This morning, The Cauliflower Alley Club announced the following:
It is with a heavy heart the Cauliflower Alley Club announces that “The Greatest AWA World Champion of All Time” and former CAC President and WWE Hall Of Famer, Nicholas “Nick” Bockwinkel, passed away Saturday night at approx. 8:40 pm due to health issues.
We will have more on this later Sunday afternoon.
The Cauliflower Alley Club, it’s members, and all of Nicks fans and friends send their condolences to Darlene and the Bockwinkel family at this time.
The Bockwinkel family ask for everyone to respect their privacy at this time.
Also, WWE released the following statement on the passing of Nick Bockwinkel:
WWE is saddened to learn that Nick Bockwinkel, a WWE Hall of Famer and former four time AWA World Heavyweight Champion, has passed away at age 80.
Bockwinkel, known for his great in-ring skill and intelligent interviews, began his sports entertainment career in the mid-1950s after concluding his time on the University of Oklahoma football team. Bockwinkel was trained by his famous father, Warren Bockwinkel, and wrestling legend, Lou Thesz. Nick teamed with his father on many occassions, competing in Georgia, Texas and the Pacific Northwest before moving on to the where he would find the most success: the American Wrestling Association.
Bockwinkel was famously managed by WWE Hall of Famer Bobby “The Brain” Heenan during his AWA tenure, with the two drawing the ire of crowds everywhere. The self-proclaimed “Smartest Wrestler Alive” did it all during his time in AWA, with his crowning accomplishment coming when he defeated fellow WWE Hall of Famer and AWA legend Verne Gagne to win the AWA World Heavyweight Championship, ending Gagne’s historic seven-year run with the title.
Bockwinkel would go on to accumulate many more accolades as his career went on. From his nationally televised rivalry with Larry Zbyszko on ESPN to guest starring on “Hawaii Five-O,” the legend truly did it all. It was only fitting that his great career be capped off by his 2007 induction
into the WWE Hall of Fame, where he will forever be enshrined as one of sports entertainments’ all-time greats.
WWE extends its condolences to Bockwinkel’s family, friends and fans.
Pro Wrestling Powerhouse Nation sends our deepest condolences to The Bockwinkel Family & Friends during this tough time. Rest in Power Nick Bockwinkel.
