interest in presidential politics.
“We need somebody in there that’s got some common sense, you know what I’m saying?” Mr Hogan, 70, told Fox & Friends last month. “So if you need a president or a vice president, I’ll volunteer and take this country over, and I’ll rule with an iron fist.”
Mr Hogan is also a longstanding Trump supporter who recently joined the chorus of condemnation over the attempted assassination of the former president. Previously, he backed then Democrat presidential hopeful Barack Obama in 2008 but switched to Mitt Romney, his Republican opponent, in 2012.
The RNC will run wild when Hulk Hogan takes the stage later Thursday. Hogan, a cultural and wrestling icon whose real name is Terry Bollea, will speak between 7:30 and 8 p.m. Hogan was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005.What will Hogan say tonight? It would be pretty memorable if he starts his speech with a “What ‘cha gonna do” in a throwback to his popular saying.
Kane (Glenn Jacobs) at the RNC
Hopefully no one gets choke slammed with another WWE Hall of Famer in Milwaukee for the RNC. Glenn Jacobs, better known as Kane, has been around Milwaukee for the convention, attending various events. Jacobs turned in his wrestling boots several years ago as he got into politics. Jacobs is the mayor of Knox County in Tennessee. Jacobs posted a photo with Linda McMahon on Wednesday night from Milwaukee.
Who is Linda McMahon? What to know about RNC 2024 speaker
Linda McMahon will be one of the first speakers of the night in the 6 to 6:30 p.m. time slot. McMahon was an administrator of the Small Business Administration in the Trump administration for about two years (2017-19) during Trump’s first presidency.
Some of the biggest names in World Wrestling Entertainment will make an appearance tonight during night four of the Republican National Convention. Professional wrestler Hulk Hogan is expected to introduce former President Donald Trump on Thursday, and WWE co-founder and former chief executive officer Linda McMahon will also speak. Who is speaking at RNC Day 4? Donald Trump takes the stage with these celebrity guests McMahon stepped down as CEO of WWE in 2009 to run for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee of Connecticut in 2010 and 2012 but ultimately lost both elections to the Democratic nominees in both years, according to Ballotpedia.
As part of President Trump’s cabinet, Linda McMahon served as the 25th Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019. She brings a wealth of experience as an entrepreneur and business executive, having co-founded Capitol Wrestling, now known as WWE, with her husband Vince McMahon. Don’t miss any of the action: watch the event online through USA TODAY’s livestream.