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WWE Hall of Famer Typhoon was close to knocking on death’s door after being hospitalized for more than a month.
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The 69-year-old retired wrestling star — real name Fred Ottman — talked about his health scare in an emotional video on Instagram Monday.
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Ottman revealed his gallbladder had ruptured, which led to an infection spreading throughout his body. The former WWF tag team champion was rushed to hospital, where doctors told his wife, Sheila, that there was a high chance he could die from the infection.
“If I would have waited one more day, the doctors told me I probably wouldn’t be here with you, be able to talk to you guys,’ Ottman said on Instagram.
Lost large amount of weight
After being admitted to hospital, Ottman said he was placed on dialysis, a life-sustaining treatment that filters waste, toxins and excess fluid from the blood, for a short period.
Ottman said he has been bedridden since the infection, noting his recovery is a slow and gruelling one. The infection has also caused the former wrestler to lose a large amount of weight.
“I’ve lost a lot of muscle mass. It’s been a brutal fight,” said Ottman. “I’ve been learning how to walk again.”
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Maintaining a positive attitude, Ottman said there’s light at the end of the tunnel.
“I’m not out of the woods yet, but Monday afternoon they are going to let me out of here,” he said.
“Thank God, I’ve got a good wife. I’ve got great friends. My wrestling buddies are just amazing.”
A wrestler of many names
Ottman is best known for his stint in the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE) from 1989 to 1993.
He first wrestled under the name Tugboat, where he was a heroic buddy of then WWF champion Hulk Hogan.
In 1991, Ottman turned to the dark side, aligning himself with fellow big man Earthquake, and was rebranded as Typhoon as part of the tag team Natural Disasters.
The Natural Disasters beat Money Inc. in July 1992 to win the WWF Tag Team Championship. Earthquake and Typhoon lost the belts back to Money Inc. three months later.
In 1993, Ottman left the WWF for rival company World Championship Wrestling, where he wrestled as The Shockmaster, debuting in an infamous moment where he busted through a wall wearing jeans, a puffy vest, and a glittered-out Stormtrooper helmet.
Ottman retired from wrestling in the early 2000s. He and Earthquake (real name John Tenta) were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006.
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