20 years ago, 'Hogan Knows Best' premiered. Read our 2005 interview with Hulk Hogan
Hogan lived a lot of lives before his death Thursday at 71. He was a professional wrestler who helped transform the WWE into a lucrative cultural behemoth. He appeared in TV shows and movies — including 'Rocky III' — and provided voices for video games. His victory in his lawsuit against Gawker Media essentially killed the powerful online news and gossip purveyor and heightened tensions around press freedoms and privacy rights. A racial slurs scandal saw the WWE cut ties with him, and though the organization later welcomed him back into the fold, he pursued new pro wrestling ventures. Of late, he was somewhat of a political figure, too, embracing President Donald Trump and even speaking at the 2024 Republican National Convention.
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Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Hulk Hogan was ‘being run into the ground' before he died with work schedule while dealing with 25 surgeries in 10 years
Hulk Hogan admitted he was struggling with his health in the year before his sudden death Thursday and some of those close to him thought he was taking it too far, The Independent has learned. But others close to him said it was just his way, and that he insisted on being on the road and showing up to meet fans because he was 'running the show'. Jimmy VanderLinden — who goes by "Jimmy Van" online and founded the professional wrestling publication Fightful — alleges he spoke with people close to Hogan who were upset at his heavy work schedule. "People close to Hulk Hogan had told me they weren't happy that his management team was 'running him into the ground,' promoting his beer brand over the last year," VanderLinden wrote in a social media post. The 71-year-old wrestler, whose real name was Terry Bollea, had been promoting Real American Beer, which used his likeness for its branding, in the last few months of his life. The company provided The Independent with the following statement: 'Hulk Hogan wasn't being 'run into the ground' — he was running the show. As the co-founder of Real American Beer, this brand was his vision from day one. He led by example, insisted on being on the road and showed up because he wanted to. Not for money. Not for press. For his fans. He built this for them — and no one was going to stop him from showing up and shaking every hand. That's what being a Real American meant to him.' A spokesperson for Empire Agency, which repped Hogan but had no involvement in Real American Beer or its marketing push, told The Independent they also thought he was pushing too hard before he fell ill. 'We also thought that he was going too far with his health, but we couldn't do anything, because of his deal with the promoter and some other representative dealing with this beer business,' the spokesperson said. Rumors swirled on social media in the weeks before his death that Hogan had health issues. Last month, Todd Clem — otherwise known as "Bubba the Love Sponge," a radio show host with a long and sordid history with Hogan — told his listeners that "allegedly Hogan is in the hospital and I've heard people say that he might not make it." Hogan's management and family denied the claims. The wrestler's wife, Sky Daily, said at the time that he'd only undergone neck surgery. His friend, former WWE personality and longtime in-character manager Jimmy Hart, insisted in a post that Hogan had recently been singing karaoke. The post has now been removed. A spokesperson for Hogan told The Independent last week that Hogan's surgery had "indeed been successful" and that there was "no reason to panic." "He just needs from time to time a medical check up," the spokesperson added. But by July, Clem hadn't changed his tune, warning listeners that "I don't know if we'll ever see Hogan again." On July 21, just days before the WWE icon's death, Clem wrote an update on X, citing people close to Hogan, that the wrestler had been moved from a hospital "to his home in a hospital bed with private doctors." "Transfer was done in secrecy — unmarked ambulances, garage entry, middle of the night," Clem wrote. The Clearwater Police Department said during a brief press conference that Hogan was "experiencing a serious medical related issue" when they arrived. He died after he was transferred to a hospital. Hogan addressed his health when he last September appeared on an episode of fellow WWE star Logan Paul's "Impaulsive" podcast. Hogan noted at the top of the show that he'd been up until 3:30 am the night prior, and mentioned he'd only gotten two hours of sleep another night that week. When asked by Paul's co-host, Mike Majlak, if he needs sleep, Hogan says he does, and noted that when he doesn't get enough sleep, it hurts his back. 'Oh God yeah bro, if I don't man, my back and everything..." Hogan says, implying his back will hurt if he doesn't get enough sleep. He then told the men about all of the surgeries he's needed in the last decade. 'I've had like 25 surgeries in the last ten years. Ten of them were back surgeries,' Hogan told Paul. 'Nobody told me this gimmick stuff was fake. I've had 10 back surgeries, both knees and both hips replaced, shoulders — everything.' Hogan was active in professional wrestling across a number of companies from 1977 to 2012. Despite the staged outcomes, the slams and slaps and chair shots were real, and took a toll on his body. He recalled advice he received from the legendary Andre the Giant about protecting his body in his early career. 'Andre used to tell me, 'Boss, don't fall down. You won't get back up,'' Hogan said. 'It was like a 22-foot boxing ring that had lumps in it, boards sticking up—it was horrible.' Solve the daily Crossword
New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
Ozzy Osbourne was ‘frail and suffering' at Black Sabbath farewell concert: biographer
Daniel Bukszpan, who wrote a biography about Ozzy Osbourne in 2023, couldn't bring himself to watch the rocker's farewell concert that took place less than three weeks before his death. 'I couldn't watch it. I mean, Ozzy was so frail and just so obviously suffering,' the 'Ozzy At 75 : The Unofficial Illustrated History' author exclusively told The Post. 'I really had a hard time with it,' Bukszpan admitted. 'I feel like it's something I still have to confront.' Advertisement 8 Ozzy Osbourne during his farewell concert with Black Sabbath on July 5. Ozzy Osbourne/Instagram On July 5, Osbourne reunited with his former Black Sabbath bandmates for their 'Back to the Beginning' concert at Villa Park in the band's hometown of Birmingham, England. The Prince of Darkness, who was battling Parkinson's, performed for the 42,000-person crowd in what turned out to be the final concert of his life. Advertisement 8 Ozzy Osbourne backstage at his farewell concert. Ozzy Osbourne/Instagram 'At the time I sort of felt like, oh, they're making this poor man go on stage when clearly he's not up to it, and how can they do that to him?' Bukszpan told The Post. 'But that was before he died. Now that he died, and especially since he died so soon after, it's like, no, that was exactly the point.' 8 Daniel Bukszpan wrote a biography about Ozzy Osbourne in 2023. Daniel Bukszpan 8 Daniel Bukszpan's biography 'Ozzy at 75: The Unofficial Illustrated History.' Daniel Bukszpan Advertisement 'That was what he wanted,' the author continued. 'He wanted basically a big Irish wake. That's what that was. But it was before he was dead. So I did not recognize it as a big Irish wake until he passed. And then it was like, oh, okay, all right.' Bukszpan also pointed out that Osbourne was deteriorating from other issues, including a severe spinal injury, before his death. 8 Ozzy Osbourne with Sharon Osbourne and Jason Momoa at his final show. Ozzy Osbourne/Instagram 'He was in a lot of physical pain for that last part of his life,' Bukszpan said. 'And I'm certainly glad he's not dealing with that anymore. He was in chronic pain for about the last 20 years of his life. He had pain throughout his entire body for 20 years and he still was like, 'But when can I go back on stage?'' Advertisement 'I really respect that. He knew what he needed to do and he knew what he wanted to do. And he did it for as long as he possibly could.' 8 Daniel Bukszpan in his interview with The Post. New York Post Bukszpan noted that while the 'Crazy Train' singer 'was ailing for a long time,' he 'didn't want pity' from fans or for the public 'to think of him as this frail old man.' The author also said that Osbourne always owned up to his mistakes, including in his marriage to wife Sharon Osbourne and in his career. 8 Ozzy Osbourne speaks onstage at iHeartRadio Theater in California in Feb. 2020. Getty Images for iHeartMedia 'He took responsibility for the things he did. I never saw him blame anyone for anything,' Bukszpan told The Post. 'When he was fired from Black Sabbath… there are a lot of musicians who, when they leave their original bands, make this whole career out of talking about how much that band sucked. He never did that. He copped to pretty much everything.' 8 Ozzy Osbourne photographed for the Los Angeles Times in 2020. Contour RA Advertisement In hindsight, he's 'not surprised' Osbourne passed so quickly after his final concert. 'I think he really just took his whole job, all of it, very seriously,' Bukszpan said. 'He had a real work ethic about my job is to show up for people, give them a good time, and at my concerts they'll forget their troubles for two hours. I think he had an absolute diehard, utter commitment to that for his entire life. And that was how he lived.'
Fox News
5 hours ago
- Fox News
Rock legend Ozzy Osbourne spent final days with family in England home: report
Ozzy Osbourne's final days in England are being shared. The Prince of Darkness died Tuesday, July 22, after battling a number of health issues over the years. He was 76. The Black Sabbath singer was at "peace" before his death, and was "surrounded by family" before he passed, according to People magazine. OZZY OSBOURNE'S MESSAGE TO FANS CAPS DECADES-LONG LEGACY: 'THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART' "[Sharon's] deepest hope was fulfilled, and this is her focus now," a source told the outlet. "Ozzy's final days were spent in England, surrounded by family, music and in the place he called home. He was in peace," the source added. OZZY OSBOURNE DEAD AT 76 Two weeks before his death, Ozzy reunited with Black Sabbath to perform at a star-studded farewell show in England, an appropriately dark and electric send-off for one of rock's greatest legends. During his final show on July 5 at Villa Park , Osbourne expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support as the band, including Tony Iommi, Terence "Geezer" Butler and Bill Ward, performed together for the first time in 20 years. WATCH FOX NATION'S 'SHARON OSBOURNE: TO HELL AND BACK' For the closing set, the legendary rock star was lifted to the stage while sitting on a black throne accompanied by skulls and topped with a black bat. He sang hits like "Crazy Train" and "Mama I'm Coming Home" while remaining seated during the entire set. "You have no idea how I feel," Osbourne told the crowd. "Thank you from the bottom of my heart." An insider told the outlet, "That show meant everything. It brought his career full circle." Ozzy's sisters, Jean Powell and Gillian Hemming, recalled the last time they saw their brother was before his final concert. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER "He was frail, but it still came as a shock," Powell told The Mirror about her brother's death. She wasn't aware of the "details of his death," but was very "thankful he died in England." She noted that her last conversation with her brother was ahead of his Black Sabbath farewell performance. "I got a text from him as he drove down Lodge Road, where we used to live near the stadium," Powell said. "He said he couldn't believe all the crowds were walking down our old street to watch him perform." Powell added, "It was upsetting because he could not stand up straight, but he was still our John, still cracking the jokes." The 10-hour show was hosted by Jason Momoa and featured performances from Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Jack Black, Steven Tyler and others. At one point during the show, which was livestreamed in the U.K., legendary drummers, including Tool's Danny Carey, Red Hot Chili Peppers' Chad Smith and Blink-182's Travis Barker, battled with their drumsticks while playing a cover of Sabbath's "Symptom of the Universe." LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS After his death, the Osbournes released a statement to Fox News Digital. "It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family's privacy at this time." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Osbourne is survived by wife Sharon, daughters Kelly and Aimee and son Jack, in addition to daughter Jessica and sons Elliot and Louis from his first marriage to Thelma Riley.
