Just like Steve Austin said at the RAW Reunion Hulk Hogan was his big-time guest on this week’s episode of The Steve Austin Show. The two legends were shooting the breeze a couple hours before hitting the record button, but once they did Austin asked Hogan about how he’s faring health wise. Hogan goes into detail on some of the many operations he’s had, particularly the nine back surgeries he went through that ultimately put Hulkamania out of in-ring competition for good. Quotes and audio are below:
Hulk Hogan on his current health status and the surgeries he’s had over the years:
“I went in for one back surgery and it turned into having nine back surgeries. I actually wrestled The Rock with a knee replacement, a hip replacement and then when I had the other knee and hip done, I kept going, but as soon as they cut on my back it was game over. I was hoping that if they cut on my back one time, I’d have the fusion like Shawn Michaels and I could keep going, but the doctors that wanted me to have the fusion said, ‘Try everything else first!”
I went to a place called Laser Spine. They cut me six times and they basically took me out of the game. They cut so much bone away. Things went awry after the first six surgeries and then the last three surgeries, well after they told my new wife Jennifer I’d never walk again after the six surgeries, it took me three more twelve hour surgeries to get up on my feet rolling again.
I was down about a year and a half, but all that being said, I’m pretty darn cool. I can’t wrestle again, but I’m really cool other than this darn arthritis kicking in and I’m gonna be 66 years old in week. I still work out with weights, use light weight, but my parents before they passed away, when they were my age their hands were crippled up like a sideshow freak. Their hands were crippled and swollen and everything like that so with the vitamins and taking care of myself with organic food, I’m not there, but the main thing is the arthritis, I had no idea what that word really meant til you feel what it means and boy, the arthritis is definitely something that changes the game, but I’m doing good man.”
(Transcription credit should go to @DominicDeAngelo of WrestleZone)
Austin and Hogan are just getting started so there is plenty more to come, but you can listen to the full audio interview below:
