Hulk Hogan Knew He Had To Retire After Six Back Surgeries

Hulk Hogan on when he knew it was over.

On Jan. 27, 2012, Hulk Hogan officially wrestled his last match when he teamed with James Storm & Sting to defeat Bobby Roode, Bully Ray & Kurt Angle at an IMPACT Wrestling house show in England. Despite teases of potentially competing in one more match in the WWE, Hogan has yet to step in the ring for a match since that day in 2012.

Speaking to Steve Austin on the Steve Austin Show, Hogan reveals when he knew his career was over.

“Everybody talks about ‘fake wrestling,’ but you do get hurt and we all know that. I started having my knees scoped many years ago. Right knee, four times. Left knee, four times. Finally, I had them both replaced,” said Hogan “Then I had both hips replaced. Then I went in for one back surgery, and that turned into having nine back surgeries. I actually wrestled The Rock with a knee and hip replacement. When I had the other knee and hip done, I was still wrestling. 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 could have the fusion like Shawn Michaels and 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 on my back six times and basically took me out of the game. They took so much bone away, and things went awry after the first six surgeries. It took me three more to get back on my feet and rolling again. Other than, I’m pretty darn cool, I can’t wrestle again, but I’m cool outside of this arthritis kicking in.”

Hogan’s last match in WWE took place at WWE SummerSlam 2006 when he defeated Randy Orton. Hogan has made multiple appearances on WWE television this year including the recent Raw Reunion when he helped give a toast to Raw and the WWE family.

Elsewhere on the podcast, Hogan and Austin discussed why they never squared off in the squared circle. You can view their comments by clicking here.