🖤 WWE Stars We Lost in 2025: Remembering 10 Icons
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2025 marked a heartbreaking year for wrestling fans, as we lost 10 influential stars—including Hulk Hogan—who shaped WWE and the industry forever.
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2025 marked a heartbreaking year for wrestling fans, as we lost 10 influential stars—including Hulk Hogan—who shaped WWE and the industry forever.
The year 2025 has proven to be a solemn chapter in the history of professional wrestling, as the industry mourns the loss of ten influential wrestlers and personalities. These figures—spanning generations, regions, and wrestling styles—left behind legacies that helped shape what WWE and global wrestling have become today. From in-ring innovators to behind-the-scenes architects, each name reflects a unique contribution to the business. Those who passed away in 2025 are: Hulk Hogan, Sweet Daddy Siki, Black Bart, Rico Suave, Australian Suicide, Hisashi Shinma, Sabu, Maxx Justice, Steve “Mongo” McMichael, and Kevin Nikel. The following sections provide a detailed look at each individual’s career highlights, impact on wrestling culture, and the circumstances surrounding their passing.
📅 Born: August 11, 1953 — 🕯 Died: July 4, 2025
Arguably the most iconic name in wrestling history, Hulk Hogan transcended the squared circle and became a global pop culture phenomenon. Bursting into the mainstream during the 1980s with unmatched charisma and the unmistakable “Real American” anthem, Hogan was the face of WWE’s Golden Era, headlining the first WrestleMania and lifting the company into the entertainment stratosphere.
Known for his red-and-yellow persona, rip-away shirts, and thunderous leg drop, Hogan captured six WWE Championships and six WCW World Heavyweight Championships, becoming a foundational pillar of the nWo era and WCW’s rise. His contributions extended beyond wrestling with Hollywood movies, TV appearances, and merchandising that turned professional wrestling into a global brand.
Though his legacy included public controversies and personal battles, Hogan’s influence on the industry is indisputable. His passing on July 4, 2025, from reported heart complications at age 71, sent shockwaves throughout the world. WWE and AEW ran tribute packages, and figures from every era—from Ric Flair to John Cena—honored Hogan’s enduring legacy.
“Whatcha gonna do, brother, when the memory of Hulkamania runs wild on you?” — Vince McMahon, during a live WWE tribute special
📅 Born: June 16, 1933 — 🕯 Died: December 31, 2024 (announced January 1, 2025)
A pioneer of racial representation and flamboyance in pro wrestling, Sweet Daddy Siki built a massive following from the 1950s to 1970s. A regular in Maple Leaf Wrestling, NWA, and Stampede Wrestling, he was also a beloved figure in Toronto’s music and bar scenes. Siki trained future WWE stars Edge and Christian, cementing his legacy as both a performer and mentor.
📅 Born: January 30, 1948 — 🕯 Died: January 9, 2025
A gritty Texan brawler with a booming voice, Black Bart was best known for his time in NWA, World Class Championship Wrestling, and WWE. He captured the NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship and was a staple of regional promotions throughout the ’80s. Bart succumbed to colon cancer at 76.
📅 Born: July 4, 1970 — 🕯 Died: March 20, 2025
A beloved figure in Puerto Rican wrestling, Suave made his name in WWC, holding multiple tag and singles titles over his 40-year career. Despite losing a leg in 2024, he remained a symbol of resilience and charisma. His passing from heart failure at age 54 was mourned by fans across Latin America.
📅 Born: December 9, 1992 — 🕯 Died: March 6, 2025
Known for his high-risk style, Broderick Shepherd, a.k.a. Australian Suicide, was a standout in AAA and Mexico’s lucha libre scene. As a former AAA World Cruiserweight Champion, he brought Australian talent into global view. He tragically died at 32 following a sudden cardiac arrest.
🕯 Died: April 21, 2025
A mastermind behind the curtain, Hisashi Shinma served as WWE’s on-screen president during the late 1970s and helped broker key partnerships between New Japan Pro Wrestling and WWE. He co-created the Tiger Mask persona and shaped early international strategies for modern wrestling’s globalization. He passed away quietly at an undisclosed age.
📅 Born: 1963/64 — 🕯 Died: May 11, 2025
A trailblazer of the hardcore wrestling movement, Sabu redefined violence in the ring with barbed wire, steel chairs, and tables. A star in ECW, WWE, TNA, and FMW, Sabu earned three world titles and influenced a generation of extreme wrestlers. He died just weeks after retiring, at age 60.
📅 Born: c. 1962 — 🕯 Died: May 18, 2025
Maxx Justice was a West Coast indie staple and five-time APW Universal Champion. Known for his intensity and work ethic, he briefly competed in WWF in the early ’90s. He died tragically at 63 after being struck by a vehicle while cycling in California.
📅 Born: October 17, 1957 — 🕯 Died: April 23, 2025
From NFL icon to Four Horsemen enforcer, Steve McMichael bridged the worlds of football and wrestling. He won a WCW United States Championship and played a key role during the ’90s Monday Night Wars. After a long, public battle with ALS, he passed at 67, surrounded by loved ones and tributes from across sports.
📅 Born: c. 1984 — 🕯 Died: July 12, 2025
A former WWE NXT competitor (2012–13) and Texas indie veteran, Kevin Nikel was a fierce performer and dedicated trainer. Known under multiple ring names, his tragic death in a shooting incident at 41 shocked the wrestling world. He is survived by a young son and a devoted fanbase in the South.
These ten individuals—from megastars like Hulk Hogan to underrated journeymen and behind-the-scenes architects—represent wrestling’s vast and varied tapestry. In 2025, we lost not just performers, but mentors, visionaries, and cultural icons. Their memories live on through the generations they inspired and the history they helped write inside the ring and beyond it.
Rest in peace, legends. You will never be forgotten.
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