Browsing: Death

Devon “Hannibal†Nicholson recently slammed Ric Flair online after Flair falsely claimed during a paid podcast appearance that Hulk Hogan had died from “street club drugs.†Hannibal accused Flair of knowingly spreading a fabricated story and trying to hide behind a weak apology once people called him out.

Hannibal said Flair openly admitted during the podcast that he “shouldnâ€t say this†before still making the false claim that Hogan had died, and then tried to soften the fallout when confronted. Hannibal described Flair as someone who invents stories for attention and money, specifically pointing to Flairâ€s false claim about being present the night Bruiser Brody was murdered. Hannibal criticized Flairâ€s apology to Hoganâ€s camp and said Flair was simply attempting to avoid legal consequences.

“In other words, letâ€s not dwell on my lies. Donâ€t sue me.â€

He also pointed out that Flairâ€s habit of embellishing stories stretches back years, noting previous shoot interviews where Flair falsely claimed he witnessed Brodyâ€s death firsthand.

“Not only does he lie saying that he was there when Brody was killed, which he wasnâ€t, but he said that Brody had put Invader in the hospital for a whole month just before that.â€

Hannibal accused Flair of rewriting real events for personal gain and attention, reaffirming his belief that Flair “lies constantly†in public-facing interviews.

Thatâ€s where todayâ€s update comes in. On November 7, 2025, Flair fired back—aggressively. Instead of clarifying anything or addressing Hannibalâ€s accusations, Flair posted a scathing message publicly mocking him:

“Iâ€m Sorry Hannibal Or Whatever The F Your Name Is Because No One Cares And No One Ever Will. Someone Sent Me This, And I Thought I Would Give You A Clue About How Youâ€re Perceived By The General Public. These Are Not My Words, These Are Comments About Your Laughable Opportunity To Be Anything But Full Of Shit. I Actually Have More Information, But Iâ€ll Save You From The Embarrassment. Have A Great Weekend; Hope Youâ€re Watching Football Like I Am. FYI- 2,000 Followers, Youâ€re Such A Stud!â€

Attached to Flairâ€s post was a message describing Hannibal as someone who has never reached the status he seeks in wrestling. It positioned Flair as a generational industry figure whose presence transcends wrestling circles, while portraying Hannibal as a grinder who never rose above mid‑level notoriety. The attached write‑up stated:

“Ric Flair didnâ€t just become a star — he became the standard, a global icon… immortalized as a cornerstone of the business, while Nicholson is still fighting to earn a seat at a table Flair built.â€

So instead of responding to accusations about false death claims or alleged storytelling fabrications, Flair shifted directly to belittling Hannibal, his career stature, and even his follower count. Flair made sure the message was clear: he considers Hannibal irrelevant and unworthy of acknowledgment—aside from this purposefully humiliating response. Whether this strategy quiets the criticism or fuels it remains to be seen.

What do you think about Ric Flair firing back at Hannibal? Did he shut things down, or did the message come across as deflective and petty? Share your thoughts below and let us know how you see this feud escalating.

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SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)…

SUMMARY of #890 cover-dated December 10, 2005: This edition includes multiple perspectives, proposals, and analysis related to the death of Eddie Guerrero and the chances it should prompt in the industry. Bruce Mitchell’s feature column, titled “March 2006,” looks at the industry reaction to drug problems and why even since Guerrero’s death, there have been more strong signs that action is needed on the part of the industry leaders. Wade Keller’s feature column looks at how Ric Flair and Michael Hayes are walking examples of why major changes are needed in the industry… In part three of the “Torch Talk” with Sean Waltman, he addresses the issue of mandatory time off to save wrestlers’ lives and families, and also talks about his recent relapse… Pat McNeill’s feature column takes a practical look at mandatory time off for wrestlers, and how WWE is moving in the opposite direction to make it possible… Jason Powell’s feature column commends those close to Guerrero who took part in the tribute show… James Caldwell reviews Bret Hart’s DVD… Backtrack looks at a major uprising of wrestlers in WWE ten years ago… The Cover Story examines Ric Flair’s embarrassing past two weeks… Plus the Top Five Stories of the Week, TNA Newswire (including Dixie Carter’s oblivious reaction to questions about drug in TNA), WWE Newswire (including Kurt Angle addressing rumors regarding his health), ETC. Newswire, The Top Five Stories of the Week, and more…

–DIRECT LINK: PWTorchNewsletter #890

–LIST OF ALL 2005 BACK ISSUES

–TUTORIAL ON DISPLAYING NEWSLETTER PDFS ON IPAD OR ANDROID TABLET

FULL NEWSLETTER TEXT AND PDF VERSIONS AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY TO VIP MEMBERS…

NOT VIP? NO PROBLEM… CLICK HERE FOR VIP SIGN UP INFO WITH DIGITAL PDF & TEXT NEWSLETTER ACCESS

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The groups for the FIFA World Cup 2026 were announced last night. Here, we will discuss which team went into which group, some group stage matches to look out for, and which group could be considered the ‘group of death.â€

While only 32 teams competed in the competition up until its last edition in 2022, this time around, the competition has been expanded to 48 teams. Not only does it mean a wave of new teams qualifying, some of them for the first time, but it also means an increase in the number of groups.

In 2022, the qualified teams were divided into eight groups of four teams each, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the round of 16. However, this time, the division will be in 12 groups of four teams each. While the top two will still make it to the knockouts, eight third-placed teams will also make it to the round of 32.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 draw, the event where the groups were decided, was held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. The ceremony lasted for well over two hours and was way too long, seeing that the draw didnâ€t even start until well over an hour into the event.

However, the proceedings started when four legends of North American sports came out for the draw. NFL legend Tom Brady drew from Pot 1, Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille Oâ€Neal drew from Pot 2, baseball star Aaron Judge drew from Pot 3, and FHL icon Wayne Gretzky pulled the names out from Pot 4.

Pot 1 consisted of the top nine FIFA-ranked teams in the competition, plus the three hosts—Canada, Mexico, and the USA. Pot two consisted of teams ranked 10-21, pot 3 had teams ranked from 22 to 33, and pot 4 had the 12 lowest-ranked teams in this tournament.

However, before the drawing even started, the national leaders of all three host nations, those being US President Donald Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Prado, drew out their respective nations.

It must also be noted that while the FIFA World Cup 2026 will have 48 teams, only 42 nations have confirmed their qualification so far. The final six teams, four from Europe and two from the rest of the world, will play their final qualification matches in March 2026.

At the end of the two-hour-long ceremony, we had our 12 groups, which are as follows.

2026 FIFA World Cup Groups

Group A

Group A consists of the host nation, Mexico, from Pot 1, South Korea from Pot 2, South Africa from Pot 3, and the winner of UEFA Path D, which will be either the Czech Republic, Ireland, Denmark, or North Macedonia.

The first match of the tournament, played on June 11, 2026, will see Mexico take on South Africa in Mexico City. While Mexico and South Korea regularly qualify for the World Cup, this is only the second time South Africa will play in this competition, having hosted the competition in 2010.

South Korea is arguably the most successful Asian team in FIFA World Cup history, becoming the first team from its continent to make it to the semis in 2002. And lastly, from the UEFA Path D qualifier teams, Denmark has qualified for all but two World Cups since 1998, the Czech Republic has not qualified for one since 2006, Ireland has not made it to one since 2002, and North Macedonia will be looking to qualify for the first time.

Mexico vs. South Korea is the match to watch from this group.

Group A Teams: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, UEFA Path D winner (Czech Republic/Ireland/Denmark/North Macedonia)

Group B

Group B consists of the host nation, Canada, from Pot 1; Switzerland from Pot 2; Qatar from Pot 3; and the winner of UEFA Path A, which will be either Wales, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, or Northern Ireland from Pot 4.

Canada will be playing in the FIFA World Cup for the third time. They also had a decent showing in 2022. Qatar, after becoming the worst-performing host last time around, will be looking for redemption in their second World Cup campaign. Meanwhile, Switzerland is a regular qualifier for this competition, having even made it to the knockouts on multiple occasions.

Finally, the qualifier consists of teams of varying quality. Italy is a four-time World Champion but has not qualified for the last two tournaments. While they are the favourites here, the qualification has been quite poor for them. Bosnia and Herzegovina last played in the competition in 2014, while Wales played in 2022. Northern Ireland has never qualified for the World Cup.

Canada vs. Switzerland, and the potential Switzerland vs. Italy match will be the games to watch in this group.

Group B Teams: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, UEFA Path A winner (Italy/Bosnia and Herzegovina/Wales/Northern Ireland)

Group C

Group C is the first group with no qualification drama remaining. From Pot 1, Brazil was drawn into this group; from Pot 2, it was Morocco. Scotland made it to this group from Pot 3, while Haiti did so from Pot 4.

Brazil is the most successful team in FIFA World Cup history, having won the competition five times. Morocco rocked the world in 2022, becoming the first African team to qualify for the World Cup semi-final.

Scotland qualified in 2022 as well, but became the first team to be eliminated from the tournament. Lastly, Haiti has qualified for the first time since 1974.

Brazil vs. Morocco will be the match to watch from this group.

Group C Teams: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti

Group D

Group D saw the final host nation, the United States of America, be drawn from Pot 1. From Pot 2, it was Australia who made it. Paraguay is the Pot 3 team in this group, while the UEFA Path C winner, which will be either Slovakia, Kosovo, Türkiye, or Romania, will make it from Pot 4.

The USA and Australia regularly qualify for World Cups, and both of them even made it to the Round of 16 in 2022. Paraguay, on the other hand, has qualified for this tournament for the first time since 2010, when they made it to the quarterfinals.

Finally, of the four UEFA Path C teams, Romania last played in a World Cup in 1998, Türkiye in 2002, and Slovakia in 2010. Kosovo has never even qualified.

The USA vs. Australia will be the most high-profile game in this group. Meanwhile, if Türkiye qualifies, they will have a massive game against the United States as well.

Group D Teams: USA, Australia, Paraguay, UEFA Path C winner (Slovakia, Kosovo, Türkiye, Romania)

Group E

Group D consists of the mighty Germany from Pot 1, Ecuador from Pot 2, the Ivory Coast from Pot 3, and Curacao from Pot 4.

Germany is the most prolific European nation in the history of the FIFA World Cup, having won the competition on four occasions, with the last being in 2014. However, they have not made it out of the group stage since. Ecuador had an excellent qualifying for this World Cup, having finished second in the CONMEBOL qualifiers, just behind Argentina. Then there is the Ivory Coast, which has qualified for the first time since 2014.

Then there is Curacao. The Caribbean island nation has become the smallest country by population and area to have ever qualified for the Menâ€s FIFA World Cup. With an estimated population of 160000, over half of this country can sit inside the MetLife Stadium, the location of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final.

Germany vs. Ecuador is the match to watch here. Although Germany will be the heavy favourite.

Group E Teams: Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curacao

Group F

Group F consists of the Netherlands from Pot 1, Asian giants Japan from Pot 2, Tunisia from Pot 3, and the winner of UEFA Path B, which will be one of Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, and Albania, from Pot 4.

The Netherlands might be the most successful team in FIFA World Cup history to have never won the competition. They have been to the final thrice, the last being in 2010. This is Japanâ€s eighth consecutive World Cup qualification. Meanwhile, Tunisia has made it to this competition for the third time in a row and has an opportunity to make it to the playoffs for the first time.

From the UEFA Path B, Poland regularly qualifies for the World Cup, and so does Sweden. However, the latter did not make it in 2022. Ukraine, in the middle of a war against Russia, might just qualify for the second time in its history and the first time since 2006. Finally, there is Albania, which has never made it to the World Cup.

Netherlands vs. Japan will be the match to watch here.

Group F Teams: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, UEFA Path B winner (Ukraine/Sweden/Poland/Albania)

Group G

Group G is a strong one, consisting of Belgium from Pot 1, Iran from Pot 2, Egypt from Pot 3, and New Zealand from Pot 4.

Belgium, for a long time in the 2010s, was the highest-ranked FIFA team in the world, making several runs into the playoffs this century. Iran, on the other hand, has never made it past the group stage despite several World Cup campaigns.

Egypt, despite first appearing in the World Cup in 1934, has only qualified for the fourth time. And lastly, due to the team expansion, New Zealand has booked the first-ever confirmed Oceania spot in the World Cup.

Belgium vs. Iran and Egypt vs. Belgium will be the games to watch here.

Group G Teams: Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand

Group H

Group H has a claim of being the Group of Death. It consists of the World No. 1-ranked FIFA team and the defending European Champions, Spain, from Pot 1, Uruguay from Pot 2, Saudi Arabia from Pot 3, and Cape Verde from Pot 4.

Spain is arguably the best national football team in the world at the moment. Ranked number one, they had an unbeaten campaign in the 2024 UEFA Euros, winning the tournament with relative ease. They are also former FIFA World Cup winners, winning the competition in 2010. Uruguay is a two-time World Cup winner, winning the first-ever edition in 1930.

Saudi Arabia, despite not making it out of the group stage in 2022, was the only team in that tournament that defeated the eventual champions, Argentina. And finally, there is Cape Verde. The small island nation off the western coast of Africa qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time.

Spain vs. Uruguay will not only be THE match to watch from this group but will also be one of the biggest games in the group stages of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Group H Teams: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde

Group I

Group I is yet another one that can be considered the Group of Death. From Pot 1, France made it, while from Pot 2, it was Senegal. Norway was the Pot 3 team to be drawn into this group, and the Pot 4 spot will be filled by the winner of the Inter-confederation Path 2, which will be either Iraq, Bolivia, or Suriname.

France is a two-time FIFA World Cup champion. This team won the competition in 2018 and then made it to the final in 2022, where they lost in an all-time classic match to Argentina. Then there is Senegal, which will look to make it to the playoffs for a second campaign in a row.

What makes a group exciting is the drawing of Norway. This means that two of the best players in the world, Kylian Mbappe of France and Erling Haaland of Norway, will collide on the grandest stage of football. The Norwegians have made it to the World Cup for the first time since 1998. Lastly, the IC Path 2 teams have not played a World Cup game this century. Iraq last played in the 1986 edition, Bolivia in 1994, and Suriname, despite qualifying in 1990 for their one and only time, withdrew before the tournament started.

France vs. Norway is the biggest match from this group and also one of the most looked-forward-to group stage games from this World Cup.

Group I Teams: France, Senegal, Norway, IC Path 2 winner (Iraq/Bolivia/Suriname)

Group J

This is the group where defending champions Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, will play.  The Albiceleste are the Pot 1 team in this group, while Austria is here from Pot 2, Algeria is the Pot 3 side, and Jordan is from Pot 4.

Argentina, after a sensational campaign, won the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The three-time World Cup winners have also won the last two Copa America titles, the most recent one having been played in the USA. On the other hand, Austria was a football superpower in the 1930s-50s. However, they have not qualified for this competition since 1998.

Algeria, despite being one of the best African national teams, has not qualified for the World Cup since 2014. And finally, Jordan, a team that was ranked 117th in 2018, 20 places below India at that point, has now qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026.

While Argentina is expected to win this group with relative ease, the likes of Austria and Algeria might provide interesting match-ups.

Group J Teams: Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan

Group K

Group K consists of Cristiano Ronaldoâ€s Portugal from Pot 1, Colombia from Pot 2, Uzbekistan from Pot 3, and the winner of the Inter-confederation Path 1, which will be either DR Congo, Jamaica, or New Caledonia, from Pot 4.

Portugal, despite being one of the best teams in world football, has never won the FIFA World Cup, not even under the highest goalscorer in football history, Cristiano Ronaldo. Meanwhile, Colombia made it to the knockouts in consecutive campaigns in 2014 and 2018 before missing out on the World Cup in 2022. Uzbekistan, like a few other teams in the FIFA World Cup 2026, has qualified for this competition for the first time.

Then we come to the Inter-confederation Path 1 teams. While DR Congo has never qualified for the World Cup, it did so as Zaire in 1974, the former name of this nation. Jamaica, on the other hand, did qualify for 1998. Meanwhile, New Caledonia wasnâ€t even a member nation of FIFA till 2006.

Portugal vs. Colombia will be the game to watch from this group.

Group K Teams: Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, IC Path 1 winner (DR Congo, Jamaica, New Caledonia)

Group L

The final group of the FIFA World Cup 2026 consists of England from Pot 1, Croatia from Pot 2, Panama from Pot 3, and Ghana from Pot 4.

England is one of the highest-ranked teams in world football. However, despite consistent performances in international competitions over the past decade, this team has not won an international trophy this century, winning their one and only FIFA World Cup in 1966, exactly 60 years before this edition. The Three Lions will go up against Croatia in this group, which will be a rematch of the semifinal from the 2018 World Cup. The Croatians have made it to the semi-finals in the last two World Cups, making it all the way to the final in 2018.

Panama has had a rapid rise in world football over the last few years. They first qualified for the competition in 2018 and look to make it to the playoffs for the first time in 2026. And finally, Ghana, which has qualified for four out of the last five World Cups, even making it to the quarterfinals in 2010 and was just inches away from a place in the semis.

England vs. Croatia is the match to watch from this group.

Group L Teams: England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana

FAQs

Q) In which group of the FIFA World Cup 2026 is Lionel Messiâ€s Argentina?

A)Defending champions Argentina is in Group J of the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Algeria, Austria, and Jordan.

Q) Which group will Cristiano Ronaldoâ€s Portugal play in the FIFA World Cup 2026?

A) Cristiano Ronaldoâ€s Portugal will be in Group K at the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Colombia, Uzbekistan, and the winner of the Inter-confederation Path 1, which will be either DR Congo, Jamaica, or New Caledonia.

Q) Which is the ‘Group of Death†in the FIFA World Cup 2026?

A)The ‘Group of Death†is a group in any round-robin competition where multiple top teams are placed. And with all the teams being relatively close in quality, it is difficult to predict the teams that will thrive in that group.

In the 2026 FIFA World Cup, due to a wider spread of teams, and seeing that most groups will have three nations make it to the round of 32, it is difficult to ascertain one clear ‘Group of Death.â€

However, three groups can stake the claim of being the ‘Group of Death’ in this World Cup. First is Group H, which consists of Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, and Cape Verde. Group I is even tighter, seeing France, Senegal, Norway, and either Iraq, Bolivia, or Suriname battle it out. Then there is group L, which consists of a stacked list of countries, namely England, Croatia, Ghana, and Panama.

Q) Are Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland in the same group in the FIFA World Cup 2026?

A)Yes! Kylian Mbappeâ€s France and Erling Haalandâ€s Norway are in the same group in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The two giants of world football will finally face off on the biggest stage in the world.

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Welcome to Wrestling Inc.’s live coverage for “AEW Dynamite” on December 3, 2025, coming to you live from the Fishers Event Center in Fishers, Indiana!

Babes of Wrath’s Harley Cameron and Willow Nightingale will be finding out who will be facing them in the finals of the AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship Tournament tonight, as Timeless Love Bombs’ Toni Storm and Mina Shirakawa go head-to-head with Megan Bayne and Marina Shafir in a semifinals Hardcore Holiday Death Match. Storm and Shirakawa earned the right to choose the stipulation for tonight’s match at AEW Full Gear on November 22 when they defeated Bayne and Shafir, Babes of Wrath, and Sisters of Sin in a Four Corners Match.

The 2025 Continental Classic is set to continue tonight, as Kyle Fletcher of The Don Callis Family will be squaring off with Kevin Knight, while Fletcher’s stablemate and Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada will be going one-on-one on PAC in a pair of Gold League Matches and PAC’s Death Rider stablemates Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli will be colliding with one another in a Blue League Match. Fletcher, PAC, and Knight are currently leading the Gold League with three points each, while Moxley, Castagnoli, and IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Konosuke Takeshita are tied for first in the Blue League with three points apiece.

Additionally, titleholder Samoa Joe of The Opps and Eddie Kingston will be meeting one another ahead of their AEW World Championship match at “AEW Dynamite” Winter Is Coming on December 10.

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Hulk Hoganâ€s family is denying Ric Flairâ€s claims regarding his death.

Hoganâ€s widow Sky told TMZ Sports on Monday that Flairâ€s allegations that street drugs caused his death were not true.

“That didnâ€t happen at all,†she said.

Sky said that Hogan was under constant care of Morton Plant Hospital in Florida, and the only changes to Hoganâ€s medicine came following his neck procedure to make sure whatever he was taking didnâ€t impact his lungs. TMZ additionally asked other family sources about Flairâ€s claim who also denied the allegations.

Flair claimed in a recent interview that Hoganâ€s death was due to “street drugs†he sought out after doctors stopped prescribing him medicine for pain. Flair later posted on social media said he was only repeating what he knew to be a fact through family members.

Hogan died on July 24, with his official cause of death being listed as a heart attack. It has been previously reported that Sky is looking to file a malpractice lawsuit against “at least one of [Hoganâ€s] doctors and others†over an operation that took place shortly before his passing.

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Bryan Rose is an editor from California that has been covering professional wrestling for well over a decade. He officially joined F4WOnline as an editor in 2017.

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Ric Flairâ€s dramatic claim that “street drugs†contributed to Hulk Hoganâ€s death has been the talk of the wrestling world—but now Hoganâ€s widow is stepping in to set the record straight.

TMZ Sports dropped the update: Sky Daily, Hulk Hoganâ€s wife, is calling Ric Flairâ€s claim not just incorrect, but flat-out false.

“That didnâ€t happen at all,†Sky told TMZ, responding directly to Flairâ€s statement that Hogan turned to street drugs after doctors allegedly stopped prescribing him pain meds.

All of this comes after Ric Flairâ€s now-walked-back comment that “street drugs killed Hulk Hogan.â€Â Flair later clarified, saying:

“There seems to be some controversy over my remarks that street drugs killed Hulk Hogan. I only was repeating what I know to be a fact through family members.â€

But according to Sky and two other family sources, not only was Flair wrong about the drugs — he also didnâ€t speak to Hogan the day before his death. Sky said Hogan was under constant care at Morton Plant Hospital in Florida and his medication was tightly monitored, especially after a recent neck surgery.

“Sky — who also denied Flair spoke to Hulk the day before his death — said the icon was under constant care of the Morton Plant Hospital in Florida, so Naitch had to have been either misinformed or misunderstood.â€

Two additional family sources backed Skyâ€s account, telling TMZ Sports that Flairâ€s version of events was completely untrue. None of them are angry with Flair, admitting he was one of Hoganâ€s closest friends—they simply want fans to know the truth.

The family isnâ€t pissed at Flair — they know he was one of Hoganâ€s close buddies and didnâ€t mean any harm with his words … but wanted to make it clear he got this one wrong.

This all follows a detailed account from radio personality Bubba the Love Sponge, who recently shared on his podcast that Hoganâ€s pain had become unmanageable outside of the hospital, leading to dangerous decisions in the face of tight opioid regulations. However, Skyâ€s statements now paint a different picture — one of careful hospital care, not unsupervised desperation.

The wrestling world has lost one of its biggest icons, but as stories continue to emerge, those closest to Hogan are doing their part to set the record straight.

What do you think about Sky Dailyâ€s response? Do you believe Ric Flair was misinformed or trying to protect a legacy? Share your thoughts and memories of Hulk Hogan below — letâ€s talk.

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Ric Flair has claimed that fellow WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan’s death could be a result of the illegal pain medication that he used.

Hogan, who passed away earlier this year due to a cardiac arrest, had undergone several surgeries over the last few years. In a recent appearance on “Doubl3 Coverage” podcast, Flair stated that Hogan was in tremendous pain and was taking pain medication. But, after doctors stopped prescribing the medication, Hogan reportedly bought “street drugs” to deal with his pain.

“I talked to him the day before he died,” he began. “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. Then he had a neck surgery and got infected. So back in the hospital, imagine 10 back surgeries, two knees, two hips, all this, and then when the doctor would not prescribe any more pain medicine, they just couldn’t do it, in all due 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.’ Sad.”

After the podcast aired, Flair issued a clarification on his social media, saying that he was only stating facts that had been told to him by Hogan’s family. He added that he did not want to demean Hogan with his comments, reiterating that he believes Hogan, along with Steve Austin, was the biggest star in pro wrestling history.

There Seems To Be Some Controversy Over My Remarks That Street Drugs Killed Hulk Hogan. 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… pic.twitter.com/bVIPTgZfGe

— Ric Flair® (@RicFlairNatrBoy) November 28, 2025

While the initial diagnosis regarding Hogan’s death was cardiac arrest, reports later revealed that “The Hulkster” was also battling cancer, which many have questioned, including Hogan’s daughter, Brooke. Since Hogan’s passing, there have been allegations of medical malpractice that allegedly contributed to his death. Hogan’s widow, Sky Daily, was also rumored to be pursuing a lawsuit against Hogan’s doctor over medical malpractice.Â

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SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)…

SUMMARY of #889 cover-dated December 3, 2005: The cover story looks at the increasing booing of John Cena by fans, how WWE is responding, how Cena is handling it, and why WWE is sticking with his as champion through it all… In part two of the Torch Talk with Sean “X-Pac” Waltman, he talks about the difficult decision he made to turn a friend in to Vince McMahon in order to save his life… Pat McNeill reviews ROH Glory by Honor IV… Sean Radican’s “ROH Focus” column looks at what ROH gains from many of its wrestlers working overseas… James Caldwell examines the parallels between Major League Baseball’s and WWE’s handling of the steroid issue… Wade Keller’s “End Notes” looks at whether the brand mixing leading to Survivor Series helped or hurt WWE… Plus WWE Newswire, TNA Newswire, Backtrack 1995, Quotebook, the Top Five Stories of the Week, in-depth Survivor Series coverage, and more…

–DIRECT LINK: PWTorchNewsletter #889

–LIST OF ALL 2005 BACK ISSUES

–TUTORIAL ON DISPLAYING NEWSLETTER PDFS ON IPAD OR ANDROID TABLET

FULL NEWSLETTER TEXT AND PDF VERSIONS AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY TO VIP MEMBERS…

NOT VIP? NO PROBLEM… CLICK HERE FOR VIP SIGN UP INFO WITH DIGITAL PDF & TEXT NEWSLETTER ACCESS

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Nov 29, 2025, 12:06 AM ET

DALLAS — Utah Mammoth captain Clayton Keller played in Friday night’s 4-3 loss to the Dallas Stars, one day after the unexpected death of his father.

As a tribute, Keller was named the game’s first star.

“He loves his teammates so much, and his teammates just love him so much,” Mammoth coach Andre Tourigny said. “He drives our passion and our competitiveness every night. He’s the kind of guy who wants to be better every night. We cannot have a better example of a captain.”

The 27-year-old Keller has played all 10 of his NHL seasons with the Arizona-Utah franchise and was named captain before last season, when the club moved to Salt Lake City. The No. 7 pick in the 2016 draft and four-time All-Star was a 30-goal scorer each of the past three seasons, including career highs last season with 60 assists and 90 points.

He went into Friday’s game second on the club with 21 points, including eight goals.

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“Obviously, Kell’s our leader in the locker room but also away from the rink. He’s done an incredible job leading us and guiding us,” Utah’s Lawson Crouse said. “I’ve been with him for 10-plus years now. It’s really our turn to support him. It’s hard news, and we’re all trying to deal with it in the best way that we can.”

Said Dallas coach Glen Gulutzan:. “I don’t know how the young man played, to be quite honest with you. A lot of credit to him. My heart goes out to him and his family.”

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Ric Flair wants everyone to know that he was only repeating what he’d been told when he made recent statements regarding the death of his friend Hulk Hogan.

During a recent interview with the Double Coverage podcast, Flair stated that Hogan’s death was due to “street drugs” he sought out after doctors stopped prescribing him medication for pain. Flair said, “I shouldnâ€t say this, but what killed him was street drugs.”

On Friday, Flair posted a statement to social media saying that he was only repeating what he heard from family members when he made the comments.

Flair wrote:

“There Seems To Be Some Controversy Over My Remarks That Street Drugs Killed Hulk Hogan. 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.”

“A Doctor As I Know Can Only Prescribe So Much Pain Medication Under Medical Guidelines. Iâ€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.”

“He Was My Friend, A Man I Respected, And Iâ€m Only Reporting What Iâ€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!”

Following Hulk Hogan’s passing at the age of 71 on July 24, 2025, ABC News reported that he suffered an acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) and had a history of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, citing documents relating to Hogan’s cremation.

Flair’s statement is below:

There Seems To Be Some Controversy Over My Remarks That Street Drugs Killed Hulk Hogan. 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… pic.twitter.com/bVIPTgZfGe

— Ric Flair® (@RicFlairNatrBoy) November 28, 2025

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Ian Carey

Ian Carey is a writer from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, whose work has been featured in NOW Magazine, The Huffington Post, and more. A lifelong wrestling aficionado born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, he has covered the industry for a decade and a half. He joined the f4wonline.com team in 2019.

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