Hulk Hogan returns to WWE Raw for first time since 2015 to pay tribute to ‘Mean’ Gene Okerlund

Hogan and Okerlund were two of the most popular wrestling figures during the 1980s ‘boom’ period

Wrestling icon Hulk Hogan returned to WWE television for the first time since 2015 on Monday Night.

WWE had distanced themselves from the Hall of Fame star after recordings surfaced of him allegedly using racist language.

The door for a comeback had been opened slightly late last year, however, with an appearance on the Crown Jewel pay-per-view in Saudi Arabia.

It paved the way for his first showing on Raw since the controversy, Hogan appearing to pay tribute to the late ‘Mean’ Gene Okerlund, the popular former commentator and presenter, who passed away last Wednesday, aged 76.

Hogan and Okerlund were perennial figures during the ‘boom’ period for wrestling in the 1980s, with the two remaining close long after.

“I came out here tonight wide open in character because that’s exactly the way Mean Gene would have wanted it,” he told the crowd in Orlando, Florida.

“Mean Gene loved entertaining everybody here in the WWE Universe… [he] loved entertaining more than anything he ever did.

“I love you, Mean Gene, I miss you.”

Hulk Hogan returned to the WWE to pay tribute to 'Mean' Gene Okerlund (WWE)

Hogan returned to pay tribute to Okerlund, who died last Wednesday (WWE)

Elsewhere on this week’s Raw, Intercontinental champion Dean Ambrose retained against Seth Rollins, while tag team champions Bobby Roode & Chad Gable successfully defended against The Revival.