WWE Hall of Famer Fred Ottman (known to fans as Typhoon, Tugboat, and The Shockmaster) is recovering from a near-fatal health crisis involving a ruptured gallbladder. After spending approximately 30 days bedridden in a St. Petersburg, Florida, hospital, Ottman was discharged on Monday, February 9, 2026, to continue his rehabilitation at home.
Ottman revealed that his gallbladder “exploded,” releasing poison and causing a severe infection that flooded his system. Doctors informed his wife that if he had waited even one more day to seek treatment, he likely would not have survived. The infection also impacted his kidneys, nearly requiring him to go on dialysis.
The 69-year-old wrestling legend has lost significant muscle mass during his month-long stay and is currently learning to walk again with the aid of a walker. In a Facebook video posted on Sunday, February 15, he described the process of “getting up and getting down” as frustrating but noted he is taking things “one step at a time.”
“I just want to thank everybody for all the well wishes and everybody that’s been there for me and everything,” Ottman said. “Trying to occupy my mind training as far as walking, learning to walk again with this walker and all that stuff… It’s very frustrating sometimes. But some of you that’s been there know what the deal is.”
While he is currently at home, Ottman is not “out of the woods” yet. He has a pre-surgery consultation scheduled for today, February 16, and is slated to undergo an operation on February 23 to have a drainage bag removed.
Ottman, who was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2025 alongside his late partner Earthquake as The Natural Disasters, expressed gratitude for the support from his wife, friends, and fans. He has been occupying his time by signing autographs and trading cards for fans as he continues his “slow” recovery journey. We wish him a speedy recovery.
