{"id":39866,"date":"2019-03-05T18:15:51","date_gmt":"2019-03-05T23:15:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=39866"},"modified":"2019-03-07T14:39:12","modified_gmt":"2019-03-07T19:39:12","slug":"in-memoriam-king-kong-bundy-passes-away-aged-61","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2019\/03\/05\/in-memoriam-king-kong-bundy-passes-away-aged-61\/","title":{"rendered":"In Memorium: King Kong Bundy Passes Away Aged 61"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>As the wrestling world continued to mourn the loss of famous actor and father of rising prospect\u00a0<strong>Jungle Boy<\/strong>,\u00a0<strong>Luke Perry<\/strong> news broke that we had lost\u00a0<strong>King Kong Bundy<\/strong> as his long time friend David Herro broke the news in the late hours of March 4th 2019.\u00a0 Bundy is most remembered for Main Eventing WrestleMania 2 against\u00a0<strong>Hulk Hogan\u00a0<\/strong>in a match that cemented his place in wrestling history.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">WWE is saddened to learn that King Kong Bundy has passed away.<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/SNrSunQYeQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/SNrSunQYeQ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; WWE (@WWE) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WWE\/status\/1102902852165529600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">March 5, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Bundy was trained to wrestle in the &#8220;Monster Factory&#8221; by\u00a0<strong>Larry Sharpe\u00a0<\/strong>and debuted in 1981 for\u00a0<strong>World Class Wrestling Association\u00a0<\/strong>as a babyface under the name Big Daddy Bundy.\u00a0 He was later recruited by\u00a0<strong>Gary Hart\u00a0<\/strong>after a dispute with the Von Erichs, turning heel and becoming King King Bundy.\u00a0 He\u00a0faced\u00a0<strong>Fritz Von Erich\u00a0<\/strong>in his retirement match in 1982 in a huge match in Texas Stadium.\u00a0 He would also compete in\u00a0<strong>National Wrestling Alliance<\/strong>,\u00a0<strong>American Wrestling Association\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0<strong>Mid-South Wrestling\u00a0<\/strong>often demanding a 5 count to end matches and winning NWA American and National tag titles with a variety of partners as well as being a 2-time NWA American Heavyweight champion.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Dusty Rhodes vs. King Kong Bundy\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/TFefRNWGuf4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>In 1985 Bundy would debut for the\u00a0<strong>World Wrestling Federation\u00a0<\/strong>under the management of\u00a0<strong>Jimmy Hart\u00a0<\/strong>as he reprised his 5 count gimmick and had a dominant win on the first\u00a0<strong>WrestleMania\u00a0<\/strong>defeating S.D Jones in what was billed as 9 seconds.\u00a0 Bundy was traded to\u00a0<strong>Bobby Heenan\u00a0<\/strong>and began feuding with\u00a0<strong>Andre The Giant\u00a0<\/strong>leading to &#8220;The Colossal Jostle&#8221; between the two at\u00a0the famous Madison Square Garden.\u00a0 Not long after Bundy would move on to target Hulk Hogan, attacking him during a match against The Magnificent Muraco and kayfabe breaking Hogan&#8217;s ribs leading to their steel cage main event of WrestleMania which Hogan won.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"King Kong Bundy makes his WWE debut: Championship Wrestling, March 16, 1985\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8UMnveEkefc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>This was the end of Bundy&#8217;s time in the main event and he would float around the mid-card until his departure in 1988, even a brief WWF return in 1994 led to him jobbing after an impactful re-debut at Survivor Series.\u00a0 He would be released again in 1995 before working the independent circuit until 2007.\u00a0 He went away from the public eye only to resurface as part of the lawsuit against the WWE regarding\u00a0head injuries that was struck out in September 2018.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"King Kong Bundy vs. Jeff Hardy (1994)\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_r-IHQOra9Y?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Bundy passed away at the age of\u00a061 but will forever have a place in wrestling history as the main event of WrestleMania 2 and as part of\u00a0<strong>The Undertaker&#8217;s\u00a0<\/strong>legendary streak.\u00a0 He has been fondly remembered for his personality by his coworkers and will never be forgotten by wrestling fans all over the world<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/RealMickFoley\/status\/1102809375909961728<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Wow. King Kong Bundy was soooo good and ahead of his time. He was a machine and he never ran out of gas. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WWEBigE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@WWEBigE<\/a> stole his 5 count in NXT too. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/RIP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#RIP<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Miro (@ToBeMiro) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ToBeMiro\/status\/1102808199378464769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">March 5, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Rest In Peace to the true master of the Five Count. Condolences to his loved ones. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/KingKongBundy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#KingKongBundy<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Ettore \u201cBig E\u201d Ewen (@WWEBigE) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WWEBigE\/status\/1102817927521198080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">March 5, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">RIP my friend. Thanks for your humor and kindness. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/KingKongBundy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#KingKongBundy<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/MdzLtvyy6S\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/MdzLtvyy6S<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Hurricane Helms (@ShaneHelmsCom) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ShaneHelmsCom\/status\/1102803254101098497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">March 5, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">King Kong Bundy died Monday.<\/p>\n<p>We&#39;ll never forget his visit to ESPN. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/jsUB3a6Vce\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/jsUB3a6Vce<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SportsCenter\/status\/1102980588431126529?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">March 5, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">So sad to learn of King Kong Bundy passing away. A true legendary big man who paved the way for a lot of us. A true gentleman and so kind to be around. God bless you. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/iDyZR865mD\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/iDyZR865mD<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Abyss (@TherealAbyss) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TherealAbyss\/status\/1102818467776876544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">March 5, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Sad new about King Kong Bundy passing away, my thoughts are with his family. KKB was always funny, witty &amp; kind to my brother &amp; I. I\u2019ll never forget how impressed he was with a young <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/BrotherNero?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#BrotherNero<\/a> eating his clothesline like this..<\/p>\n<p>Rest In Peace, King Kong Bundy. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/3TcoXxwq8k\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/3TcoXxwq8k<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; MATT HARDY (@MATTHARDYBRAND) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MATTHARDYBRAND\/status\/1102965897327796225?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">March 5, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">RIP <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/KingKongBundy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#KingKongBundy<\/a>. A larger-than-life figure who stood out in one of the most larger-than-life times in <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/WWE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#WWE<\/a> history. \ud83d\udd90 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/uJ3wsSYb3Y\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/uJ3wsSYb3Y<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Scott Fishman (@smFISHMAN) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/smFISHMAN\/status\/1102806415196991488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">March 5, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I met King Kong Bundy in 1999. I had just started training and was helping out backstage at the show he was on. I\u2019ll always remember him being really funny and just such a great guy. I wish I had been lucky enough to cross paths with him again. <\/p>\n<p>My thoughts go out to his family.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Kevin (@FightOwensFight) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FightOwensFight\/status\/1102831089184325632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">March 5, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As the wrestling world continued to mourn the loss of famous actor and father of rising prospect\u00a0Jungle Boy,\u00a0Luke Perry news broke that we had lost\u00a0King Kong Bundy as his long time friend David Herro broke the news in the late hours of March 4th 2019.\u00a0 Bundy is most remembered for Main Eventing WrestleMania 2 against\u00a0Hulk [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2013,"featured_media":39886,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2,547,6],"tags":[4692,4693],"class_list":["post-39866","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-in-memorium","category-north-america","tag-in-memoriam","tag-king-kong-bundy"],"modified_by":"Jamie Greer","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39866","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2013"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39866"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39866\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/39886"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39866"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39866"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39866"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}