Former WWE Star Corporal Kirchner Has Passed Away
Mike Penzel has passed away at the age of 64.
Mike Penzel, aka Corporal Kirchner, has passed away at the age of 64.
FMW archivist BahuFMW broke this news last night, detailing how Penzel passed away yesterday after suffering a heart attack at his home in Siler City, North Carolina. He is survived by his wife of 25 years and their four children.
Mike Penzel also known as Leatherface/Super Leather/Cpl. Kirchner passed away from a heart attack today. His wife tried to save him, but couldn’t.
Advertisement— Bret (@BAHUFMW) December 23, 2021
Having served in the US Army, Mike Penzel entered the pro wrestling business after meeting Hulk Hogan in a gym. From there, Penzel was introduced to AWA promoter Verne Gagne.
It would be in the then-WWF where Penzel would really make his name, initially working as an enhancement talent dubbed RT Reynolds before then being given the Corporal Kirchner moniker and portrayed as a proud American patriot.
As Corporal Kirchner, Penzel notably feuded with the nefarious Nikolai Volkoff, with the two squaring off at WrestleMania 2 in a Flag Match which Kirchner won. He would depart the company in 1987, eventually heading to New Japan Pro Wrestling and creating the Leatherface gimmick for himself. That gimmick would be tweaked as Super Leather when Penzel began competing for FMW in 1995, and he remained with the promotion until FMW closed its doors in 2002. Mike would formally retire in 2004, but he would continue to make sporadic in-ring appearances up until 2009.
The thoughts of us all here at WhatCulture Wrestling go out to the family, friends and fans of Mike Penzel.