Former pro wrestler Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart has died at the age of 63, according to WWE. Neidhart was most well-known for his tenure with Bret Hart in The Hart Foundation, which won the WWE tag team title twice and became one of the most popular tag teams of the Eighties.
Neidhart began wrestling after playing professional football with the Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys. He was trained by WWE Hall of Famer Stu Hart in the infamous Hart Dungeon in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and earned his ring nickname, The Anvil, after winning an anvil-throwing contest.
Neidhart last competed in WWE in 1997, though his daughter Natalya Neidhart — a WWE Superstar in her own right — continues to wrestle. She has won the Women's Championship on a number of occasions and appeared alongside her dad on the reality show Total Divas.
"Preliminary information indicates that [Neidhart] fell at home, hit his head, and succumbed to his injury," according to TMZ. "No foul play suspected. No additional information to release at this time."
Neidhart's death was met with heartfelt responses from his wrestling peers, including Hart, as well as famous fans such as the Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan. See below.
Stunned and saddened. I just don’t have the words right now. pic.twitter.com/fcO8Skuuhz
— Bret Hart (@BretHart) August 13, 2018
