WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair issued a new statement on his Facebook page to address the public controversy surrounding his recent remarks, where he claimed that Hulk Hogan succumbed to “street drugs” after doctors cut off his pain medication prescriptions. Flair clarified that his intention was not to “Demean Hulk Hogan or his legacy” but merely to repeat what he understood to be a factual cause of death conveyed by Hogan’s family members.
Clarifying the Source of the Information
Flair’s new statement focuses heavily on the source of his controversial claim, stressing that his information came directly from Hogan’s inner circle and not from speculation. He used the platform to re-affirm his profound respect for Hogan, whom he consistently ranks as one of the two biggest stars in the wrestling industry alongside Steve Austin.
“There Seems To Be Some Controversy Over My Remarks That Street Drugs Killed Hulk Hogan. I Only Was Repeating What I Know To Be A Fact Through Family Members. After 11 Back Surgeries, Hip Replacements, Knee Replacements, 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, Himself And Steve Austin. I Apologize If People Misunderstood My Statement. Hulkamania Forever!.”
Unbearable Pain and Final Years
Flair originally disclosed the details of Hogan’s long battle with debilitating pain during an interview on Double Coverage. Flair stated he had spoken to Hogan the day before he died and reiterated that Hogan’s need for medication became desperate after his doctors followed medical guidelines and could no longer prescribe the required drugs. Flair had elaborated on the physical damage Hogan endured in his final years.
“He was in so much pain, then he had that neck surgery and it got infected, so back in the hospital, mentioned 10 back surgeries, two knees, two hips, all this. Dropping the legs, jabbed his bones. That’s what did it. When the doctor would not prescribe any more pain medicine. They just couldn’t do it all due conscious, right? So they went and got their drugs off the street, his body just said, Bingo, I can’t do it anymore, sad and terrible.”
