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Former WWE wrestler Kevin Sullivan, who was often called the Prince of Darkness and The Taskmaster, has died. He was 74.
He’s significantly remembered for his bouts with Hulk Hogan and Dusty Rhodes and for main his personal Military of Darkness. His loss of life was introduced in an announcement by WWE, who referred to as him: “a novel and influential determine in sports-entertainment historical past.”
The assertion added: “Sullivan discovered success each within the ring and behind the scenes along with his penchant for a lot out concepts that pushed inventive boundaries.”
His explanation for loss of life has not but been introduced.
In Might, Sullivan suffered what his daughter described on his GoFundMe as a “devastating accident” whereas in Florida for autograph signings.
Nicole Sullivan wrote: “He underwent emergency surgical procedure that saved his leg and life however confronted extreme problems, together with sepsis and encephalitis.”
On X/Twitter, former wrestler Paul Levesque, often called Triple H, wrote: “Kevin Sullivan had one of the vital distinctive minds within the historical past of our trade, pushing inventive boundaries and creating a number of the most intriguing characters to step into the ring. He had an unwavering ardour for what we do. My ideas are along with his household, associates & followers.”
Kevin Francis Sullivan was born on October 26, 1949 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He started his profession as an newbie wrestler in Boston earlier than graduating to the skilled circuit in Montreal within the early Seventies.
He was recognized early in his profession as Johnny West and The Boston Battler, earlier than being impressed by heavy metallic bands similar to Black Sabbath and Judas Priest to turn out to be the Prince of Darkness within the early Nineteen Eighties. His persona additionally drew on occult and cultish imagery, taking part in off the period’s satanic panic.
Sullivan’s crew, the Military of Darkness, would costume like a cult and enter the ring to the sounds of Deep Purple or Jeff Beck.
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Sometimes taking the function of the “heel,” Sullivan grew to become well-known for his rivalry with the likes of Rhodes and Barry Windham.
Within the Nineteen Nineties, he grew to become a daily fixture of World Championship Wrestling, the place he feuded with Hogan and Randy Savage.
He retired from wrestling in 1997, however continued to work within the trade as a booker.
In 2007, his ex-wife Nancy was killed by her husband, fellow wrestler Chris Benoit. Benoit additionally killed their 7-year-old son earlier than killing himself.
Sullivan is survived by his spouse, Linda Sullivan, his kids Nicole, Bianca, Shannon and Ben and by his brothers, John and Charles.
