WWE Legend Shares Health Scare Experience

Fred Ottman, known as Typhoon in the wrestling world, recently discussed a serious health issue that led to his hospitalization for nearly a month. He reached out on Sunday to assure fans, family, and friends that he’s okay, though he mentioned he’s “not out of the woods yet.”

Ottman spent about 30 days in the hospital. He revealed that his gallbladder had ruptured, resulting in a significant amount of toxins released into his body. “I was basically on my back the whole time,” he explained. The infection he suffered was serious enough that, according to doctors, had he delayed seeking help even a day, things could have turned out tragically. “God bless you all,” he added.

He reflected on the ordeal, noting that he lost a considerable amount of muscle mass and was now in the process of re-learning how to walk. “It was a brutal battle,” he said, emphasizing how tough the experience had been.

Fellow former wrestling stars, including members of Demolition and Brian Clark, expressed their support for Ottman on social media.

Beginning his wrestling career in 1985, Ottman first appeared as Sigfried in Georgia Championship Wrestling before becoming Tugboat in the WWF in 1989. He then took on the Typhoon persona in 1991 as part of the tag team known as the Natural Disasters. Later, he also wrestled as the Shock Master in WCW.

His last stint in the WWF was in 1994, where he participated in a 20-man battle royal at WrestleMania 17.

In 2022, Ottman was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame alongside his partner Earthquake.