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.
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.”
“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.
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.
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.”
In an interview on Fox News ahead of tonight’s event, Hogan told anchor Bret Baier that he felt compelled to speak 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.”
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.
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.
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.
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:
Several “everyday Americans” are expected to speak as well, including:
The day will also include a performance from singer-songwriter Kid Rock.
