WWE legend Kurt Angle has provided an ominous report on Hulk Hogan’s recovery after back surgery. The six-time WWE champion appears to be suffering from the significant toll his famous wrestling career has had on his body, with the 1996 Olympic gold medallist sharing some insight into his plight.
“Hogan had his back surgery again,” the former grappler said on his self-titled program The Kurt Angle Show. “He had the nerves cut from his lower body. He can’t feel his lower body. So [he] uses his cane to walk around.”
“I thought he was using the cane because he had trouble in his back,” Angle, who has had serious medical challenges of his own, continued. He is not in any discomfort. He doesn’t have anything and he has no sensations. As a result, he can no longer feel his legs. So he has to walk with a cane, which is a major matter, man.
“I mean, I really feel for Hogan. He put his heart and soul into the business and [it] ate him up. I mean, if you’re gonna kick off the show, the 30th anniversary of Raw, [it] should be Hulk Hogan. He’s the name and face of the company. He’s the guy that revolutionized pro wrestling. I have so much respect for him.”
Hogan, who has yet to respond to Angle’s charges, was last seen on WWE programming on Raw
Hogan, who has yet to respond to Angle’s charges, was last seen on WWE programming on Raw 30 last week. He and Jimmy Hart started the historic program, which also included The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Triple H, and Angle himself, who served as a special guest referee in a tag team bout.
For decades, the Hulkster dazzled admirers with his larger-than-life demeanor and astounding body. When Hogan delivered the iconic leg drop, there was usually only one outcome: his hand was raised in triumph. He was a key figure in the 1980s professional wrestling boom, having headlined eight of the first nine editions of WWE’s flagship event, WrestleMania.
Hogan won the WWE Championship five times during his inaugural run
Hogan won the WWE Championship five times during his inaugural run, with his first reign being the second-longest in the championship’s history. He is the first wrestler to win two Royal Rumble matches in a row, in 1990 and 1991.
With 33 million viewers, his match with Andre the Giant on WWE The Main Event on February 5, 1988, still maintains the American television wrestling viewing record.
The year before, at WrestleMania 3, he executed a memorable body slam on arch-adversary Andre the Giant en route to retaining the WWE championship in front of a loud audience.
In one of wrestling’s most dramatic events, Hogan defected to WCW in 1996 and joined the villainous group the New World Order or NWO. During his time with the now-defunct promotion, he went on to become a six-time world champion.
His place as one of the all-time greats was cemented when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005, and he will be inducted again as part of the NWO in 2021.