King Kong Bundy — the 6-foot-4, 458-pound pro-wrestling bad guy who smothered his opponents with his signature “avalanche splash” finisher — has died. He was 61.
Bundy was born Christopher Pallies in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and made his World Wrestling Federation debut in 1981.
With his enormous physique and bald head, he commanded the ring in a too-small singlet — and proved his dominance by making referees count to five, instead of the traditional three, as he pinned his opponents.
Bundy defeated S.D. Jones in the first-ever WrestleMania in 1985 and then went on to challenge Hulk Hogan for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 2 the following year.
He drummed up drama for the matchup, saying at the time, “Hogan would rather stand outside of a supermarket and sign autographs for kids. He’d rather go visit an old age home than get in a ring with anyone in my family.”
Hogan won the bout, keeping his coveted belt.
In a stunning show of size in the steel cage dubbed the “Colossal Jostle,” Bundy also tussled with Andre the Giant in 1985 but lost.
Bundy semi-retired from pro-wrestling in the late ‘80s but made a comeback in 1994 as part of the Million Dollar Corporation, “proving that he was one of the greatest and most eye-catching big men to lace up a set of boots,” according to WWE.
Bundy had guest appearances on the sitcom “Married … with Children” and was slated to appear next month at WrestleCon events in New York City and New Jersey.
In 2016, Bundy was among 60 other former pro wrestlers who sued WWE, claiming the organization failed to protect them from concussions that led to long-term brain damage.
WWE denied the allegations and the suit was tossed by a judge two years later.
Bundy’s friend David Herro confirmed his death on Twitter.
“Today we lost a Legend of a performer and someone that I considered family,” Herro wrote. “@RealKKBundy Rest In Peace my friend. Thank you for believing in me. #KingKongBundy.”
His cause of death was not immediately released.
Bundy’s death comes two months after the passing of famed ringside interviewer “Mean” Gene Okerlund.
“RIP Mean Gene Okerlund. A true professional in every sense of the word,” Bundy tweeted at the time.
