Florida Governor Ron DeSantis thought he could play to the crowd at a WWE event this weekend.
The crowd had other ideas.
And Ron DeSantis got humiliated at a WWE event after he hung out with this MAGA superstar.
DeSantis faces hostile reception from wrestling fans in Tampa
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been on a downward spiral since his failed 2024 Presidential campaign.
The Governor, who once enjoyed sky-high approval ratings and was even heralded as “DeFuture” by the New York Post, has faced increasing criticism from all sides as he nears the end of his second and final term in office.
This Memorial Day weekend, DeSantis experienced firsthand just how far his star has fallen when he attended WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event at the Yuengling Center in Tampa.
What should have been a friendly appearance in his home state quickly turned uncomfortable as the wrestling crowd unleashed a chorus of boos and “You suck!” chants when the Governor appeared ringside.
Multiple videos of the incident spread across social media, showing DeSantis awkwardly clapping and attempting to wave to fans while the hostile chants echoed throughout the arena.
Crowd chants “YOU SUCK” as Governor DeSantis is seen at Tampa WWE event.
— The Dank Informer (@TheDankInformer) May 26, 2025
“Governor Ron DeSantis just showed up and the crowd started booing him and chanting ‘you suck,'” one attendee posted on social media.
Another commented with “Ron DeSantis with that heel heat,” comparing the Governor to wrestling’s villainous characters who typically draw the audience’s ire.
The humiliating reception came just hours after DeSantis had spent time with wrestling legend and MAGA supporter Hulk Hogan in Clearwater Beach.
Hogan and DeSantis: A MAGA meetup
Before facing the wrath of wrestling fans, DeSantis had shared a more pleasant experience with Hulk Hogan.
The WWE Hall of Famer posted about their meeting on Facebook.
“Had an incredible start to Memorial Day weekend hangin’ with Governor Ron DeSantis, his amazing wife Casey, and their great kids!” he wrote. “Always an honor to spend time with a true patriot who served this country.”
DeSantis also promoted the meetup on social media by posting: “Great to see the Hulkster and throw back a cold Real American beer in Clearwater Beach.”
Great to see the Hulkster and throw back a cold @RealAmerBeer in Clearwater Beach @HogansHangout! https://t.co/Vy4RFEfamc
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) May 25, 2025
The pairing makes sense politically.
Hogan delivered a memorable speech at the 2024 Republican National Convention that became one of the highlights of the event, where he endorsed Donald Trump for President.
Ironically, Hogan himself faced a similar reception from WWE fans when he made a surprise appearance on Monday Night Raw in January, where the crowd booed the wrestling icon for his political affiliations.
DeSantis’ political future looks increasingly uncertain
The hostile reception at the WWE event highlights DeSantis’ precarious political position as he approaches the end of his governorship in January 2027.
Once considered Trump’s main challenger for the Republican nomination, DeSantis suspended his campaign in January 2024 after struggling to gain traction with voters.
Political experts suggest his governing style has cost him allies and support over time.
“He’s completely crashed to the ground at this point and is certainly being treated like a more standard, average governor now,” political science professor Aubrey Jewett of the University of Central Florida told The Guardian. “He’s lost the ability to push things through. He’s lost that luster he had that at one time seemed like he could do no wrong in Republican conservative circles.”
DeSantis has also faced recent criticism over a leaked proposal to develop protected lands in Florida, though he eventually bowed to public pressure and ordered the protection of state parks from development.
“It took the entire state of Florida to do that,” Republican state Senator Gayle Harrell told The Associated Press. “This is democracy at work.”
Meanwhile, President Trump has already thrown his support behind Florida Representative Byron Donalds as his preferred candidate to replace DeSantis as governor.
What was once a promising political future for the Florida Governor now seems increasingly uncertain, with Saturday’s public humiliation serving as another blow to his already damaged reputation.
“He’s definitely come back down to earth and some of it is his own doing because if you govern with an autocratic style, that doesn’t usually make you a lot of allies,” Professor Jewett added.
With his political future in question, DeSantis may need to rethink his approach if he hopes to remain relevant in Republican politics after leaving the governor’s mansion.
