WWE Hall of Famer Nick Bockwinkel Passes Away

Nick Bockwinkel, one of the all-time great professional wrestlers, died Saturday night at the age of 80.

The Cauliflower Alley Club, where Bockwinkel was president until 2014,made the announcement early Sunday morning.

It is with a heavy heart the Cauliflower Alley Club announces that The Greatest AWA World Champion of all time and former CAC President and WWE Hall Of Famer, Nicholas “Nick” Bockwinkel passed away Saturday night at approx. 8:40 pm due to health issues. We will have more on this later Sunday afternoon. The Cauliflower Alley Club, it’s members, and all of Nicks fans & friends send their condolences to Darlene & the Bockwinkel family at this time. The Bockwinkel family ask for everyone to respect their privacy at this time.

Bockwinkel was one of the driving forces of the AWA in the 1970s and ’80s as top champion and all-time great heel. He was later recognized by WWE as part of a loaded Hall of Fame class in 2007.

Bockwinkel, who was inducted by long-time manager Bobby Heenan, joined a 2007 class that included Dusty Rhodes, Curt Hennig, Jerry Lawler, Jim Ross, The Shiek, and Mr. Fuji.