The wrestling world is mourning the loss of one of the greatest performers to ever step into the squared circle: Kevin Sullivan. Per WWE, Sullivan passed away at age 74 on Friday, and while his official cause of death has not been revealed at this time, it’s no secret that he had been suffering from numerous health conditions over the last few months. In May 2024, Sullivan was said to have suffered an undisclosed “devastating accident” in Florida that required surgery to save his leg, and in a GoFundMe campaign set up by his daughter, Nicole, she stated that The Taskmaster faced complications due to the surgery, including “sepsis and encephalitis.”
Sullivan began his wrestling career in the early 1970s, wrestling as both a good guy (face) and a bad guy (heel). His first major impact on the business came by way of Championship Wrestling from Florida in the early ’80s, where he portrayed a satanic character known as the Boston Battler that feuded with legends such as Dusty Rhodes, Barry Windham, and Mike Graham. From there, Sullivan would go on to find success in Jim Crockett Promotions, Smoky Mountain Wrestling, Extreme Championship Wrestling, and World Championship Wrestling, where he had a classic rivalry with the legendary Hulk Hogan.
Related
10 Best Movies About Pro Wrestling, Ranked
From The Iron Claw to Queens of the Ring, these are the best movies about pro wrestling.
Known as one of the most creative minds in the business, Sullivan transitioned from wrestler to booker in WCW, creating storylines for the shows that elevated young stars. His most infamous angle was one he booked between himself, his wife, and the late Chris Benoit, which saw the eventual dissolution of Sullivan’s marriage, with his spouse Nancy Toffoloni eventually divorcing him to marry Benoit.
The Wrestling World Remembers Kevin Sullivan
Having worked with just about everyone in the wrestling business over the years, Sullivan’s impact was undeniable. Though people had known about his recent health struggles, his death has still sent shock waves through the community, with legends past and present paying tribute to the iconic performer. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Ric Flair, who had more than one encounter with Sullivan over the years, called him an “all-time great athlete and friend.”
Adam Pearce, the current general manager of WWE’s flagship show, Monday Night Raw, celebrated Sullivan’s contributions to the wrestling business in his post, sharing a photo of the two together.
Paul Levesque, who is the current Chief Content Officer for WWE and known the world over as Triple H, celebrated the creative genius that Sullivan was in his post.
Jake Roberts, who was a mentee of Sullivan’s back in his early days, also paid tribute to his longtime friend.
It’s clear that Sullivan left a lasting impact on the wrestling world, and though he’s now passed on to rekindle old feuds with other legends that left us way too soon, his contributions to the business will never be forgotten. We here at MovieWeb send out our deepest condolences to the Sullivan family during this difficult time.