NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- WWE Hall of Famer Harley Race died Thursday due to complications from lung cancer, the WWE said. He was 76.
"Today at 12:50, we lost the man that fought up until the very last of his existence," read a tweet posted on his account. "More information will be released soon, but just know that he loved pro-wrestling and the fans that loved him.
Race snagged the NWA World Heavyweight Championship seven times, which stood as a record until Ric Flair broke it in 1991, according to the WWE.
During the 1970s and early 1980s, Race was the National Wrestling Alliance’s most dominant champion, winning the sport's oldest World Heavyweight Championship from the likes of Dory Funk Jr., Giant Baba, Terry Funk, Dusty Rhodes and Flair.
The WWE said, "The tough-as-nails Race was so universally respected that WWE, despite having seceded from the NWA and having its own World Heavyweight Champion, chose to recognize Race's title status as well. As a result, Race was the first NWA Champion to engage in title unification matchups against WWE Champions like "Superstar" Billy Graham and Bob Backlund."
In recent years, Race's health had deteriorated, and he was confined to a wheelchair.
He was hospitalized in mid-July while traveling to the Knoxville Fanboy Expo. At the time, his team said in a tweet, "Just a quick update on Mr. Race, he is still at the hospital under doctors care. There isn't any time table for any situation as his health is of utmost priority. We will be releasing more info later this afternoon. Thanks to everyone for their concern and continue the thoughts."