WWE Hall of Famer Fred Ottman has been admitted to hospital and will no longer be appearing at a wrestling convention in Florida this weekend.
Ottman, 70, best known to WWE fans as Tugboat and Typhoon and to WCW audiences as The Shockmaster, shared a short video confirming that he had been taken to the emergency room before being admitted to hospital.
As a result, Ottman will miss the SWFL Super Card Show in Fort Myers, which runs from Friday through Sunday. He did not disclose the reason for his hospitalization.
“Unfortunately, due to things beyond my control, I was put into the hospital here this evening,” Ottman said. “Finally got admitted after I was taken to the emergency room. But I will not be able to be in Fort Myers.”
Ottman spent much of his message apologizing to fans and those involved with bringing him to the convention, while indicating that he would speak with the promoters once he knows more about his condition.
“I want to apologise, and I’ll get together with the promoters and my friend Matthew that was bringing me in after I see what’s going on here with the doctors,” he said. “But I love you all, and keep me in your thoughts and prayers. Hopefully I’ll be seeing you soon.”
Ottman had been promoting the Fort Myers appearance throughout the week, along with several other upcoming dates. It is currently unclear whether his hospitalization will affect any of those additional appearances.
The hospitalization comes after Ottman dealt with significant health issues earlier this year. He spent approximately a month in a St. Petersburg hospital following a serious gallbladder complication and subsequent infection before being discharged on February 9.
Ottman later underwent surgery and spoke about the difficult recovery process, which included losing considerable muscle mass during his hospital stay. He required a walker while becoming accustomed to walking again and received home health care while recovering with his wife, Sheila.
Even during that recovery, Ottman continued signing cards and photographs for fans from home, saying the work helped keep his mind occupied.
Ottman’s career began in 1984 after training under Boris Malenko. He joined WWE in 1989 as Tugboat and was initially presented as an ally of Hulk Hogan before turning heel in 1991 and becoming Typhoon.
Alongside the late John Tenta, better known as Earthquake, Ottman formed The Natural Disasters. The team captured the WWE Tag Team Championship from Money Inc. at a house show in Denver on February 7, 1992, before losing the titles back to them later that year.
Ottman moved to WCW in 1993, where his debut as The Shockmaster became one of professional wrestling’s most infamous television moments. During the live segment, Ottman crashed through a wall before tripping, falling to the floor and losing his helmet as several wrestlers struggled to contain their laughter.
The moment became an enduring part of wrestling history, and Ottman has embraced The Shockmaster’s legacy throughout his years on the convention circuit.
He later returned to WWE and continued making wrestling appearances into 2009, with his career also including participation in the Gimmick Battle Royal at WrestleMania 17.
Ottman and Tenta were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame together in 2025, with Tenta, who died in 2006, honored posthumously.
Ottman is also the brother-in-law of the late Dusty Rhodes and uncle of Cody and Dustin Rhodes.
No further information regarding Ottman’s current condition or how long he is expected to remain hospitalized has been announced. The SWFL Super Card Show has also not announced whether his appearance will be rescheduled.
We wish Fred Ottman a speedy recovery.
