Wrestling legend Sid Eudy, whose massive frame and commanding presence propelled him to the top of the industry in the 1990s, has died, the Crittenden County, Arkansas, coroner confirmed Monday. He was 63.
Eudy lived in Marion, a suburb 12 miles west of downtown Memphis, Tennessee, with his wife, Sabrina Estes Eudy. Their son, Gunnar, posted the news of his father’s death on Facebook.
Gunnar Eudy said his father died “after battling cancer for several years.”
Eudy, also known as Sycho Sid and Sid Vicious, won the WWF Championship twice, the WCW World Heavyweight Championship twice, and the USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship twice, according to his IMDb bio.
He performed primarily in the 1990s, when professional wrestling was experiencing a resurgence in mainstream interest, headlining several pay-per-view shows for both the WWF and WCW, including WWF’s WrestleMania VIII and 13 in 1992 and 1997, respectively, as well as WCW’s Starrcade in 2000, according to the biography.
At 6’11”, he was as physical as he was theatrical. Eudy’s biography at WWE (the WWF was renamed in 2002 after being challenged by the World Wildlife Fund) said he was a remarkable presence in a sport dominated by human spectacle.
“One of the most brutal Superstars to ever terrorize WWE, the sadistic Sid brought an intensity that few could hope to contain. Just ask the litany of ring legends who incurred his wrath – a list that includes Shawn Michaels, Hulk Hogan, Bret ‘Hit Man’ Hart and many more,” the bio reads.
He joined WCW in 1989 and made a name for himself and took down foes in WWE in 1991, the company said in his obituary.
He won the WWE Championship in 1996 and 1997 and became known as “The Master and Ruler of the World,” WWE said.
Professional wrestler and Hall of Famer Booker T. Huffman said Monday on X that Eudy was instrumental in his career.
“Without Sid Vicious, I don’t think my brother and I would have made it to WCW,” he said, referring to his brother Lash, known in the ring as Stevie Ray. “His impact on this business was undeniable, and he paved the way for so many of us. My deepest condolences to his family during this difficult time.”
Son Gunnar agreed that Eudy was not all brute force.
“He was a strong, kind and loving man and his presence will be greatly missed,” he wrote on Facebook.
He is survived by Sabrina, Gunnar and another son, Frank.
