Multiple news outlets are reporting that former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Jack Brisco passed away this morning. He was 68 years old.
Brisco had been battling an assortment of health problems in recent years, including circulatory problems and emphyzema. He underwent open heart surgery a few weeks ago, and a little over a week ago, collapsed while undergoing rehab.
Brisco performed for various territories of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) throughout the sixties, seventies and eighties, becoming a two-time World Heavyweight Champion, and multi-time tag team champion with his brother Gerald Brisco.
He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2008.
For more on his lengthy wrestling career, visit his official website at JackBrisco.com.
Update: Jim Ross has blogged the following about the passing of Jack Brisco at JRsBarBQ.com:
“I feel so blessed that I got to know Jack Brisco on a personal level and I loved him like family,” Ross said today. “Jack Brisco was revered within our business but he was always just a poor kid from Oklahoma, raised without a father who always wanted to be a pro wrestler, and through hard work and dedication became one of the most famous men to ever wrestle for a living.”
