The wrestling world is mourning the loss of another professional wrestler as Hall of Famer Nick Bockwinkel passed away on Saturday night at the age of 80, WWE confirmed.
"WWE is saddened to learn that Nick Bockwinkel, a WWE Hall of Famer and former four time AWA World Heavyweight Champion, has passed away at age 80," read a statement issued by WWE.
Bockwinkel used to play football for the University of Oklahoma and took up wrestling as a line of work in the mid 1950s after suffering a football career-ending knee injury, according to New York Daily News.
Bockwinkel, who called himself the "Smartest Wrestler Alive," won his first AWA heavyweight title when he was 40 years old, defeating wrestling legend Verne Gagne and ending his seven-year stretch as the champion. The achievement earned Bockwinkel recognition in the world of professional wrestling and he went on to become on the the greatest villains of the sport.
"From his nationally televised rivalry with Larry Zbyszko on ESPN to guest starring on 'Hawaii Five-O,' the legend truly did it all," the WWE statement read. "It was only fitting that his great career be capped off by his 2007 induction into the WWE Hall of Fame, where he will forever be enshrined as one of sports entertainment's all-time greats."
Several WWE stars including John Cena and Triple H took to social media to offer their condolences.
Saddened at the passing of one of the all time greats Nick Bockwinkle ......See you down the road sir. #ThankYouNick pic.twitter.com/gJZDKPaHqF
— Triple H (@TripleH) November 15, 2015
The spirt of a champion is immortal. Rest peacefully #nickbockwinkel — John Cena (@JohnCena) November 15, 2015
