Professional wrestling fans around the world are mourning the death of longtime referee, Dave Hebner.
Fellow referee Brian Hebner, Hebner’s nephew, tweeted that his uncle had passed away on Friday at the age of 73.
Joseph Currier of F4wonline.com noted that “Hebner had been battling serious health issues in recent years, including dementia and Parkinson’s disease.”
Former NASCAR driver Hermie Sadler had recently visited with Hebner and asked everyone to send “some positive vibes” to the Hebner family.
Hebner began working for the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE) in the 1980s. In 1988, he and his Twin brother Earl were a part of one of the most famous angles in wrestling history when Earl was revealed as Dave’s Evil Twin after costing Hulk Hogan the World Wrestling Federation title on an episode of WWF The Main Event, which aired on February 5 of that year.
That event was also the most-watched in wrestling history, as it drew (per cagematch.net) a record-shattering 15.2 rating.
Many wrestlers and others in the wrestling world sent their condolences to Hebner and his loved ones after news of his passing broke.
Hebner worked with WWE until 2005, when he was released. He later worked with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (now IMPACT Wrestling) and more recently with MMWA Wrestling.