Legendary Wrestling Promoter Jim Crockett Jr. Passes Away
Jim Crockett Jr. was 76 years old. Rest in peace.
Legendary professional wrestling promoter Jim Crockett Jr. has sadly passed away at 76 years old.
Robert Gibson of the Rock 'N' Roll Express broke the news on Facebook a few hours ago.
The Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer had reported that Crockett was in "grave condition" over the weekend, having been taken into hospital. On Monday, Meltzer followed up with news that Jim had taken himself off dialysis and entered hospice care, his condition seemingly worsening.
Rest in peace to one of the most influential and important wrestling promoters of all time, who stood as one of the last bastions of defence against Vince McMahon's national expansion in the 1980s, his product writing the blueprint for decades of wrestling to follow.
Jim took over as promoter of Jim Crocket Promotions when his father, Jim Sr., passed away in 1973. His territory was among the National Wrestling Alliance's most popular and successful and survived until November 1988, when he was forced to sell to Ted Turner after almost going bankrupt.
A former NWA President, Crockett retired from pro wrestling promotion in 1994, settling into a career in real estate and mortgaging.
Fittingly, much of last night's AEW Dynamite revolved around Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, JJ Dillon, and Tony Schiavone, four of Crockett's old staples.
We are WhatCulture wish to express our deepest thoughts and condolences to Jim's family and friends and this difficult time.