Wrestling icon Hulk Hogan, legally known as Terry Gene Bollea, had nerves removed from his back for an undisclosed reason and has since lost feeling in his lower body, according to fellow wrestler and long-time friend Kurt Angle.
In a recent podcast appearance, Angle revealed that Hogan now walks with a cane, despite appearing on stage at the WWE Raw 30th anniversary show in Philadelphia last week without any assistance.
‘He had the nerves cut from his lower body, he can’t feel his lower body. So, he has to use his cane to walk around. I thought he was using the cane because he has pain in his back. He doesn’t have any pain, he has nothing at all. He can’t feel anything,’ Mr Angle said. ‘So now he can’t feel his legs. So he has to walk with a cane which is, you know, that’s pretty serious, man,’
While the specifics of Hogan’s surgery are unclear, it is not known if the damage to his legs is permanent.
Hogan, who had a 35-year career in the WWE and is considered one of the most iconic figures in wrestling, has been open about his health struggles and the toll his career has taken on his body.
His daughter Brooke has previously stated that he has undergone 25 surgeries, and in 2006, Hogan suffered a slight tear in his right knee.
Despite this, Hogan said in a podcast last year that if he were healthy, he would have continued wrestling.
The wrestling community is gearing up for WrestleMania, the WWE’s largest event of the year, and while it is uncertain if Hogan will make an appearance, Angle expressed his admiration for the wrestler and the impact he has had on the industry.
He said, “He’s the name and face of the company. He’s the guy that revolutionized pro wrestling. I have so much respect for him.”
Injuries are not uncommon in the world of professional wrestling, and several former champions have seen their careers come to a halt due to devastating blows to the back, neck, and head.
Angle himself had double knee surgery last year, which left him with a difficult recovery process.
Hogan has not publicly addressed his recent health struggles, and attempts to reach his representation for comment were unsuccessful. However, his appearance on stage without the aid of a cane and the fact that he was able to walk with a cane suggests that he is in the process of recovering from the surgery and its effects.
Despite his health struggles, Hogan’s legacy as a wrestler and his impact on the industry remain strong, and he will always be remembered as one of the greatest to ever step into the ring.
