The widow of wrestling legend Hulk Hogan has publicly rejected claims made by fellow icon Ric Flair that 'street drugs' led to her husband's death earlier this year.
Flair's Allegations on a Podcast
During an appearance on the Double Coverage podcast in October, Ric Flair, known as the 'Nature Boy', made startling claims about the death of his longtime friend. Flair alleged that Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, had turned to street drugs after doctors would no longer prescribe pain medication following numerous surgeries.
'I talked to him the day before he died. I shouldn't say this, but what killed him was street drugs,' Flair stated. He described a scenario where Hogan, in immense pain from a body ravaged by his wrestling career, could not get further prescriptions and subsequently obtained drugs elsewhere.
Family's Firm Rebuttal
Hogan's widow, Sky Daily, has now directly addressed these comments in an interview with TMZ, firmly stating 'That didn't happen at all.' She clarified that Hogan was under the professional care of Morton Plant Hospital in Florida at the time and that any adjustments to his medication were strictly managed following a neck procedure.
Sky also denied Flair's claim of speaking to Hogan the day before his passing. TMZ reported speaking with two other family members who corroborated Sky's account, confirming Flair did not have the full story. The family emphasised they are not angry with Flair but felt compelled to set the record straight.
The Official Medical Findings
Hulk Hogan passed away on 24 July at the age of 71. He collapsed at his mansion on Clearwater Beach, Florida, and was later pronounced dead at the hospital. According to a medical examiner's certificate obtained by the Daily Mail, the cause of death was an acute myocardial infarction, or heart attack.
The certificate also noted a medical history of atrial fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat) and leukaemia. Police have stated there is no evidence of foul play, though the investigation required extensive interviews and medical record reviews. Prior to his death, Hogan had undergone significant surgery on his neck, with reports indicating a severed phrenic nerve led to a decline in his health.
A source close to Hogan had previously described the immense toll his career took, stating his body was like that of a '140-year-old man' after over 25 surgeries in a decade. Despite rumours, his wife had earlier asserted his heart was strong following routine surgery.
