Legendary heavy metal frontman and WWE Hall of Famer Ozzy Osbourne has passed away at the age of 76. The “Prince of Darkness,” whose iconic music and persona transcended generations, also left a memorable, albeit sporadic, mark on the world of professional wrestling, making several key appearances for WWE over a span of decades. His family confirmed the news on Tuesday, stating he passed away “surrounded by love.”
While known globally as the voice of Black Sabbath and a wildly successful solo artist, Osbourne’s connection with the wrestling world dates back to the industry’s 1980s boom. His history with WWE, though not extensive, placed him at the center of several key moments, earning him a place in the celebrity wing of the WWE Hall of Fame.
WrestleMania 2 and The British Bulldogs
Osbourne’s first and most famous WWE appearance occurred at WrestleMania 2 in 1986. During the Chicago portion of the three-city event, Osbourne, alongside the legendary “Captain” Lou Albano, managed The British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith and The Dynamite Kid) in their match for the WWF Tag Team Championship against The Dream Team (Greg Valentine and Brutus Beefcake).
The duo of rock and wrestling royalty proved successful, as The British Bulldogs captured the tag team titles in a classic encounter. The moment was a prime example of Vince McMahon’s “Rock ‘n’ Wrestling Connection,” blending mainstream pop culture stars with his wrestling product to broaden its appeal. Osbourne would later recall his friendship with another legend from that era, André the Giant, saying, “I used to go drinking with him, and he was such a lovely man.”
A Return to WWE and Hall of Fame Induction
Over two decades later, Osbourne returned to the WWE Universe. In 2007, his hit single “I Don’t Wanna Stop” was used as the official theme song for the Judgment Day pay-per-view, and he performed the song live on an episode of SmackDown. In November 2009, he and his wife, Sharon Osbourne, served as the special guest hosts for an episode of Monday Night Raw, which memorably featured a “Raw’s Got Talent” segment.
In recognition of his contributions, Ozzy Osbourne was inducted into the celebrity wing of the WWE Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2021. In a virtual acceptance speech, he thanked the company and the fans. “Thank you so much WWE for this amazing award,” Osbourne said. “I don’t deserve it, but thanks anyway. It’s all about the fans, really. Our fans keep us alive, man. It’s all about them.”
The Sound of WarGames
Osbourne’s influence on wrestling continues to be felt in the modern era. Black Sabbath’s iconic anti-war anthem, “War Pigs,” has become the official theme song for WWE’s brutal WarGames matches. The haunting track has been used for the NXT TakeOver: WarGames events and has continued as the theme since the match was moved to the main roster for the Survivor Series premium live event, providing the perfect soundtrack for the on-screen carnage.
Outside of wrestling, Ozzy Osbourne’s legacy is immeasurable. As the frontman for Black Sabbath, he is credited as one of the founding fathers of the heavy metal genre. His solo career produced timeless hits like “Crazy Train,” “Mr. Crowley,” and “No More Tears.” In the early 2000s, he was introduced to a new generation of fans through the hit MTV reality show, The Osbournes, which chronicled the chaotic daily life of his family. He was a two-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, both as a member of Black Sabbath and as a solo artist.
