Kevin Nash Stands by Hulk Hogan Amid Controversy Following His Death
Kevin Nash, a prominent figure in professional wrestling and a close friend of Hulk Hogan, has publicly defended Hogan as discussions about his controversial past reignite following his death last week.
On the July 28 episode of his podcast "Kliq This," Nash, 66, addressed the backlash on social media and from radio hosts regarding Hogan's history. This scrutiny intensified after leaked audio from a decade ago revealed Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, using racial slurs and admitting to being "racist, to a point."
"For those who want to attack Hogan for his past actions—how about f*** you, man?" Nash stated emphatically. He was part of the original NWO alongside Hogan and the late Scott Hall, a group that transformed the wrestling landscape in the 1990s.
"He’s dead. What about his kids? Can’t you just lay off the man?" Nash continued, emphasizing the impact of public criticism on Hogan's family.
Nash further expressed frustration with the sensationalism surrounding Hogan's legacy. "Nothing’s gonna change now. It’s just people saying, ‘I never liked him anyway.’ Who cares? I know he doesn’t," he remarked.
He urged listeners to consider Hogan's children, Brooke, 37, and Nick, 35, from his marriage to Linda Hogan. "Think about his friends and family. If you don’t have anything good to say, shut the f*** up," Nash added.
Hogan faced significant backlash in 2015 when he was fired from WWE and removed from the Hall of Fame due to the leaked audio. At that time, he expressed regret, stating there was "no excuse" for his language and reaffirming his belief in treating everyone with respect regardless of race or background.
In a statement to media outlets, Hogan said, "I am disappointed with myself that I used language that is offensive and inconsistent with my own beliefs." He emphasized his commitment to personal growth and learning from the incident.
After a period of absence, Hogan was reinstated into the WWE Hall of Fame in July 2018 and made occasional appearances on WWE programming. However, he remained a divisive figure among fans until his passing.
During his last WWE appearance in January at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, Hogan was met with boos when he took the stage at the Netflix premiere of Raw.
Hogan passed away on Thursday, July 24, at the age of 71 due to cardiac arrest. He is survived by his wife Sky Daily, 49, and his children Brooke and Nick, who paid tribute to their father during the July 28 episode of Raw.
