As we close the book on 2025, the professional wrestling world reflects on the titans, pioneers, and beloved personalities we said goodbye to. This year was particularly difficult, as we lost the single most recognizable face in the history of the industry, along with Hall of Famers and territorial legends who paved the way.
Here is a look back at the figures we lost this past year.
January
Black Bart (Rick Harris)
January 9
Rick Harris, better known as the rugged outlaw Black Bart, passed away at the age of 76. A staple of the territory days, Bart was a tough-as-nails brawler best known for his time in World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) and Mid-South, as well as a run in the WWF where he challenged for the Tag Team titles. Reports indicate he passed away due to complications from heart failure. He remains one of the most credible cowboy heels of the 1980s.
Hunter Q. Robbins III
January 10
A classic, old-school manager, Robbins was known for guiding various talents in territories like Continental Championship Wrestling, using his cane to interfere whenever the referee’s back was turned.
Colonel DeBeers (Ed Wiskoski)
January 22
“Colonel” Ed Wiskoski passed away at the age of 80 following a battle with kidney disease. One of the most effective heels of the 1980s, particularly in the AWA, his pro-Apartheid character was designed to generate genuine animosity, making him the perfect foil for patriotic babyfaces like Sgt. Slaughter. Before becoming DeBeers, Wiskoski had a successful run in the Portland territory and held the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship multiple times.
February
Gran Hamada
February 15
A pioneering figure in Japanese wrestling, Hamada was one of the first to seamlessly blend the Japanese strong style with Mexican lucha libre. He was crucial in bridging the gap between the two countries’ wrestling cultures and was the founder of Universal Lucha Libre.
Eric Priest
February 22
A notable figure in the Puerto Rican wrestling scene, Priest was a regular competitor for WWC (World Wrestling Council), competing in various mid-card and tag team angles throughout his career.
Osamu Nishimura
February 28
Known for his immaculate technical wrestling ability and his dedication to the old-school style of catch wrestling. A long-time veteran of New Japan Pro-Wrestling, Nishimura was respected globally for his skill and his personal battle as a cancer survivor.
March
Ciclón Ramirez
March 4
A respected Mexican luchador whose career spanned decades. He was a familiar face in various promotions across Mexico, known for his solid in-ring work in the welterweight divisions.
Australian Suicide
March 6
A modern high-flyer best known for his time in Mexico’s AAA promotion. He brought an incredible aerial skillset to the cruiserweight division, wowing audiences with daredevil maneuvers.
Bracito De Oro
March 9
A prominent figure in the “Mini-Estrella” division of Lucha Libre. He was a skilled performer who entertained audiences in CMLL and other Mexican promotions for many years.
Vince Steele
March 16
A powerhouse wrestler who competed in various territories during the 80s and 90s, often utilized for his imposing size.
Rico Suave
March 20
An independent wrestler often associated with the California scene and hardcore promotions like XPW during the early 2000s.
Bill Mercer
March 22
The legendary voice of Texas wrestling. As the play-by-play announcer for World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW), Mercer’s professional, credible broadcast style narrated the legendary Von Erich vs. Freebird wars and brought legitimacy to the sport.
April
Claire Lynch (Julia Reilly)
April 1
Actress Julia Reilly, known to wrestling fans as the controversial character “Claire Lynch” in TNA Wrestling, passed away at the age of 36 due to undisclosed causes. While an actress by trade rather than a wrestler, she became an infamous part of wrestling lore due to her portrayal of the character in a 2012 storyline involving AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels.
Hartford Love
April 10
A manager primarily known for his work in the Memphis territory and other southern promotions, often managing tag teams to championship gold.
Black Terry
April 20
A true maestro of the Mexican independent scene. Based largely out of Arena Naucalpan for IWRG, Black Terry was renowned for his incredible toughness, stiff working style, and ability to having great matches with anyone, well into his later years.
Hisashi Shinma
April 21
A deeply influential and controversial behind-the-scenes power broker in New Japan Pro-Wrestling during the Inoki era. He is also remembered by Western fans as the on-screen “WWF President” during the late 70s and early 80s.
Steve “Mongo” McMichael
April 23
A larger-than-life personality in both football and wrestling, McMichael passed away at the age of 67 following a courageous, years-long battle with ALS. Before stepping into the squared circle, “Mongo” was a defensive tackle for the legendary 1985 Chicago Bears Super Bowl team.
He made the transition to WCW in 1995, initially as a color commentator on Monday Nitro before joining the prestigious Four Horsemen stable alongside Ric Flair and Arn Anderson. McMichael became a United States Champion and was known for his incredible charisma, his chihuahua Pepe, and his intense loyalty to his friends. His induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024 was a crowning achievement that united fans of both sports in celebration of his life.
Takashi Okamura
April 25
A famous Japanese comedian and entertainer who occasionally crossed over into the wrestling world, participating in angles and comedy matches in various Japanese promotions.
May
Sabu (Terry Brunk)
May 11
The “Homicidal, Suicidal, Genocidal, Death-Defying” icon passed away at the age of 60. Sabu, the nephew of The Original Sheik, died due to heart complications stemming from decades of putting his body on the line. Sabu was the heart and soul of the ECW revolution. He revolutionized the business with a high-risk style that had never been seen in the United States. From breaking tables to wrapping himself in barbed wire and tearing his biceps in the ring (only to tape them up and keep fighting), his disregard for his own body paved the way for the hardcore style of the late 90s.
Frank Holtz
May 22
A beloved local legend in the Pittsburgh wrestling scene. Known as the “Fighting Cop from Carnegie,” Holtz was a staple of the classic “Studio Wrestling” era in the region.
Salman Hashimikov
May 28
A highly decorated Soviet amateur wrestler who made a historic transition to professional wrestling. He became the first Soviet wrestler to hold the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in New Japan Pro-Wrestling in 1989.
July
Austin Steele
July 6
A fixture on the independent wrestling circuit, known for his work in various regional promotions over the years.
Knuckles Madsen
July 11
An independent wrestler who competed in various promotions, known for his brawling style.
Hulk Hogan (Terry Bollea)
July 24
The world lost the biggest star in the history of professional wrestling this July. Hulk Hogan passed away at the age of 71 at his home in Clearwater, Florida, due to cardiac arrest.
Hogan was more than a wrestler; he was a pop culture phenomenon who transcended the sport. In the 1980s, “Hulkamania” fueled the WWF’s national and global expansion. He headlined the first nine WrestleManias, including the record-shattering WrestleMania III where he slammed Andre the Giant. Just when the world thought his era was over, he reinvented himself in 1996, turning heel to form the New World Order (nWo) in WCW. This move sparked the “Monday Night Wars” and the greatest boom period in wrestling history. A 12-time World Champion and two-time WWE Hall of Famer, his impact on the business is immeasurable.
Steve “Mr. Electricity” Regal
July 30
A talented journeyman wrestler (not to be confused with William Regal) who found success in the AWA, where he held the World Tag Team Championship, and various NWA territories during the 1980s.
August
Tomohiko Hashimoto
August 5
A veteran of the Japanese independent scene, Hashimoto was known for his stiff strikes and willingness to compete in deathmatch environments in promotions like DDT and Big Japan Pro Wrestling.
Robbie Ellis
August 7
A truly unique figure in wrestling, Ellis gained fame late in life by continuing to wrestle actively well into his 60s and 70s, most notably in CHIKARA, inspiring fans with his longevity and spirit.
The Great Wojo (Greg Wojciechowski)
August 12
An amateur wrestling powerhouse who was an NCAA champion and an Olympic alternate before turning pro. He was a local legend in the Toledo, Ohio area and a formidable competitor in the WWA.
September
Jaka
September 7
A powerful and agile competitor on the modern independent scene, Jaka made his name in promotions like EVOLVE and CHIKARA, known for his intense striking and athleticism.
Taishin Nagao
September 7
A Japanese professional wrestler who competed in various promotions in his home country.
Rodolfo RuÃz
September 7
A respected luchador who contributed to the rich tapestry of Mexican lucha libre.
October
Sir Mo (Bobby Horne)
October 19
Bobby Horne, better known to WWF fans as Sir Mo, passed away at the age of 55 after a serious illness. He is best remembered as one-half of the tag team “Men on a Mission” alongside Mabel (Viscera/Big Daddy V). The duo held the WWF Tag Team Championship in the mid-1990s and their colorful entrance and rap theme song were staples of the “New Generation” era.
November
Brian Mackney
November 7
A recognizable “enhancement talent” during the WWF’s golden era in the 1980s. Wrestlers like Mackney were essential in making the superstars look incredible on weekly television.
Bob Caudle
November 15
One of the classiest and most beloved voices in wrestling history, Bob Caudle passed away at the age of 95 from natural causes. For decades, Caudle was the straight-man commentator for Jim Crockett Promotions and Mid-Atlantic Wrestling. His calm demeanor and signature sign-on, “Hello wrestling fans,” provided the perfect balance to the chaotic violence of the NWA, lending a sense of legitimacy to the product that few others could match.
December
Solomon Grundy
December 14
A large, imposing grappler who competed in southern territories, often using the name based on the nursery rhyme character to match his size.
Miss Janeth
December 17
A legendary ruda (heel) in Lucha Libre femenil. She was a cornerstone of the women’s divisions in both CMLL and AAA during the 90s and 2000s, known for her fierce rivalries and technical skill.
Mark Wolf
December 17
A wrestler and trainer who contributed to the business both inside the ring and by helping develop future talent.
