On Tuesday the WWE announced that one of the greatest heels of the 80s, King Kong Bundy, has passed away at the age of 61.
Known to family and friends as Christopher Pallies, the New Jersey native was beloved by the wrestling community. Shortly after the news broke, many of Bundy’s friends and colleagues took to social media to express their sadness.
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 pic.twitter.com/b53l4xjhGi
— David Herro (@DavidHerro) March 5, 2019
Hate to hear about the passing of King Kong Bundy. He was so cool to me when I walked in that @WWE dressing room as an absolute nobody in 1986.
— Mick Foley (@RealMickFoley) March 5, 2019
RIP my friend. Thanks for your humor and kindness. #KingKongBundy pic.twitter.com/MdzLtvyy6S
— Hurricane Helms (@ShaneHelmsCom) March 5, 2019
Rest In Peace to the true master of the Five Count. Condolences to his loved ones. #KingKongBundy
— Florida Man (@WWEBigE) March 5, 2019
#KingKongBundy going to miss you my friend !!! Thank you for paving the way #RestEasy #WweLegend pic.twitter.com/EQh7Dmw6i3
— JR RIKISHI FATU (@TheREALRIKISHI) March 5, 2019
OMG can’t hardly believe my friend Chris Pallies aka King Kong Bundy has passed away. Very sad news he was a kind soul. Rest In Peace Brother until we meet again.
— Brutus Beefcake (@brutusbeefcake_) March 5, 2019
Wow. King Kong Bundy was soooo good and ahead of his time. He was a machine and he never ran out of gas. @WWEBigE stole his 5 count in NXT too. #RIP
— All Might Big Rus (@RusevBUL) March 5, 2019
I met King Kong Bundy in 1999. I had just started training and was helping out backstage at the show he was on. I’ll always remember him being really funny and just such a great guy. I wish I had been lucky enough to cross paths with him again.
My thoughts go out to his family.
— Kejwhdbmwkiajdbsn (@FightOwensFight) March 5, 2019
Overwhelmed by King Kong Bundy’s passing, only great memories,R.I.P. big man until we meet again. HH
— Hulk Hogan (@HulkHogan) March 5, 2019
Farewell King Kong Bundy, 61.
As a child I was simply petrified of him. Wrestlemania 2 was my introduction to the power of heels and storylines. I literally felt he would destroy Hogan.His omission from the WWE Hall of Fame is egregious. pic.twitter.com/8HlcQy0M4u
— Rhett Bartlett (@dialmformovies) March 5, 2019
King Kong will always be remembered for the iconic 1986 steel cage match against Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 2 and for having referees count to five, rather than the traditional three, simply to show off his immense strength. The WWE legend also made a guest appearance of the sitcom Married with Children.
In honor of the wrestling legend, here is a clip of Bundy’s WWE debut:
R.I.P King Kong Bundy
