Hulk Hogan’s final moments were reportedly fun and energetic, according to close friend and longtime wrestling booker Eric Bischoff — but there was also a glimmer of his health struggles that was hard to ignore.
People reports that Bischoff recounted his last visit with a very sick Hogan on his podcast 83 Weeks with Eric Bischoff. According to the wrestling booker, the meeting was organized by Hogan’s son, Nick, who deeply admired his father and was trying to console him by encouraging his friends to call.
In Bischoff’s recollection of the call, Hogan apparently sounded “weak” and “tired.” For longtime fans of Hogan and his ringside persona, even when things weren’t going so well, he was always energetic and shouting “Brother!” to anyone within earshot. Hogan was reportedly even a little insecure about how he looked.
He wanted to invite Bischoff to the hospital where he was receiving treatment but said he was hesitant because he was “embarrassed” about being seen in his current state. Bischoff shared that he reassured his friend, telling him he didn’t see him any differently — even then, when he wasn’t feeling his best or most confident. He decided to visit him in person that following Monday.
Bischoff’s strategy during the visit was to give Hogan something more to look forward to beyond how people would take care of him. So, he told Hogan that when he got out of the hospital, he could come on the podcast for an interview. Hogan reportedly responded, “Brother, I can’t wait. I may not be able to do anything on camera for a couple of weeks, but I’ll be good on the phone. You can set some stuff up for me.”
Bischoff clarified to Hogan’s wife, Sky Daily, that the invite wasn’t meant to add pressure — it was just his way of showing support. Apparently, the offer made Hogan feel more energetic and encouraged to talk about business — something he definitely preferred to focus on at that moment. Still, Bischoff noted that reality had a knack for intruding. During their visit, Hogan struggled with his speech and was exerting more effort than usual just to talk.
Since his death, Hogan has attracted negative press. His past with racism and the Gawker lawsuit have dominated conversations about his legacy. The Gawker lawsuit, by all accounts, even inspired Trump’s approach to lawsuits against media companies that publish content he doesn’t like. As a result, Hogan’s humanity has been somewhat lost in the week following his passing.
That’s not to say the media has treated him unfairly. He was caught saying dreadful things about Black people, and he never truly apologized. You might think wrestling fans were just too unforgiving, but on the contrary — his fans kept waiting for a sincere apology right up until the end. When it never came, the racism became the headline of his obituary rather than just an asterisk. Still, it’s also nice hearing about the other side of Hogan — from those who loved him to the very end.
