Chic Donovan: Broken Neck, Stent, Wrestling News & Hogan Recall
- Show: Wrestling EpicenterGuest: "Golden Boy" Chic DonovanDate: 01/16/2026your Host: James Walsh
- Somewhere around Thanksgiving, I woke up too a message I had sent weeks prior to Chic Donovan asking if he would be interested in doing an interview.
- Chic Donovan is a wrestling legend who has seen pro wrestling in its evolution over the past 50 years.
Show: Wrestling Epicenter
Guest: “Golden Boy” Chic Donovan
Date: 01/16/2026
your Host: James Walsh
Somewhere around Thanksgiving, I woke up too a message I had sent weeks prior to Chic Donovan asking if he would be interested in doing an interview. If you have done this provided that I have, you know that the batting average of invites to those who ever respond to said invites is pretty low. So,I figured,”Eh,it would have been cool. But…” Well,he responded and agreed. He gave me his number to arrange a time and I called and got a voicemail. And, well, it stopped there again! the day after Christmas, Chic called me back and asked if I was still wanting to have him on. That is a no brainer, isn’t it? Of course I do! And, we finally nailed it down and here it is!
Chic Donovan is a wrestling legend who has seen pro wrestling in its evolution over the past 50 years. From local Georgia Wrestling facing off with the likes of Hulk Hogan and Mr. Wrestling II to being a part of the “First Family” managed by Jimmy Hart in Memphis Wrestling, Chic enjoyed a lot of success. After the territories fizzled out a bit, Chic was used as a star maker in WCW and the WWE wrestling the likes of Sting, Ultimate Warrior, and others in televised matches.
Now nearly 80 years old, Chic talks about his life and times in the ring and also discusses why he still climbs in the squared circle after all these years. Hey, if I looked that good at my age, 44, I’d be in the ring too. He is legitimately in fantastic condition!
Below is a transcript of some of the highlights that include Hulk Hogan, Jerry Lawler, a couple of legitimately English spekaing talking dogs, Sting, Ole Anderson, and beyond. There are some great stories not transcribed.So, if you are a fan of classic wrestling and/or of the “Golden Boy”, be sure and listen to the whole chat on YouTube!
Don’t forget to check out www.WrestlingEpicenter.com for more interviews like this. We’ve been at it for nearly 25 years and have done over 900 interviews in that time. Be sure and check out our site, store, and all the great content we have on the site including those interviews which are all archived and available to listen to and read, our results, RIP tributes, and so much more. Oh, and, buy somethin’, will ya?
Listen on YouTube: https://youtu.be/1Lpr0LPSQ0s
CHIC DONOVAN:
On the viral picture of he and Tommy Dreamer from alst year:
“A lot of people don’t know this but I had just broken my neck in the match I had in the ring just before we took that picture. I took a bump on my head and… Well, that is besides the point. Tommy Dreamer has been around a real long time. He’s a good guy!’
On how his health is after suffering the broken neck:
“Oh,I’m all right. I had a heart stint put in about a month or so ago. The kids can’t keep up with me in the ring, tho! I move and groove, brother!”
On how he stays in the amazing shape he is in:
“Well, it is my job. I have to lead by example. Everybody has a job they go to every Monday morning. Mine is wrestling and in order to keep that job, because if you don’t do a good job, you get fired, I lead by example.”
on how important faith is in his life:
“Well, that is your lif
Hulk Hogan’s Reflections on Fellow Wrestlers
Table of Contents
Hulk Hogan (born Terry Gene Bollea) has publicly shared his recollections of interactions with other professional wrestlers, including Ric Flair and sting. These statements, as reported in various interviews, offer insights into his relationships within the wrestling industry.
Ric Flair
Hulk Hogan does not recall wrestling Ric Flair, but acknowledges Flair sought his advice early in his career, a gesture Hogan appreciated. This aligns with the documented competitive rivalry between Hogan and Flair throughout the 1980s and 1990s, though direct one-on-one matches were infrequent.
While a specific instance of Flair seeking advice isn’t documented in official records, the two were prominent figures in competing wrestling promotions – Hogan in the WWF (now WWE) and Flair in WCW – and their paths frequently crossed during the “Monday Night Wars” of the 1990s. WWE’s official archive contains footage of their encounters, though not necessarily collaborative moments.
Sting (Steve Borden)
Hulk Hogan expresses significant respect for Sting, referring to him as Steve Borden and acknowledging his faith and character. Hogan describes Borden as a “man of God” and a “quality person” whom he looks up to.
Steve Borden, known professionally as Sting, is a publicly devout Christian, frequently referencing his faith in interviews and social media. The Christian Post reported on Sting’s open discussion of his faith and struggles with depression in 2016. Hogan and borden competed against each other in WCW during the 1990s, a period marked by intense storylines and rivalries.
Hulk Hogan’s Wrestling Future
As of late 2023/early 2024, Hulk Hogan indicated he is nearing the end of his professional wrestling career due to age-related physical limitations.
Retirement Timeline
Hulk Hogan will turn 79 years old on August 11,2024.he acknowledges experiencing physical challenges consistent with aging, impacting his ability to perform at his previous level.He has not definitively announced his retirement, stating he is “not there yet.”
Hogan has had numerous surgeries throughout his career, including multiple back surgeries, which have demonstrably affected his mobility. ESPN reported on Hogan’s spinal fusion surgery in 2021. His last officially sanctioned match was at TNA Impact wrestling in 2011, though he has made sporadic appearances since then.