King Kong Bundy Passes Away At 61

Christopher Pallies, best known as King Kong Bundy, has passed away at the age of 61.

No further details are currently known. David Herro was the first to report the news, with PWInsider later confirming he had passed away.

Bundy started his career in 1981, wrestling for WWE under the name Chris Canyon. He later relocated to Texas, where he soon adopted the moniker King Kong Bundy, facing Fritz Von Erich in his retirement match at Texas Stadium in 1982. He later went to Mid South Wrestling, adopting a gimmick where he would demand a five count instead of the normal three when pinning an opponent.

He joined the WWE in 1985 and was given a monster push upon arrival, His most memorable match during this run was a steel cage match against Hulk Hogan for the WWE title in the main event of WrestleMania 2 in 1986. Once that program ended, Bundy teamed with Big John Studd and had another program with Hogan before leaving the company in 1988.

He made one last run in the WWF in 1994, joining Ted DiBiase’s Million Dollar Corporation. He left the following year and largely worked independents until 2007.

Bundy is also known for his acting roles, most notably playing the brother of Peggy Bundy on the television sitcom Married With Children. He also had a role in the 1988 Richard Pryor film Moving as an ex-con.