WWE has announced the passing of territorial wrestling legend Bobby Duncum Sr. at age 81.
The rugged cowboy from Austin, Texas, was one of the most feared villains of the territorial era. A graduate of West Texas State University—the same institution that produced Dusty Rhodes and the Funk Brothers—Duncum was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1967 NFL Draft and played four professional games in the NFL in 1968 before transitioning to wrestling.
Duncum became infamous for his brutal street fights and high-profile feuds against WWE Legends Bruno Sammartino and Bob Backlund. In the AWA, he achieved championship success as one-half of the tag team with Blackjack Lanza, winning the AWA World Tag Team Championship in 1976. Both wrestlers were members of the iconic Heenan Family, managed by WWE Hall of Famer Bobby "The Brain" Heenan.
Duncum is the father of the late Bobby Duncum Jr., who passed away in January 2000 at the age of 34. The younger Duncum achieved recognition in WCW as a member of the West Texas Rednecks stable.
WWE extended its condolences to Duncum Sr.'s family, friends, and fans.
