THE FINAL STRUGGLE: RIC FLAIR'S ANALYSIS OF HOGAN'S PAIN MEDICATION CRISIS
Ric Flair reveals Hulk Hogan turned to street drugs after doctors stopped his pain meds, leading to his death. Flair clarifies his controversial remarks about his friend's passing.
Ric Flair recently claimed that Hulk Hogan turned to street drugs when doctors stopped giving him prescription pain meds.
On the Double Coverage podcast, Flair talked about his friend Hogan's passing. Flair said he spoke with Hogan the day before he died and that Hogan was in so much pain toward the end.
He said, I talked to him the day before he died. I probably shouldn’t say this, but street drugs are what killed him when the doctor wouldn’t give him any more pills. He was in so much pain. He had neck surgery, and it got infected, so he was back in the hospital. He had 10 back surgeries, two knees, two hips, all this.
When the doctor wouldn’t prescribe any more pain medicine, they just couldn’t because of their knowledge, right? So he got drugs off the street, and his body just said, ‘You know what? That's it. I can’t do it anymore.’
After the interview, Flair clarified on social media that he was just repeating what Hogan’s family already knew.
He wrote, “There Seems To Be Some Controversy Over My Remarks That Street Drugs Killed Hulk Hogan. I was only repeating what I know to be a fact through family members. After 11 back surgeries, hip replacements, knee replacements, a shoulder replacement, and two neck surgeries, I am sure the pain was unbearable. A doctor, as I know, can only prescribe so much pain medication under medical guidelines.
“I’ve Been Told That All They Did Was To Help Him, Not To Hurt Him. To Help Him Get Through The Night And The Pain. Eventually, that catches up with you, as we know with everybody. He Was My Friend, A Man I Respected, And I’m Only Reporting What I’ve Been Told. Nothing More, Nothing Less.
“This Was Not An Attempt To Demean Hulk Hogan Or His Legacy. I have always referred to him as being one of the two biggest stars in the industry, him and Steve Austin. I apologise if people misunderstood my statement. Hulkamania Forever!”
Hogan died in July after struggling with health issues. He was buried at a private service. Hogan's wife, Sky Daily, said his health declined because of a bad surgery months before his death.
JOHN CENA ACCIDENTALLY LEAKS BROCK LESNAR'S WWE RETIREMENT PLAN: "VERY SOON IN MINNESOTA
In a recent interview, John Cena suggested Brock Lesnar is on his way out, hinting the "Beast Incarnate's" retirement match could take place in his home state of Minnesota, possibly at SummerSlam 2026.
So, John Cena might have let something slip about Brock Lesnar's future.
In a recent chat with Chris Van Vliet, Cena talked up his match this Saturday against Gunther at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Looking back at the past year, Van Vliet asked about Cena’s quick match with Brock Lesnar at Wrestlepalooza.
Cena joked that the five F-5s he took made it feel like time was moving super slow.
Cena explained that WWE was trying to build Lesnar up as a big deal for the long haul, possibly leading to his retirement.
Cena said that to make Lesnar a big challenge for someone, they needed to make him look really strong. He mentioned that WWE often uses him to make Lesnar look good when he comes back, and this time was no different. With Lesnar possibly retiring soon and Cena also on his way out, Cena was the perfect person to help Lesnar look dominant again.
Cena added that it wouldn’t hurt him, and he’s still a big draw, so it makes for a great main event.
Is This Goodbye to John, AJ, and Brock?
If Cena's right, WWE could lose three big names soon. Cena's last match is this Saturday, and AJ Styles has said he plans to retire in 2026. If Brock Lesnar does retire, Minnesota would be a good place for it.
Next year’s SummerSlam is in Minnesota, where Lesnar became famous, winning titles while wrestling for the University of Minnesota.
Lesnar’s Last Match?
Lesnar came back to WWE at this year’s SummerSlam after being gone for two years. During that time, his name came up in a lawsuit filed by a former WWE employee.
Given his absence and what Cena thinks is happening with Lesnar, his quick win at Wrestlepalooza makes sense. It showed longtime fans that Brock is still a monster while introducing his strength to newer fans.
The question now is who will Lesnar beat next, and who will finally beat Lesnar?
MOMENTUM REGAIN: ANDRADE PUSHES PAST WWE FRUSTRATION, RETURNS TO AEW SCENE.
Andrade addresses his second WWE departure, clarifying that rumours of unreliability stemmed from him missing one call on an unscheduled day off. He is now focused on AEW.
Andrade's second stint with WWE didn't go as planned for him or his fans. His second release from the company earlier this year left many wondering what happened. Some thought he was fired because of disciplinary problems, while others thought WWE just didn't know what to do with him. Until now, the reasons were unclear.
In a recent interview, Andrade spoke directly about the rumours, denying reports that he was hard to reach or unreliable.
The story is a bit long. I am thankful to WWE. I don't have bad feelings about leaving. I appreciate my time there, even though it was only about a year and a half. I always made my dates. I always answered my phone. "Whoever started the rumour that I went on a trip and didn't answer my phone," Andrade said.
He explained that one particular incident likely started the rumours. He missed a call on an unscheduled day off, and it became a bigger deal than it was.
What really happened was this: I was on a trip on a day I wasn't booked. They called me, and I called back an hour or two later. So I didn't answer for an hour or two. The company called and messaged me, like, ‘Where are you? Are you okay?' Things like that. I didn't reply for an hour or two, and that’s it.
Yes, I was out of the country, but that's all. I told them, ‘I'm out of the country, which is why I didn't answer.' Time difference, internet, places with no signal, things like that. But it wasn't like, 'I never answered them' or anything like that, Andrade said.
In the same interview, Andrade shared that hehad almost worked with Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide. He said he was supposed to be in a big four-way match with top wrestlers from different groups, including the current “NXT” Champion, Oba Femi.
I was going to be at the first AAA show. They told me the match was going to be Vikingo, Fénix, and the NXT Champion—Oba Femi. It was him and me. It was going to be a four-way match at the first show in… I think Los Angeles, Andrade said.
Andrade said the match was presented as a way to help boost the other wrestlers. But the plans changed after he was in the “Money in the Bank” ladder match earlier this year.
They said that would be the match and asked if I wanted to do it. They said, ‘We want you because we know you can work with Fénix and Vikingo, so Vikingo doesn't look too small next to Oba Femi.' That was the plan, but things changed. I was in Money in the Bank, so they didn't put me in that show anymore, and I didn't go back to AAA, Andrade said.
Since leaving in September 2025, Andrade has returned to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and the independent scene, hoping to regain his momentum outside of WWE.