HULK Hogan screamed “Trumpmaniacs!” at the wildest ever Donald Trump rally in New York City on Sunday.
The former president took to the stage in front of 20,000 supporters in Madison Square Garden with a host of guests joining him.
ReutersHulk Hogan tore his shirt off at Donald Trump’s New York rally on Sunday[/caption]
APThe retired wrestler pulled the outer singlet in two in his classic move[/caption]
ReutersHogan tore the shirt off to cheers from the crowd[/caption]
ReutersHogan walked onto stage holding the Star-Spangled banner[/caption]
GettyFormer President Donald Trump spoke at his rally saying New York state was in play[/caption]
Hogan, 71, returned to the venue where he performed years ago and reprised his character, emerging wearing a giant red, orange and yellow feather boa.
He shouted: “Let me tell you something Trumpmaniacs, welcome to the house that Hulkamania built!
“Usually when I’m in Madison Square Garden, I’m body slamming giants, I’m winning World Heavy Weight titles and cracking people over the head with steel chairs.
“Today this is Donald Trump’s house, brother.”
Hogan also spat on the stage during his speech, flexed his muscles repeatedly and told the audience: “Trump is the only man that can fix this country today.”
Hogan walked onto stage to his wrestling theme song ‘Real American’ before waving The Star-Spangled banner flag around.
He sought to perform his classic piece of bravado showmanship and rip his shirt in two during his entrance.
But the retired wrestler kept grabbing his inner singlet, which was made of thicker material.
After several goes Hogan, real name Terry Gene Bollea, was able to find the tear-away outer singlet and pull it apart to roars from the crowd.
After tearing the shirt, Hogan performed Trump’s arm pumping dance and his own listening move to different sections of the crowd
With his inner Trump-Vance singlet stretched, the wrestler approached the stage to chants of “USA” and delivered a five-minute speech.
Sunday’s rally was not the first time Hogan has stumped for Trump.
He did so for the Republican Convention in July – again tearing his shirt off in front of the audience.
Watchers on social media noticed the gaffe by Hogan and left their thoughts.
GettyTrump and Hogan in 1987[/caption]
Zuma PressThousands attended the rally at MSG[/caption]
Riffing on Hogan’s catchphrase, one said: “This definitely doesn’t work for me, brother.”
A second person wrote: “I knew he wasn’t the same when there was no pep in his step.”
While a third posted: “Sick to my stomach that this man was my hero as a small child.”
Others backed Hogan saying it was great to see him back on stage and hear the Real American theme tune.
One said: “Still a real American he just can’t rip the vest anymore.”
Another posted: “Hulk Hogan was awesome.”
While a third wrote: “At least he gave them a performance. Can’t say same for Beyonce at the other side.”
During his speech, Trump called Vice President Kamala Harris “grossly incompetent” and dubbed the former prosecutor a candidate with “a very low IQ.”
He said: “This election is a choice between whether well have four more years of gross incompetence and failure, or whether well begin the greatest years in the history of our country.
Trump and Hogan
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.”
Trump has had a long history with WWE and was a close friend of Vince McMahon.
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.
AFPHogan also spoke at the rally[/caption]
APTrump has had a long association with wrestling and even fought in the WWE[/caption]
EPAHogan appeared on stage with a red and yellow feather boa[/caption]