Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Lance Storm is back with tons to talk about including AEW Dynamite, the WWE/ESPN deal, Hulk Hogan’s death, Forbidden Door, and more! Plus, Filthy Tom makes his triumphant return to talk about his hip replacement! A fun show as always so check it out~!
Tag: hulk hogan
Report: Medical malpractice might have caused Hulk Hogan’s death
Update —
Hulk Hogan’s wife Sky Daily confirmed to TMZ that an autopsy has been done, though she did not reveal the results.
Daily also confirmed that Hogan’s phrenic nerve was “compromised” during one of his surgeries.
Clearwater Police issued a statement to TMZ saying their investigation into Hogan’s death is still ongoing.
“We have been in communication with family members — including his son, Nick, and daughter, Brooke,” the statement said. “The unique nature of this case has required us to interview multiple witnesses and seek medical records from a variety of providers, and our detectives continue to do that. All of this takes time. The Hogan family has been appreciative of our efforts and our communication with them.”
**********
A new report says medical malpractice might have contributed to Hulk Hogan’s death.
The wrestling icon passed away at 71 years old in his hometown of Clearwater, Florida on July 24. Cardiac arrest was determined to be the official cause of death, but an autopsy was not performed. Hogan’s daughter Brooke has been vocal about wanting an autopsy done to answer any unresolved questions about how her father died.
TMZ is now reporting that, when Hogan died, there was an occupational therapist present at his home who told police that Hogan was the victim of medical malpractice, with his phrenic nerve being severed during a recent operation.
“Law enforcement sources tell TMZ — the Clearwater PD police report regarding the 911 response to Hulk’s home the day he died — says an occupational therapist was present at the wrestling legend’s Florida residence when he stopped breathing,” TMZ wrote.
“According to the report — which is on ‘lockdown’ — the therapist told responding officers Hulk was the victim of medical malpractice. The therapist says during a recent operation — it’s unclear if it was the surgery to repair his heart or a neck procedure — the surgeon ‘severed’ his phrenic nerve.”
The phrenic nerve controls your diaphragm and is essential to the breathing process.
TMZ notes that the conversation between the occupational therapist and police could have been recorded on police body cam footage.
“We’re also told there were conversations among the officers at the scene where they talked about what the therapist had told them, and this is on body cam,” TMZ wrote. “It’s a fair assumption the conversation between the occupational therapist and the officers is also on body cam.”
Hogan underwent neck surgery in May and experienced weeks of complications prior to his death.
Brooke Hogan and her father were estranged at the time of his death, with Brooke asking to be removed from his will in 2023.
Brooke told radio host Bubba the Love Sponge that one of the reasons she asked to be removed from the will was because Hogan’s new wife Sky Daily has a possible connection to the Church of Scientology as a former member. Brooke said she did not want to fight such a powerful group over money, nor did she want to fight her mother Linda over the estate.
“If Sky is a Scientologist, which apparently she’s still in good standing but she says she left. It’s not for me to judge. She was always nice to me. I have no problem with Sky. But if she was a Scientologist, I know that that’s a very powerful backing,” Brooke said.
“And then I thought, oh my God, if I get left any money or [her brother] Nick gets left any money, no offense, but my mom has been known to kind of find herself in the mix with things like that. And I’m like, I don’t want to fight Linda. I don’t want to fight Scientology. I don’t want somebody that I love to get knocked off. I don’t know how deep this stuff goes. It scared me. And I just said, ‘I want out.’”
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: September 1985
On the new DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, Karl Stern continues his long form history series with a look back at September 1985.
While the WWF continued to grow and take over more territory in the United States, the AWA remained strong for the moment including putting on a stadium show called SuperClash in Chicago.
Mike Von Erich received the injury and got the surgery that leads to his severe physical downfall, plus updates on Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, The Road Warriors losing the AWA Tag Team titles, and more.
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Daily Update: Omos, Hogan documentary ratings, KC Navarro
Daily Update
Latest Headlines
- AEW young star reportedly under long-term contract
- Big update on TNA media rights deal, Impact could air opposite AEW Dynamite
- WWE reveals on-sale date for WrestleMania 42 combo tickets
- Blake Monroe responds to social media critics: I’m ‘so grateful’ for entire wrestling journey
- Naomi says 2022 WWE walkout ‘made me stronger’
- WWE NXT viewership down slightly, demo rating ties best number in six months
- Kota Ibushi AEW contract update
- NJPW G1 Climax 35 semifinals set
- John Cena on choosing final WWE opponent: ‘I’ve never operated like that’
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- WOL: WWE vs. AEW, Cena’s last match Dynamite, G-1!
- WOR: More on UFC/ESPN deal, Hulk Hogan TV bios, AEW vs. WWE, Dynamite review
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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter
We have one of the most news and business heavy issues of the year:
*All the details of the WWE’s deal with ESPN, what is in the deal, what isn’t, who can watch for free and why that probably won’t be for long, what ESPN Needs for it t make economic sense, as well as break-even for the ESPN UFC PPV deal and when the ESPN deal with WWE starts
*Brock Lesnar returns to WWE, how it happened, why it happened, why it was inevitable because of how TKO management views things, the double talk, comments from loads of people in WWE as well as Janel Grant’s side, exactly what was in the lawsuit that regards Lesnar and other example of TKO decisions which show a pattern
*Full coverage of SummerSlam, business details, the Rollins cash-in, Netflix numbers, attendance numbers and next PPV show
*Notes on UFC and WWE business numbers, what is up and what is down
*Hulk Hogan’s funeral, Brooke Hogan’s claims of info on Hogan’s Moves never talked about before, a ton of Hogan history, Hogan’s heyday in Japan and much more.
*Update on the G-1 Climax tournament
*Forbidden Door and the surprising record it has set and other major notes regarding the show and update n the card
*The most complete look at the ratings for all the wrestling and MMA television shows of the past week, competition, demos, why ratings were up or down, as well as Netflix numbers for Unreal and Raw.
*MJF returns to Arena Mexico and coverage of Friday’s hwo
*Salvador Lutteroth talks his fan base and AEW
*TripleMania updates
*Five Star Grand Prix updates
*Hogan documentaries
*RevPro anniversary shows
*Bloodsport notes
*A change at Discovery that is major and how that affects AEW streaming as well as notes on the current streaming deal
*How much did WBD loss or gain by losing the NBA
*Lots of injury updates
*Notes on Dustin & Cody Rhodes
*Backstage stuff in AEW ande what is and isn’t real
*Who at this point isn’t at Forbidden Door
*Ticket sales for upcoming TNA, AEW and WWE shows over the next few months
*More notes on Zuffa Boxing run by Nick Khan and Dana White
*Peacock and WWE business
*How much is Dwayne Johnson’s WWE stock worth
*Karrion Kross and Scarlett contract update
*Raw ad rates on Netflix and comparisons to AEW on TBS
This Week’s Back Issue
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Thursday Update
WWE
- After reporting in July that WWE has discussed Omos having a run in Lucha Libre AAA, WrestleVotes notes that Omos could potentially make his AAA debut this Saturday at Triplemania.
- WWE Shop has a Microman shirt on sale ahead of Triplemania, indicating that he is likely returning to AAA.
- TMZ’s Hulk Hogan documentary averaged 1.004 million viewers on Fox on Tuesday night. In the 18-49 demo, the broadcast drew a 0.13 rating, which ranked ninth among all TV programming in prime time. WWE NXT was tied for second with a 0.17 rating.
- Brooke Hogan was spotted getting emotional on a walk in Orlando, Florida earlier this week, with TMZ writing that they were told “Brooke got emotional seeing the sunset … it reminded her of her father, and she was telling her husband how much Hulk would have loved it.”
- AdWeek notes that DoorDash is set to become a presenting sponsor of WWE Raw on Netflix:
- Regarding its offerings, the streamer’s ads leader said clients were looking forward to live programming, including WWE Raw, with Netflix partnering with DoorDash as the presenting sponsor for the new season.
- On Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Sheamus named some of the dream guests he’d like to have on his Celtic Warrior Workouts YouTube show:
- Roman [Reigns], obviously, would be a huge one. Rock obviously, Stone Cold. I tried to get Stone Cold during Mania, but I guess he just had knee surgery or something like that. But I want to start doing a lot of the legends now as well. I’d love to get Sting on there, or Taker. Taker keeps running away from me. He’s been scared of me his whole career, keeps calling me Stiffy all the time. Triple H, we talked about that. Stephanie McMahon, listen what really works for me if you guys absolutely spam their Twitter handles out of it and tell them you want to see them in Celtic Warrior Workouts, that makes my job so much easier if you guys just go out there, because then it helps me when I go to them and they agree. So spam them guys, spam the hell out of them.
- Seth Rollins was on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football this morning.
- The Miz guest hosted The Rich Eisen Show both yesterday and today.
- The Babyfaces Podcast interviewed Jade Cargill.
- Logan Paul uploaded a new vlog.
Other Wrestling
- Amateur wrestling legend Greg Wojciechowski – who competed in pro wrestling as “The Great Wojo” – has passed away at 73 years old.
- Tony Khan thanked everyone who watched last night’s AEW Dynamite, which ranked first on cable in the 18-49 demo: “Thank you all who made Wednesday Night #AEWDynamite on the Superstation @TBSNetwork the NUMBER ONE show on cable last night! AEW is having a tremendous 2025, thanks to the incredible AEW wrestlers, company staff, + you all watching the shows! See you at #AEWCollision Saturday!”
- In addition to tonight’s episode on Honor Club, ROH will be airing a special YouTube episode tomorrow (August 15) at 7 p.m. Eastern time.
- TNA wrestler KC Navarro shared that surgery to repair his torn ACL was a success: “Just to Update Everyone; My surgery was a complete success! Now the road to recovery begins. Thank you for all the love thoughts and Prayers! Join me on my journey of recovery! I’ll need y’all more than ever LFG”
- Blue Panther vs. Chris Ridgeway and Persephone vs. Alexxis Falcon have been added to the card for RevPro’s Global Wars UK show that’s taking place in London on August 22.
- Volador Jr. will make his MLW debut at Fightland 2025 in North Richland Hills, Texas on September 13.
- Frankie Kazarian will compete for GCW in Los Angeles on September 20.
- Referee Rick Knox was the guest on AEW Unrestricted this week.
- Noelle Foley appeared on Saraya’s Rulebreakers podcast.
WOL: Hogan doc, NXT, PWH, BAT BITES, more!
Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Filthy Tom Lawlor is back today with tons to talk about including PAUL WALTER HAUSER YELLING AT BRYAN FOR SOMETHING HE DIDN’T DO, tons of health updates including Charles Robinson getting BITTEN BY A BAT, the Hulk TMZ doc, NXT, and tons more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
For subscribers: Tom Lawlor’s TMZ: The REAL Hulk Hogan report
“Filthy” Tom Lawlor’s report on TMZ: The REAL Hulk Hogan, which aired Tuesday night on Fox is available now for subscribers.
Vince McMahon says he was ‘angry’ following Hulk Hogan’s last WWE Raw appearance
Vince McMahon wasn’t happy about Hulk Hogan’s appearance on Raw this year.
In an interview with TMZ that aired on Tuesday, the ex-WWE Chairman recalled the segment that took place earlier this year in Los Angeles in which Hogan was booed while promoting his Real American Beer brand. McMahon felt that the segment wasn’t set up properly.
“I was angry because we’ve known each other for a lifetime, professionally and personally. And setting up, so to speak, this larger than life superhero, you don’t just let him walk out there. He deserved something very, very special. More than anyone, they owe him. It’s just like, okay, here comes Hulk Hogan. I got angry because that’s not the way I would have done it and he deserved much more,” he said.
In February, Hogan claimed that he expected to get booed that night. But in an interview after his death, longtime manager Jimmy Hart recalled that Hogan was ‘devastated’ by the reaction and pinned it on his appearance at the Republican National Convention last year.
McMahon was featured prominently in the documentary on Tuesday, talking not only about his reaction to the news of Hogan’s death but also defended WWE’s decision to bring him back despite a leaked sex tape that saw Hogan use racist language.
Vince McMahon on Hulk Hogan: ‘He wasn’t a racist. He said some racist things’
Vince McMahon doesn’t feel Hulk Hogan was racist.
In an interview with TMZ that aired on Fox Tuesday, McMahon recounted when a Hulk Hogan sex tape resurfaced in 2015 featuring racist language from the WWE Hall of Famer, including Hogan saying he was a racist “to a point.”
“It was unforgivable, and I was like, aghast. What happened? And when those things occourred, that’s not like him. What is God’s name is going on? As soon as it happened obviously, the company didn’t have anything to do with him anymore. We took him out of the Hall of Fame. You just don’t do those things,” he said.
Despite this, Hogan was welcomed back into the WWE in 2018 and continued his relationship with the company through his death last month. McMahon defended the decision during the interview.
“I knew he wasn’t a racist, I’ve been with him for so many years,” he said. “He wasn’t a racist. He said some racist things, and he should pay for that, and he did. But in the end, I think everyone saw the real Hulk Hogan, Terry Bollea, and they felt, well wait a minute, this guy, he doesn’t act like a racist. He’s not a racist. We all make mistakes. That was a big one, but he wasn’t a racist.”
The interview is the first McMahon has given publicly since his resignation from TKO in January of last year following a lawsuit that accused him of sexual assault and trafficking.
Vince McMahon on Hulk Hogan’s passing: ‘It was a blow to my heart’
Vince McMahon had nothing but positive things to say about Hulk Hogan.
In an interview with TMZ that aired on Fox Tuesday, McMahon said he was shocked when he learned Hogan died last month from cardiac arrest, comparing it to the death of a family member or loved one.
“You just don’t think about someone, a family member or someone that close to you, you don’t think about them passing away. Terry had kicked out, so to speak, of so many surgeries…and, you know, he overcame that. It was a tremendous shock. It was a blow to my heart.”
The on-air interview was the first McMahon has given since January of 2024, when he resigned from TKO amid fallout from a lawsuit filed accusing him of sexual assault and trafficking. When Hogan passed away, McMahon issued a short statement on social media, writing that “the world lost a treasure today.”
McMahon picked Hogan to lead the company upon his global expansion of the WWE in 1984. Hogan would go on to be one of the biggest mainstream stars of the modern era, becoming a huge drawing card not only in the WWE, but later in the 1990s when he joined WCW and became the leader of the New World Order stable.
Vince McMahon featured in trailer for TMZ Hulk Hogan documentary
TMZ’s documentary on Hulk Hogan airs tonight, and Vince McMahon is featured in a new trailer for the show.
TMZ Presents: The Real Hulk Hogan premieres on Fox at 8 p.m. Eastern time and will be available on Hulu beginning Wednesday, August 13. Advertised to take part in the documentary are McMahon, Jimmy Hart, Sylvester Stallone, Mick Foley, Goldberg, Mark Henry, Charlotte Flair, Jacob Fatu, and Alexa Bliss.
McMahon’s appearance in the documentary is teased in a new trailer released today.
“It was a tremendous shock. It was a blow to my heart,” McMahon can be heard saying in the trailer.
Our own Dave Meltzer was interviewed for the project, but does not expect to be in the final product. He addressed his participation in the documentary during last night’s edition of Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez.
“Fox is doing their thing tomorrow night and we’ll see how that one goes,” Meltzer said.
“Is that the one where that you didn’t think they liked any of your answers?” Alvarez asked.
“Yeah. They have not advertised me and I haven’t heard from them since,” Meltzer responded.
The trailer for TMZ Presents: The Real Hulk Hogan is available below:
WOR: UFC deal, Hogan, Kross, WWE vs. AEW, RAW
Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about as we discuss the new UFC deal, ESPN and FOX also doing a bundle merger, updates on Bret Hart and Hulk Hogan and Karrion Kross, more WWE vs. AEW head-to-head battles, TripleMania, ratings, RAW report with some horrible finishes, and more! A fun show as always so check it out~!
Timestamps:
Start: TKO signs new Paramount deal for UFC
17:48: Hulk Hogan’s birthday, WWE’s version of history vs. reality
25:17: Bret Hart unhappy about SummerSlam incident, Karrion Kross update
30:04: WWE adding Cena vs. Lesnar PLE same day as AEW All Out, AEW going head-to-head with NXT in October
38:29: AAA Triplemania lineup
45:02: Ratings
46:16: Naomi not medically cleared to compete, Raw recap
WOR: ESPN & WWE PLE deal, Brock, Kross & more news
Dave Meltzer and Garrett Gonzales are back with the Friday edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, talking about all the big news from today’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Here were some of the things the guys discussed:
- WWE’s PLE deal with ESPN
- Dave’s story on Brock Lesnar and TKO
- Jonathan Gresham
- Karrion Kross
- TNT Sports streaming service
- Hulk Hogan conning Brooke Hogan
Click here to listen (sub needed) or watch on YouTube
Daily Update: John Cena, Brooke Hogan, Colby Corino
Daily Update
Latest Headlines
- Peacock’s WWE PLE bid, separate WrestleMania deal was being explored
- Former AEW & WWE wrestler says he’s ‘pretty much’ retired
- New subscribers sale! 50% off first month
- Roman Reigns WWE schedule update
- Subscribe on YouTube, Apple & Spotify for $9.99/month
- Natalya challenging for gold at AAA Triplemania
- AEW star Buddy Matthews undergoing surgery
- Gunther on fame: ‘I would love nobody to know me’
- Update on ESPN streaming service availability for cable & satellite users
- CM Punk WWE UK tour matches set
Latest Audio
- WOL: MVP story, more ESPN details, Cena’s last match
- WOR: WWE & ESPN deal, AEW Dynamite and NXT recaps, Brooke & Hulk Hogan relationship
- AD: Philip J. Senter, The Real Story of Dinosaurs and Dragons
Latest YouTube Video
This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Among the topics covered:
*More on the death of Hulk Hogan
*The ugliness of the aftermath of the death
*An article talking about the aftermath of the death
*Those close to him talk about his death
*Those not remotely close to him get harassed about his death
*Documentaries coming on Hogan
*A look at the biggest names in history when it comes to drawing and how Hogan compares with them domestically and internationally
*Hogan’s WWF peak
*WWF business under Hogan and Austin
*Hogan’s live show magic
*The Andre match on NBC
*Gorgeous George, The Rock, Sammartino, Londos, Rikidozan and Santo
*Wrestling in the U.S. pre-Hogan and the myths that have been created
*Hogan vs. Londos
*Hogan’s family talks
*SummerSlam story and interest levels
*WWE, AAA and CMLL in Mexico this past week
*Lots on WWE’s plans for AAA
*TripleMania thoughts
*Alberto, Dominik, Vikingo and Grende Americano in Mexico
*A classic match at Arena Mexico with Neon vs. Mascara Dorada
*Update on the G-1 Climax tournament
*The life and times of Gerry Morrow, a Canadian wrestling journeyman who is one of the most underrated inflential wrestler of the st 40 years with comments by those he inflenced
*Conor McGregor’s appeal of the sexual assault civil cse
*The most detailed look at the ratings for all the TV wrestling shows
*MJF to Arena Mexico
*Five Star Grand Prix opens up
*The Hogan vs. Andre match that never happened
*Santo and Fuerza Guerrera retirement show notes
*The first major ethnic draw in the U.S.
*TNA looking for new TV deal
*Will Ospreay update
*Forbidden Door update
*Details of the WBD split
*Tony Khan has already made belts for a new title
*Tag team tournament AEW update
*TKO Boxing notes
*Update on ringboys lawsuit against the McMahons and WWE
*Vince McMahon auto accident details
*Levesque and Trump
*Thoughts on WWE Unreal
*An original Mania show
*Cody Rhodes on Bill Simmons
*Lots of notes on the WWE tryouts this week
This Week’s Back Issue
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Thursday Update
WWE
- John Cena spoke to People magazine about how grateful he is for his connection to the Make-A-Wish Foundation:
- I’m so grateful for the time I’ve been able to spend on Make-A-Wish. I’m even more grateful that my fellow [WWE] Superstars, my coworkers, my colleagues, now look at it as an aspirational thing.
- Because they’re only going to want to meet John Cena for a little bit. And the reason I just drop what I’m doing in that environment to do whatever I can is because the experience can truly make a difference – to talk with the families just like I’m talking to you right now, you get to kit them up for the night, you get to give them stuff that, like I came to see this person, well here’s all the stuff I have.
- And with me, it’s a great lineup because it’s my ring gear. I’m not giving them like a T-shirt that looks like me in wrestling tights. I’m like, ‘Hey, this is the stuff I’m going to wear. Here, here you go.’
- And then I’ll ask them for advice. They’ll be like, ‘Oh, you should do this move.’ And I’ll just go put it in the match, because we’re entertainment. I think that’s the absolute magic of sports entertainment. No one in the audience knows that that young person was like, ‘Hey, I want you to do this move.’ And it will seamlessly be put into the performance, but it will affect both of us on a plane that’s indescribable.
- On Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Ivy Nile discussed how much she admires Chad Gable as a performer:
- Chad has been in this business for so, so long. When I first started with the company, I kind of started unlike anyone else. I started three months before COVID hit, and then I was in the COVID era as one of those people in the audience behind the hockey windows, or whatever. So I was one of those people always there cheering and whatever. And at the time, you know, he was Shorty G at the time. It was crazy to see his growth from there, because I’ve always admired him since then, because it’s crazy no matter what you give him, he kills it. So I think once you get to that level of whatever they throw at you, they know that you can kill it and run with it. It’s such an amazing skill to have that. I aspire to be that.”
- TMZ interviewed Brooke Hogan about her father Hulk Hogan’s passing.
- In a post to her Instagram stories, Brooke offered to personally pay for an autopsy to be performed given the questions she has about her father’s death:
- I’m glad to see that my dad has not been cremated and that [Hogan’s wife] Sky is waiting because of family questions. With all of the speculation and uncertainty of my dad’s death, I want to personally offer to pay for an autopsy if that’s what it takes to get it done. My dad’s dignity and legacy deserves it
- Billboard published an interview with Dominik Mysterio.
- Logan Paul uploaded a new episode of his vlog.
- Jelly Roll gave a motivational speech to the Tennessee Titans as they prepare for the upcoming NFL season.
Other Wrestling
- Mercedes Mone has a vlog documenting her recent trip to Vienna, Austria.
- Renee Paquette interviewed Blake Christian & Lee Johnson on a new episode of AEW Close Up.
- The Grizzled Young Veterans were the guests on AEW Unrestricted this week.
- AEW wished Kris Statlander a happy 30th birthday.
- The Battleground podcast interviewed Moose & AJ Francis.
- Colby Corino thanked everyone who has donated to his GoFundMe campaign, which has raised more than $15,000 so far to benefit him in his recovery from emergency neck/spine surgery:
- I really want to thank everyone who has reached out/donated to my GFM in the past week. I’ve been trying to get back to everyone individually, but the (positively) overwhelming support and love everyone has shown me has been, well, overwhelming, in a good way though.
- For those who don’t know, I had to undergo emergency neck/spine surgery last Thursday. It was probably the scariest thing I’ve ever had to deal with and I never anticipated something like this would happen, especially so suddenly. The scariest part is I probably wouldn’t have even gone to the hospital if it wasn’t for @ariana.corino making me go when she noticed I had difficulty walking after using a massage gun on my neck one night.
- But after 5 nights in the hospital, a hair and beard cut, and picking up my old man walker, I am finally home!
- I have no idea how long I’ll be out for, even the shortest estimates place my return to the ring far on the horizon, but at least I will be able to take it one day at a time at home with my wife, son, and our animals.
- Given that wrestling was our family’s primary source of income, you’ll probably be seeing me post merch for sale very soon, but if you’d like to donate to the GFM set up by @sean_henderson_w (who deserves a post all to himself), I’ll post that in the comments
- Thank you everyone who’s shown me love this past week. It really has helped me accept this situation and focus on my recovery and moving on to becoming the strongest I’ve ever been.
- No roadblock is big enough to keep me out of a ring. It’s just a matter of time
- Tomohiro Ishii will face off against Jay Joshua at Revolution Pro Wrestling’s Global Wars UK event on August 22.
- Julia Hart & Skye Blue vs. Millie McKenzie & Safire Reed has been announced for Pro Wrestling Eve’s show in London on August 23.
- Raven announced that his documentary “Nevermore: The Raven Effect” will have its first screening in Lexington, Massachusetts on August 23: “The documentary will be released over the next couple months playing in select theaters first and then streaming or video on demand. First screening Aug 23 in Boston.”
- WrestlingNewsCo has an interview with Lisa Marie Varon (former WWE wrestler Victoria).
WOR: WWE & ESPN deal, AEW Dynamite and NXT recaps, Brooke & Hulk Hogan relationship
Image: AEW
Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including all the details on the new WWE and ESPN deal, how much it’s worth, what will be changing, etc. Plus, the Hogan funeral, Brooke’s comments on her dad, AEW and NXT TV reports and tons more! A packed show as always so check it out~!
Timestamps:
Start: ESPN to air WWE PLEs in United States starting next year
15:20: TKO Q2 report
24:19: Hulk Hogan’s funeral held, Brooke Hogan on Bubba the Love Sponge
38:42: Fightful report on MVP/Hurt Syndicate, Karrion Kross update
43:27: Ratings
52:25: AEW Dynamite recap
1:17:52: WWE NXT notes
Brooke Hogan explains why she didn’t attend Hulk Hogan’s funeral
On the day of Hulk Hogan’s funeral, Brooke Hogan chose to honor her father in a more private way.
Hogan’s funeral took place in his home city of Clearwater, Florida on Tuesday. Vince McMahon, Paul “Triple H” Levesque, Stephanie McMahon, Ric Flair, Kid Rock, Hogan’s wife Sky Daily, and his ex-wife Linda Hogan were among the people who were there. Brooke did not attend, instead honoring her father with a visit to the beach.
The beach was a place Hogan loved, and he passed that love of the ocean down to Brooke. She now hopes to pass it down to her own children. Brooke shared photos on Instagram with her husband Steven Oleksy and their twins Molly and Oliver at the beach honoring Hogan.
“My father hated the morbidity of funerals. He didn’t want one,” she wrote. “And although I know people grieve in many ways – and I’m so grateful for all celebrations and events organized to honor him, as his daughter, I had to make my own decision to honor him the best and most genuine way I knew how…privately…the way that made me feel the closest to him. The only thing missing today was him in is pop up lawn chair watching the waves… and the sunset.
“Daddy, we honored you in the simplest way that agreed with my soul. We took our babies to the beach, and put them in the same salty waters you loved. Molly loved the water. I think she’ll be a ‘little fish’ as you called me. We love you and honor the things that made you so special. Every grain of sand and every wave reminded me of being your beach baby, and brought us closer to you. I pray you are at peace and know how dearly I love you. Rest in heaven, Daddy.”
Brooke also did not attend WWE’s televised tributes to Hogan, which Brooke says she was not invited to. She and her father were estranged at the time of his death, but Brooke expressed that she always loved Hogan despite their strained relationship. The last time they spoke was in 2023.
While appearing on the Bubba the Love Sponge Show on Tuesday morning, Brooke discussed her father’s passing and explained why she chose to be removed from his will, citing fear of Hogan’s wife’s connection to Scientology as one of the reasons that she didn’t want to be involved in a fight over his estate.
Hogan died at 71 years old on July 24 with a heart attack being ruled as the official cause of death. He had been experiencing complications from a neck surgery that he underwent in May.