Iconic WWE wrestling villain Kevin Sullivan dead at 74

Fans of WWE wrestling were devastated last week to learn of the recent passing of a legend in the business.

According to Fox News, Kevin Sullivan, a fan favorite in the world of professional wrestling, died at 74. It was reported that Sullivan's death came months after a "devastating accident."

Sullivan's prime was in the 1990's, when he played a rival to other icons in the business like Dusty Rhodes and Hulk Hogan.

While no cause of death was revealed, WWE released a statement regarding Sullivan's death.

"WWE is saddened to learn Kevin Sullivan has passed away at age 74. A unique and influential figure in sports-entertainment history, Sullivan found success both in the ring and behind the scenes with his penchant for far-out ideas that pushed creative boundaries," the enterprise wrote.

The statement continued, "As a villain, Sullivan was a major rival for the ring’s most legendary heroes, including Dusty Rhodes, Hulk Hogan and The Road Warriors."

"He specialized in leading dangerous factions, which included his wicked Army of Darkness, collegiate bullies The Varsity Club and the wild Dungeon of Doom, which introduced Big Show to the wrestling world," the company went on.

WWE is saddened to learn that Kevin Sullivan has passed away. We extend our condolences to Kevin's family, friends and fans. https://t.co/JcJme4lI6v pic.twitter.com/PHwEnCWgrR

— WWE (@WWE) August 9, 2024

Notably, his death comes in the wake of his daughter's announcement of a fundraiser to draw financial support after Sullivan's "devastating accident."

His daughter's GoFundMe campaign revealed further details.

"On May 12th, 2024, while in Florida for autograph signings, Kevin suffered a devastating accident. He underwent emergency surgery that saved his leg and life but faced severe complications, including sepsis and encephalitis," the fundraising page noted.

It added, "This unforeseen catastrophe has placed an immense financial burden on his family, as Kevin has been in and out of consciousness in the ICU, far from home. Despite these challenges, Kevin has shown incredible resilience. Months later, he is still fighting to regain his independence."

While Sullivan played a villain during his wrestling career, he was respected by some of the biggest names in the business. Iconic wrestler Ric Flair paid tribute to Sullivan in a social media post.

"I Am So Saddened To Hear About Kevin Sullivan’s Passing. Rest In Peace Kevin! You Were An All Time Great Athlete & Friend!" Flair wrote.