Wrestling legend King Kong Bundy has unexpectedly passed away. The WWE veteran was scheduled to appear at an autograph signing at Wrestlecon with All Snow. However, he passed away hours after making the announcement on Twitter. While his promoter David Herro announced his death online, his official cause of death has yet to be confirmed.
https://twitter.com/RealKKBundy/status/1102757475395272705
King Kong Bundy was one of the WWE’s original wrestling heroes. Let’s take a look at his career and some of his most iconic moments.
Early Life And Career
Christopher Alan Pallies, known under the wrestling name King Kong Bundy, was born on November 7, 1957 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He attended the Washington Township High School in New Jersey, from which he graduated in 1974.
Bundy started training as a wrestler at the “Monster Factory” in Bellmawr, New Jersey. He would make his professional wrestling debut on March 7, 1981 with the WWE, then known as the World Wrestling Federation.
King Kong Bundy semi-retired from wrestling between 1986 and 1994. He returned to the WWE in 1994 and left the company permanently a year later. He continued to wrestle on the independent circuit until 2007. Still, despite his retirement, he regularly attended meet and greets with fans.
His Acting Career
Those of you who cannot remember King Kong Bundy in the WWE might remember him from the television screen.
Interestingly, the main character Al Bundy in Married…with Children was named after King Kong Bundy. So, it’s no surprise that Bundy would make two appearances in the show. He also appeared in commercials for Vendex computers in 1986. Bundy also acted numerous times in other television shows and movies including Moving, Boy Meets World, and Golden GOAL!
Lawsuit Against The WWE
Just three years ago, Bundy was one of the claimants in a lawsuit against the WWE. The lawsuit claimed that wrestlers incurred long-term neurological injuries. It also stated that the WWE failed to care for those injuries and that doctors fraudulently misrepresented and concealed the evidence of such injuries.
The lawsuit was filed by Konstantine Kyros, an attorney who is known to take on lawsuits against the WWE. However, the case was dismissed in September 2018.
His Death
King Kong Bundy died aged 61, shortly after tweeting he would attend WrestleCon on his Twitter account. Various WWE legends have responded to the sad news.
RIP my friend. Thanks for your humor and kindness. #KingKongBundy pic.twitter.com/MdzLtvyy6S
— Hurricane Helms (@ShaneHelmsCom) March 5, 2019
WWE is saddened to learn that King Kong Bundy has passed away.https://t.co/SNrSunQYeQ
— WWE (@WWE) March 5, 2019
https://twitter.com/RealMickFoley/status/1102809375909961728
Ringside Intel would like to express their condolences to the family and friends of King Kong Bundy. He will be greatly missed by the wrestling universe.