UPDATED: 12:45 p.m.
Promoter and longtime friend David Herro says King Kong Bundy died on Monday. Herro posted on Facebook: "Today we lost a Legend and a man I consider family." The cause of death and other details were not disclosed.
At 6' 4", and 458 pounds, Bundy was truly larger than life.
"One of the toughest individuals I have ever seen in the ring," said long-time wrestling journalist, author and host of the Apter Chat Pro Wrestling Podcast, Bill Apter.
Bundy, whose real name was Christopher Alan Pallies, was born in Atlantic City. According to NJ.com he is a 1974 graduate of Washington Township High in Gloucester County, where he won a couple of regional wrestling titles.
He rose to prominence in the WWF during the '80s professional wrestling boom. He made his debut in 1981. His biggest moment was taking on Hulk Hogan in 1986 in the main event of WrestleMania 2. (Hogan won.)
"His character in the ring, and the person who King Kong Bundy was, was melded together perfectly," Apter said. "Because what you saw in the ring was the same guy that I saw outside the ring."
Bundy had guest appearances on the sitcom "Married...with Children," whose characters shared his character's surname.
He was planning to appear next month at WrestleCon in New York City.
The cause of death hasn't been released. King Kong Bundy was 61.
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