WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair finds himself at the center of multiple headlines as the wrestling legend navigates controversy over comments about Hulk Hogan's death, announces a surprising career pivot into music, and continues to tease fans with hints of a potential in-ring return at age 76. The Nature Boy's recent appearance on the "DOUBL3 COVERAGE" podcast ignited a firestorm when he suggested "street drugs" contributed to Hogan's passing, a claim immediately refuted by Hogan's widow and family. Meanwhile, Flair has taken to social media to announce a new music album titled "WOOOOO!" and remains characteristically ambiguous about whether his wrestling career is truly over, proving that even in retirement, the 16-time world champion knows how to stay in the spotlight.
How the Hogan Controversy Unfolded: Inside Flair's Podcast Comments
The controversy began when Ric Flair appeared on the "DOUBL3 COVERAGE" podcast in late November 2025 and shared what he claimed were details about Hulk Hogan's final days. According to Flair, Hogan had been in such severe pain from his numerous wrestling injuries that when doctors refused to prescribe additional pain medication, the icon turned to "street drugs" to manage his suffering. "I talked to him the day before he died," Flair stated during the podcast. "I shouldn't say this, but what killed him was street drugs. When the doctor wouldn't prescribe anymore, he was in so much pain. And he had that neck surgery and it got infected so back in the hospital. And then when the doctor would not prescribe any more pain medicine – they just couldn't do it in all good conscience – so they went and got the drugs off the street. His body just said, 'You know what? Bingo. I can't do it anymore.'"
Flair went further, attributing Hogan's apparent addiction to pain medication to decades of performing his signature leg drop move. "You know what caused the back surgeries? Dropping the leg — dropping the legs, jabbed his bones. That's what did it," Flair explained. "But that made him the Hulkster." The wrestling legend also suggested that more information about Hogan's final days would become public knowledge soon, telling the podcast hosts, "It's all going to come out in the media in the next 30 days. You'll read about it anyway. I just don't feel free to talk about it."
Timeline: The Rapid Response to Flair's Controversial Claims
The reaction to Flair's comments was swift and definitive. Within days of the podcast episode circulating online, Hulk Hogan's widow Sky directly addressed the claims in an exclusive statement to TMZ Sports. "That didn't happen at all," Sky stated bluntly when asked about Flair's assertions. She denied that Flair had even spoken to Hogan the day before his death and emphasized that the wrestling icon had been under constant care at Morton Plant Hospital in Florida during his final days. According to Sky, the only changes to Hogan's medication regimen came following his neck procedure to ensure whatever he was taking didn't impact his lungs.
Two other family sources contacted by TMZ Sports also refuted Flair's claims, stating they were "completely untrue." The family made it clear they weren't angry with Flair—acknowledging he was one of Hogan's close friends and meant no harm—but wanted to correct the record about what they characterized as misinformation. Hogan's official cause of death, according to records from the Pinellas County Forensic Science Center, was listed as a heart attack (acute myocardial infarction). Sky had previously revealed she was "planning" to file a malpractice lawsuit over Hogan's death back in August, though it remained unclear if that legal action was still proceeding.
Why Flair's Comments Matter: Wrestling's Pain Medication Legacy
Ric Flair's comments about Hulk Hogan's supposed turn to street drugs touch on one of professional wrestling's most persistent and painful legacies: the widespread use of pain medication to manage the physical toll of a brutal profession. For decades, wrestlers have relied on prescription painkillers to continue performing through injuries that would sideline athletes in other sports. Flair himself has been open about his own struggles with pain management throughout his fifty-year career, making his comments about Hogan's situation particularly resonant within the wrestling community.
The issue has taken on new urgency in recent years as wrestling promotions have implemented stricter wellness policies and former stars have spoken out about the long-term consequences of pain medication dependency. Flair's suggestion that Hogan's doctors refused further prescriptions reflects changing medical standards around opioid prescribing, even as aging wrestlers continue to deal with chronic pain from their in-ring careers. What makes Flair's comments particularly controversial isn't just their accuracy—which has been disputed—but their public nature during a period when Hogan's family is still grieving his July 2025 passing at age 71.
Where Things Stand Now: Flair's Apology and Current Projects
Following the backlash to his podcast comments, Ric Flair took to social media to issue a clarification that many interpreted as an apology. "There Seems To Be Some Controversy Over My Remarks That Street Drugs Killed Hulk Hogan," Flair wrote. "I Only Was Repeating What I Know To Be A Fact Through Family Members. After 11 Back Surgeries, Hip Replacements, Knee Replacements, Shoulder Replacement, And Two Neck Surgeries, I Am Sure The Pain Was Unbearable." He continued, "A Doctor As I Know Can Only Prescribe So Much Pain Medication Under Medical Guidelines. I've Been Told That All They Did Was To Help Him Not To Hurt Him. To Help Him Get Through The Night And The Pain. Eventually That Catches Up With You As We Know With Everybody."
Flair concluded by emphasizing his respect for Hogan: "He Was My Friend, A Man I Respected, And I'm Only Reporting What I've Been Told. Nothing More, Nothing Less. This Was Not An Attempt To Demean Hulk Hogan Or His Legacy. I Have Always Referred To Him As Being One Of The Two Biggest Stars In The Industry, Himself And Steve Austin. I Apologize If People Misunderstood My Statement. Hulkamania Forever!" The statement reflected Flair's characteristic style—part clarification, part justification—while attempting to smooth over the controversy his original comments had created.
The Bigger Picture: Flair's Unretirement Pattern and New Ventures
Even as the Hogan controversy unfolded, Ric Flair made headlines for entirely different reasons. In February 2025, the wrestling legend announced on social media that he would be releasing a new music album titled "WOOOOO!" with the simple declaration: "New Album Dropping Soon! WOOOOO!" According to Ringside News, Flair hasn't actually released anything yet—he's only announced that a new album is "dropping soon"—but the announcement itself generated significant buzz among wrestling fans and music observers alike. This musical venture represents just the latest in Flair's long history of career reinventions beyond the wrestling ring.
Perhaps more intriguing to wrestling purists are continued rumors about Flair's potential in-ring return. Despite having what was billed as his "Last Match" at age 73 in 2022, Flair continues to drop hints that he might not be done wrestling. He recently sparked speculation about a potential match against fellow legend Ricky Morton, though Morton himself has since ruled out the possibility. Flair's pattern of unretirement has become something of a running joke in wrestling circles, with the Nature Boy himself acknowledging during interviews that "in wrestling they always say 'never say never.'" At 76 years old, Flair remains one of the most talked-about figures in professional wrestling, proving that his ability to generate headlines transcends his active in-ring career.
What Happens Next: The Road Ahead for The Nature Boy
Looking forward, Ric Flair shows no signs of fading from public view. His new music project represents a creative outlet that could introduce him to audiences beyond wrestling, while his occasional wrestling-related appearances—whether as a special guest referee or legend making a cameo—ensure he remains connected to the industry that made him famous. The Hogan controversy, while currently cooled by his clarification statement, may resurface as more details about Hogan's final days potentially emerge, though Flair has indicated he won't be discussing the matter further.
Health-wise, Flair continues to defy expectations for someone of his age and career mileage. He announced in 2025 that he was cancer-free after treatment for melanoma, adding another chapter to his remarkable health journey that includes surviving a plane crash in 1975 and numerous other medical challenges. As wrestling continues to evolve with new generations of stars, Flair's legacy as perhaps the greatest performer in the history of the business remains secure—even as he continues to write new chapters in a story that most assumed had reached its conclusion years ago.
Key Takeaways from the Ric Flair Story
The recent headlines surrounding Ric Flair reveal several important aspects of the wrestling legend's current life and legacy. First, his comments about Hulk Hogan's death—however controversial—highlight the ongoing challenges aging wrestlers face with pain management and the difficult transitions they make after leaving the ring. Second, Flair's music announcement demonstrates his continued entrepreneurial spirit and understanding of personal branding, even at 76. Third, his teasing of a potential wrestling return speaks to the difficulty many performers have truly walking away from the spotlight that defined their lives. Finally, the entire situation underscores Flair's enduring relevance in sports entertainment—a relevance built over fifty years but maintained through his understanding that in the world of professional wrestling, being talked about is often as important as being in the ring.
