KING OF THE RING
Wrestling great Bundy dies at 61
The King is dead.
King Kong Bundy, the iconic wrestling star who towered over opponents with his 6-foot-4, 458-pound frame, has died at 61.
A cause of death for the wrestler — real name Christopher Pallies — has not been revealed. His passing was reported Tuesday by WWE.
Bundy first starred in WWE during the 1980s, earning a reputation for having officials count to five — rather than the standard three — when he had his competitor pinned.
He competed for the heavyweight title in 1986 against Hulk Hogan at Wrestlemania 2, a match that took place in a steel cage and was ultimately won by Hogan.
“Overwhelmed by King Kong Bundy’s passing, only great memories, R.I.P. big man until we meet again,” Hogan tweeted Tuesday.
Bundy hailed from Atlantic City and earned the nickname the “walking condominium” during his career.
After leaving the WWE in the late 1980s, Bundy returned in 1994, before leaving again in 1995.
A tweet from Bundy’s account shared Monday night said he was planning to attend WrestleCon next month in New York, where he was slated to sign autographs and take photos with fans.
His death was mourned by others in the wrestling community.
“Hate to hear about the passing of King Kong Bundy,” tweeted Pro Wrestling Hall of Famer Mick Foley. “He was so cool to me when I walked in that WWE dressing room as an absolute nobody in 1986.”
Promoter David Herro tweeted, “Today we lost a Legend of a performer and someone that I considered family. @RealKKBundy Rest In Peace my friend. Thank you for believing in me. #KingKongBundy.”