Dave Meltzer Speculates About Why Oscars In Memoriam Feature Didn’t Mention Hulk Hogan

Every year, the Academy Awards features an In Memoriam segment, acknowledging the artists and filmmakers who passed away in the last year. Various fans and outlets noted that the segment didn’t feature late WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan, who starred in and appeared in various movies over the course of his career, including opposite Sylvester Stallone in Rocky III, and the 1989 movie No Holds Barred. Additionally, Hogan is not mentioned in the In Memoriam list featured on the Academy Awards’ website. Hogan passed away after suffering a heart attack in July of last year.

During yesterday’s edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer offered up a possible explanation about why Hogan was not featured during the annual segment.

Every year, it seems multiple notable names aren’t featured in the In Memoriam segment, either during the live broadcast segment or even on the AMPAS’ website, which Meltzer noted. Meltzer also acknowledged that many articles documenting celebrities who weren’t mentioned didn’t consider Hulk Hogan a big enough name to warrant a mention.

Meltzer stated, “I’ve read several articles now about who was mentioned and who wasn’t, and actually, when it comes to people who were not mentioned, most of the articles did not even consider Hulk Hogan big enough to be on the key list of those who weren’t mentioned, let alone that he wasn’t mentioned.”

Dave Meltzer Thinks Academy Website Doesn’t List Hulk Hogan Due To His Past Controversy

Meltzer expressed his belief that Hogan’s earlier controversy over his past racist comments as why he wasn’t mentioned or even included on the AMPAS’ list of artists who passed away in 2025 and 2025. Meltzer speculated, “The reason was is, you know, what he said, you know, I mean, it was basically the stuff was they go through, they have a big process with this where they go through everything, and the feeling was that it would be very awkward and in bad taste to honor him with that because of what he said. So, people are wondering why? That’s the reason why.”

Some names who weren’t recognized during the TV broadcast were James Van Der Beek, Eric Dane, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Robert Carradine, June Lockhart, Bud Cort, and Brigitte Bardot. Names who did appear in the expanded list on the AMPAS’ website but not during the broadcast included George Wendt, Julian McMahon, James Ransone, Danielle Spencer, Loretta Swit, and Demond Wilson (h/t Variety).

Hogan was temporarily suspended after a secretly recorded video containing his racist remarks surfaced. The former WWE Champion later sued Gawker for publishing the tape in a highly publicized legal battle. After the release of Hogan making the racist slurs, he was temporarily removed from the WWE Hall of Fame. However, the wrestling icon was later reinstated to the WWE Hall of Fame in 2018.

If using any of the above quotes, please credit The Wrestling Observer Radio, with a h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.