The Death of Kevin Sullivan - James pays tribute to Kevin Sullivan, who died after complications after a "devastating accident" he suffered back in May 2024 in Florida.
A lot of younger wrestling fans will never know just how influential and amazing Sullivan was. He proved that size does not matter. Always fun to watch. To make it to 74 as a wrestler is not common enough. RIP Kevin. You will be missed.
I agree. When I watched him as a kid I never noticed his size. He had us glued to the tv with his character and I have always felt like Kevin was one tough man no matter his size. He will be missed I was a huge fan👍
This right here hurts..I grew up in the 80s in Florida watching this man wrestle...was legit scared of him ..but when I met him at my highschool gym....he was the nicest guy...much love and respect...one of the Greatest to ever lace up the boots.."Suulliiivvvann"...May he rest in peace..and prayers and love to his family.
I can relate on the legit scared of him...I was 14 or so, and Continental Championship Wrestling came to my tiny Alabama hometown, which was THE greatest thing I had ever seen up until then. I had a BIG stack of Apter magazines, which had recently been filled with Kevin Sullivan and Mark Lewin and the whole Devil gimmick. I'm there to see the advertised main event, which was Exotic Adrian Street (I was a HUGE Adrian fan and actually got to tag with him as an adult) vs. Wildcat Wendell Cooley. Somewhere around midcard Kevin Sullivan appeared. I nearly had a heart attack. For all I knew, he was still in Florida, feuding with Dusty.
I was legitimately scared of him too when I was a kid. A lot of it had to do with him having the devil gimmick right in the middle of the satanic panic.
I grew up in Florida...and Sullivan was my favorite wrestler in the world during that Army of Darkness run. My grandmother took me to either Lakeland or Tampa to see him main event against Black Jack Mulligan when I must have been about 12. He had the craziest heat -- but I was screaming my head off for him. And as he passed me after getting DQ'd (pretty sure it was a DQ -- it was a long time ago...) he passed me and I'm screaming "Mr. Sullivan, you're my favorite wrestler in the whole world!" and he broke character for a second and gave me a little smile and winked at me as he went past. To say I'm heartbroken over this is an understatement. Rest in peace.
You and me both. It’s possible we were at some of the same shows at the Tampa Armory. Kevin introduced me to wrestling, and whenever someone asked who my favorite wrestler of all time is, the answer is always Kevin Sullivan. If you are from Tampa, you may remember the Toys R Us on Fowler Ave.. I was 14 and browsing around the GI Joes when I look over and see Kevin and Angel turn down the aisle, just shopping. I said the same thing you did, “Hello Mr Sullivan. You are my favorite wrestler.” He could have just said thanks and kept walking, but they took the time to talk to me and make my day. I told Angel she was the prettiest lady I’ve ever seen, and she said thank u and kissed me on the cheek. For a 14 yr old boy, that was boner city 😆 I was lucky enough to meet him again two yrs ago at an Indy show in Sarasota, where I got to tell him a story about cheering for him spiking Dusty and the crowd attacked me with beer and sodas, making my dad run me out of there. He laughed pretty good about it. Super nice and super humble guy who will be dearly missed by those of us who understood him. Sorry reply was so long.
I seen him in Miami as he was walking out with the Purple Haze to take on Dusty and Black Jack I started barking at the Purple Haze (the Purple Haze used to bark at the crowd) and he started barking back at me. Kevin looked at me and I barked at him too and he laughed and grabbed the Purple Haze and went to the ring,
@@MasterWitchDoctor He was a great heel yet he loved his fans. After getting a chance to meet him while he was shopping in a store with Fallen Angel, about 2 months later I was lucky to get a seat by the entrance rail. After the match when they were leaving, I got Angel’s attention and she elbowed Sullivan and pointed to me. They remembered me from meeting them in the store. Sullivan came my way and as fans were booing him, he smiled and gave me a pat on the arm and said, “Thanks for coming.” A kid that was standing next for me asked, “You KNOW him? 😳” I just kinda shrugged and nodded like I was somebody 😆
Kevin Sullivan was one of those special characters who actually got the fans to suspend their disbelief. I remember during his Taskmaster days, how crazed the fans were. A great mind for the business because he loved the industry. We'll all go one with our lives, but to us oldtimers, we lost one hell of a talent. Rest in Peace.
Man sadden to hear of the passing of Kevin Sullivan. I remember a lot of his stuff in WCW Master of the Tree of WOE a True Wrestling Legend R.I.P Kevin Sullivan ❤❤🙏🙏🙏
Talking with the Purple Haze, Mark Lewin who would go into a near trance, wile incorporating tales of the two "chewing the leechee nut" as he goes into ecstasy as if it was food for his dark soul and finishes with the fate of their opponents (Dusty, Barry) would end, "tied to the Tree of WOOOE", as he stood there dressed in an occult-themed black hooded robe that went all the way to his ankles, - Lewin's similar robe was in purple - wearing heavy dark eye-shadow completely encircling both eyes, and moving his eyes looking up to his forehead before sinking them into his head as if he was in communication with the dark side and the forces were overtaking him. I'd sit there amazed that he was doing in the territory and kayfabe days what was perceived as Devil Worship in the heart of the Bible Belt and not getting murdered by true believers. The small UHF Spanish station WNJU - Channel 47 out of Newark NJ used to carry CWF at about 11:30 or midnight on a weeknight in the late 1970s and the station was picked up by Cablevision In Orange County NY. No one could afford the new technology known as the VCR, so you stayed up late to watch it and go to work tired as all get out the following morning. Or you missed it. But you didn't miss it because it was "Must-See TV" to we marks in the pre-Meltzer days.
Rest in peace Booker Man. Appreciated the character and the work behind the scenes. May his family, friends and fans find comfort in all his accomplishments in and out of the business and that he's at peace now. We'll see you in the next town brother. Much respect from Cinci
Im really sorry to hear that Kevin died. As a 63 year old who has watched wrestling for 57 years this hurts. Kevin was a great wrestler as well as a booker. R.I.P MR. KEVIN SULLIVAN an all time great 👍 !!
This is another one that hurts. I fondly remember Kevin Sullivan as a Babyface in Georgia Championship Wrestling in the late 70's paired with Tony Atlas and even Stan Hansen
The first time I ever saw wrestling was when I turned on my TV at the age of 10 years old and Kevin Sullivan was spiking Dusty Rhodes in the head. I was hooked for life at that moment. I got to I see Kevin wrestle many times. Several times we would interact with him as he stood behind the curtains at our local arena in South Florida and would just roll his eyes at us and snarl and scare the living heck out of us. To this day I don't think his act was a gimmick. Rip Taskmaster.
I remember Kevin Sullivan from his mid-70s in the WWWF. I can remember The Grand Wizard at Ringside, running his mouth - and The Wizard had both his hands on the ring apron. I can see Sullivan running over and stomping on The Grand Wizard's hands like it happened yesterday.
Also, doing all these interviews keeps these wrestlers alive for future generation's to discover them and hear their opinions on things. I know many people don't like breaking kayfabe. But 50 years down the line, people will be glad we catalogued these personalities and their achievements.... thanks for all the interviews, James. It helps keep wrestling history alive in its own way.
This one hurts. I'd never even heard of Kevin before his Dungeon of Doom days, and I didn't care for him as a wrestler at all back then. But as I dived deeper into the history of wrestling, my respect for Kevin grew by leaps and bounds. He was truly one of the last great booking minds in wrestling.
I really wasn't much of a fan until 10 years ago or so and I starting watching shoot interviews with him and found the guy was truly brilliant and was behind a lot of the storylines I liked in WCW. One thing that always stood out is I never heard Kevin talk trash about anyone, he just never had anything bad to say about anyone.
@@longjohn526Same here, I grew up with the A.W.A. as my territory, so I wasn't super familiar with him until the W.C.W. days. But man he was so believable in everything he did, and them shoot interviews are great, I've yet to see many shoots where other wrestlers bash him either. I think he was pretty much a well respected man.
Kevin Sullivan will go down in history as one of the hardest workers in the business, and a man whose fingerprints are all over wrestling. He was everywhere and did darn near everything a man in wrestling could do. And to live to 70 in a business where people die far too before their time is incredible. If he's not in the WWE Hall of Fame he should be. And should have been already
Thank you for breaking this story on your channel, this is the first place I've come across the info. Sullivan was a legend, a great mind and passion for the business. His humor was bone dry and any shoot interview he ever did was brilliant. RIP
I am heartbroken, I grew up in Clearwater Florida in the 80's. I watched CWF on WTOG TV channel 44, Kevin Sullivan was the main heel. Loved his feud with Dusty, Blackjack Mulligan and Barry Windham, then he went to WCW as the Taskmaster. RIP Kevin, thank you for the great memories.😢😢💔💔
I’ve literally just read this. Kevin was one of the best heel bookers I’ve ever seen. He understood that real heat draws money. Loved his shoots, his booking philosophy and just his stories. Thank you, Kevin. 😢😢😢😢😢
Kevin Sullivan was one of those guys that could legit scare a little kid in the NWA Florida days … he sure scared THIS little kid back then ! I’ve loved him ever since! R.I.P.
He was on my TV every Saturday growing up in West Palm Beach in early 80's. I saw him wrestle in person many times at the West Palm Beach Auditorium. I was legitimately scared of him and thought he was dangerous. He was one of the greatest heels of all time imo.
A very nice tribute video to a wrestling legend, and my condolences to his family and friends and fans. Rest in peace Kevin Sullivan, you will be missed.
I woke up to this news. He seemed to be in good health in all those shoot interviews before his health turned for the worse. I loved him as the Taskmaster and his feuds with Hulk Hogan and Brian Pillman infamously calling him booker man. His feud with Benoit was great too. I also remember he had a brother in WCW too who said his name backwards.He lived longer than a lot of his peers in the business. It's sad another legend gone. R.I.P. Kevin Sullivan
James, thank for the beautiful and heartfelt tribute about Kevin Sullivan. What a great man and legend he was! For every hero like Dusty Rhodes, Hulk Hogan and Blackjack Mulligan, there had to be an antagonist/heel like Kevin Sullivan. His work in Florida was genius and cutting edge and as a big fan of Florida in the early to mid-1980s, he truly deserves to be in ALL Hall of Fames. The man was incredibly unselfish, an awesome money maker and a great mentor to the other wrestlers. I’m truly sorry to all of his family and friends. And James, thank you for ALL you do!
The list of superlatives would not do justice to Kevin's impact on wrestling and pop culture, not to mention his qualities as a man. RIP 'Johnny West'. You're already missed.
Grew up in central Florida with CWF and Gordon Solie..got to witness his heel turn..he had so much heat in Florida with Army of Darkness..mom always threatened to not let us watch wrestling because of Kevin..so many great matches..RIP
Kevin Sullivan was one of my favorite wrestlers. He was very convincing as the Taskmaster. I used to watch him on Championship Wrestling From Florida hosted by Gordon Solie. The world lost a wrestling legend. Thank you Kevin for some of the greatest memories from my childhood. Rest In Paradise
Mr Sullivan was the man who introduced me to wrestling. I had the pleasure of meeting him on two separate occasions, once at the age of 14 in a store with Angel, and the other at the age of 51 at an Indy show. He was super nice and humble both times I spoke with him. He went out of his was to make me feel appreciated for being a fan, and that’s a genuine trait of his I’ve always appreciated. He will forever be my favorite wrestler of all time. Growing up in a Florida, Kevin is legendary here. I went many times to the Tampa Armory to see him, and once when he was giving Dusty repeated spikes to the head, I was cheering so loud to “HIT HIM AGAIN!!!”, the crowd turned on me and pelted me with beer and soda… to the point my dad rushed me out of there . I’m so thankful I was able to tell him that story 2 yrs ago and hear him laugh and laugh, and then thank me for risking my life to cheer for him 😂 I am deeply saddened by this loss and will always hold a spot in my heart and mind for the great Kevin Sullivan. May he RIP knowing how much he is loved ❤
Damn. This is very sad to hear. What an absolute beast in the ring. So many great memories. Was fortunate to have seen him many times live, in his prime. RIP to the Games Master💚💚💚
Loved Kevin when I 1st discovered his Army of Darkness in the early-to-mid '80s, when Sir Oliver Humperdinck, The Lock, Luna Vachon later on, Purple Haze, and the beautiful Fallen Angel, Kevin's then-wife Nancy. As he progressed later on as the leader of The Varsity Club, then with The Dungeon Of Doom, in WCW, as well as his time as a booker, his legend grew by leaps and bounds, and the business is a lot richer for it. Rest in Power and Peace, Mr. Sullivan, and God bless you.
Made a great heel turn when he turned on Mike Graham during a match that became a big feud for a long while.He never broke Kayfabe while he worked for CWF and Eddie Graham.He would go shopping in the grocery stores in his weird outfits. RIP Kevin you were one of the best.
This one hurts personally. I will always cherish my conversations with Mr. Sullivan at the Cauliflower Alley Reunions here in Las Vegas. The first year I met him i was wearing my Roddy Piper shirt and he made his way over to me and Thanked me for keeping his close friend "Rod" alive. We talked for a good 15min and at the end he pulled out his phone and said, "Very few I have showed this to..." It was a text message he received on his phone from Roddy Piper the day before we lost Mr. Piper. He said it will be with him forever. Every year at the CAC Mr. Sullivan remembered me and we continued a conversation like I saw him yesterday. Ill always cherish the photo he asked Me to take with him that I later printed and he signed. Rest easy Legend and give my best to Mr. Piper. Condolences to his Family and dear friend Mr. Andrew Anderson. 💔🙏
Aww man this really hurts. I get up watching Kevin Sullivan on TV in the 80's and he was one of the best wrestling entertainers in the business. Listening to his interviews on RUclips he was also very articulate and intelligent. A great loss for wrestling and the fans.
I have watched Kevin Sullivan since he was a kind of babyface jobber in the WWWF in the early 70's. He has had an amazing career and a major player in every role of the game. He will be missed. RIP.
Sullivan was amazing and definitely knew how to get crazy heat❤. He was a decent booker too. He made being evil cool back in the 80s and will definitely be missed. Sending best wishes to his family. Thank you for this video❤❤❤❤❤
Sad to hear the passing of Kevin Sullivan. He was awesome on the mic and in the ring. I started watching Kevin Sullivan in the 80s as part of Florida Championship Wrestling. So sad 😢 RIP The taskmaster
I remember first reading about Kevin Sullivan through the wrestling magazines in the early 80s when he was feuding with Dusty Rhodes. Loved all his work in the 90s as well. All the best to his family and friends 💪🏼
Holy shit, this one blindsided me. I was too young at the time to appreciate most of his in-ring career. He had one of best minds the business has ever seen, and I sought to watch every interview Kevin Sullivan had ever done in the past 20 years. RIP Kevin, and thoughts and prayers to his family.
Made the taskmaster the evil one Kevin Sullivan rest in peace chili was a wrestling legend credibly, creative deathly longtime friend with Dusty and I guess now him and Nance can be near each other again. May he rest in peace in Florida and WWE also ring of honor and other organizations, Texas wrestling AWA a lot of wrestling organizations through the years. A true wrestling icon and legend rest in peace Mr. Sullivan truly I hope you have peace in your death that you didn’t have in your life. God bless your soul, and God bless your family and friends.
Sullivan was one of the wrestlers who stood out to me as kid when I first started watching Georgia Championship Wrestling in the late 1970s. As the Boston Battler, my favorite Sullivan character, his matches were always fun to watch, and I liked that, though a face, he always had chip on his shoulder. He had great feuds in GCW with the Russians while teaming with Tony Atlas (ether rag match), Austin Idol, the Freebirds ("Jailbirds") with Idol as his partner, and Maniac Mark Lewin. Though I was a little disappointed with his heel turn in GCW, it was fun to watch it happen while he was wrestling a lot against Steve O and Steve Keirn.
Saddened to hear this, Kevin was one of those that got me interested in watching rasslin in the early 70s. I first saw him in the Gulas territory teaming with Joey Rossi as the Boston Battler...R.I.P. and THANK YOU FOR MAKING ME BELIEVE
Several years ago National Geographic ran a TV series “The Legend of Mick Dodge” about a guy who was living off the grid in the rainforest of Washington state. Kevin Sullivan showed up in the series as a part of a gathering of those living off the grid in the area. The show ran in 2014.
My favorite spot will ALWAYS be the respect match between him and Pillman. “I respect you BOOKER MAAAAAAN”. Rest in peace to both of them. God bless you Sullivan
Sullivan was also part of a big tag team in the late 70's or early 80's with Austin Idol. It eventually led to the 2 to have a huge feud. Prayers to his family and friends.
Oh no......I just saw this and it's so sad. One of the greats. I loved his gimmick in Florida, and he was such a great force in wrestling- both in the ring and behind the scenes. God speed. ~ Caretaker
Oh no I felt I could see Kevin getting weaker the last times I seen him on video I love Kevin so much he was such a great person and had such a great mind and he lived such an amazing life I know I will miss Kevin and many many more ppl will I'll be praying for his family
A lot of younger wrestling fans will never know just how influential and amazing Sullivan was. He proved that size does not matter. Always fun to watch. To make it to 74 as a wrestler is not common enough. RIP Kevin. You will be missed.
Sullivan was also one of the best minds and talkers in wrestling. RIP Taskmaster. :(
Huge loss. It took a while for me to "get" him but once I did he quickly became a favorite of mine.
He was just so believable on almost everything that he did. I was a teenager in the 80's, and didn't appreciate it until I became older.
I agree. When I watched him as a kid I never noticed his size. He had us glued to the tv with his character and I have always felt like Kevin was one tough man no matter his size. He will be missed I was a huge fan👍
He was truly amazing!
This right here hurts..I grew up in the 80s in Florida watching this man wrestle...was legit scared of him ..but when I met him at my highschool gym....he was the nicest guy...much love and respect...one of the Greatest to ever lace up the boots.."Suulliiivvvann"...May he rest in peace..and prayers and love to his family.
Me too. Grew up in Miami. Born in early 70s. Grew up watching Sullivan. Dusty. Et al
I can relate on the legit scared of him...I was 14 or so, and Continental Championship Wrestling came to my tiny Alabama hometown, which was THE greatest thing I had ever seen up until then. I had a BIG stack of Apter magazines, which had recently been filled with Kevin Sullivan and Mark Lewin and the whole Devil gimmick. I'm there to see the advertised main event, which was Exotic Adrian Street (I was a HUGE Adrian fan and actually got to tag with him as an adult) vs. Wildcat Wendell Cooley. Somewhere around midcard Kevin Sullivan appeared. I nearly had a heart attack. For all I knew, he was still in Florida, feuding with Dusty.
he and gordon solie were Florida Wrestling
I was legitimately scared of him too when I was a kid. A lot of it had to do with him having the devil gimmick right in the middle of the satanic panic.
He really did have me on the edge of my seat every match .. a great one for sure !
I grew up in Florida...and Sullivan was my favorite wrestler in the world during that Army of Darkness run. My grandmother took me to either Lakeland or Tampa to see him main event against Black Jack Mulligan when I must have been about 12. He had the craziest heat -- but I was screaming my head off for him. And as he passed me after getting DQ'd (pretty sure it was a DQ -- it was a long time ago...) he passed me and I'm screaming "Mr. Sullivan, you're my favorite wrestler in the whole world!" and he broke character for a second and gave me a little smile and winked at me as he went past.
To say I'm heartbroken over this is an understatement. Rest in peace.
You and me both. It’s possible we were at some of the same shows at the Tampa Armory. Kevin introduced me to wrestling, and whenever someone asked who my favorite wrestler of all time is, the answer is always Kevin Sullivan. If you are from Tampa, you may remember the Toys R Us on Fowler Ave.. I was 14 and browsing around the GI Joes when I look over and see Kevin and Angel turn down the aisle, just shopping. I said the same thing you did, “Hello Mr Sullivan. You are my favorite wrestler.” He could have just said thanks and kept walking, but they took the time to talk to me and make my day. I told Angel she was the prettiest lady I’ve ever seen, and she said thank u and kissed me on the cheek. For a 14 yr old boy, that was boner city 😆
I was lucky enough to meet him again two yrs ago at an Indy show in Sarasota, where I got to tell him a story about cheering for him spiking Dusty and the crowd attacked me with beer and sodas, making my dad run me out of there. He laughed pretty good about it. Super nice and super humble guy who will be dearly missed by those of us who understood him.
Sorry reply was so long.
I was a kid in the early 80’s and the heel turn and army of darkness remains my fav storyline ever. I’m so upset he has left us. RIP Kevin
@@MarkedInBlack I went to USF so I totally remember that Toys R Us! I used to get videogames there. :-)
I seen him in Miami as he was walking out with the Purple Haze to take on Dusty and Black Jack I started barking at the Purple Haze (the Purple Haze used to bark at the crowd) and he started barking back at me. Kevin looked at me and I barked at him too and he laughed and grabbed the Purple Haze and went to the ring,
@@MasterWitchDoctor He was a great heel yet he loved his fans. After getting a chance to meet him while he was shopping in a store with Fallen Angel, about 2 months later I was lucky to get a seat by the entrance rail. After the match when they were leaving, I got Angel’s attention and she elbowed Sullivan and pointed to me. They remembered me from meeting them in the store. Sullivan came my way and as fans were booing him, he smiled and gave me a pat on the arm and said, “Thanks for coming.” A kid that was standing next for me asked, “You KNOW him? 😳” I just kinda shrugged and nodded like I was somebody 😆
Kevin Sullivan was one of those special characters who actually got the fans to suspend their disbelief. I remember during his Taskmaster days, how crazed the fans were. A great mind for the business because he loved the industry. We'll all go one with our lives, but to us oldtimers, we lost one hell of a talent. Rest in Peace.
Thank you, James. You have the ultimate respect for the business.
Man sadden to hear of the passing of Kevin Sullivan. I remember a lot of his stuff in WCW Master of the Tree of WOE a True Wrestling Legend R.I.P Kevin Sullivan ❤❤🙏🙏🙏
Growing up, I thought the Tree of Woe was the coolest move and I'd only seen Sullivan use it back then.
Talking with the Purple Haze, Mark Lewin who would go into a near trance, wile incorporating tales of the two "chewing the leechee nut" as he goes into ecstasy as if it was food for his dark soul and finishes with the fate of their opponents (Dusty, Barry) would end, "tied to the Tree of WOOOE", as he stood there dressed in an occult-themed black hooded robe that went all the way to his ankles, - Lewin's similar robe was in purple - wearing heavy dark eye-shadow completely encircling both eyes, and moving his eyes looking up to his forehead before sinking them into his head as if he was in communication with the dark side and the forces were overtaking him.
I'd sit there amazed that he was doing in the territory and kayfabe days what was perceived as Devil Worship in the heart of the Bible Belt and not getting murdered by true believers.
The small UHF Spanish station WNJU - Channel 47 out of Newark NJ used to carry CWF at about 11:30 or midnight on a weeknight in the late 1970s and the station was picked up by Cablevision In Orange County NY. No one could afford the new technology known as the VCR, so you stayed up late to watch it and go to work tired as all get out the following morning. Or you missed it. But you didn't miss it because it was "Must-See TV" to we marks in the pre-Meltzer days.
Rest in peace Booker Man. Appreciated the character and the work behind the scenes. May his family, friends and fans find comfort in all his accomplishments in and out of the business and that he's at peace now. We'll see you in the next town brother. Much respect from Cinci
Im really sorry to hear that Kevin died. As a 63 year old who has watched wrestling for 57 years this hurts. Kevin was a great wrestler as well as a booker. R.I.P
MR. KEVIN SULLIVAN an all time great 👍 !!
As a 60 year old now , as a kid .he made me believe he was real.
This is another one that hurts. I fondly remember Kevin Sullivan as a Babyface in Georgia Championship Wrestling in the late 70's paired with Tony Atlas and even Stan Hansen
Me too
The first time I ever saw wrestling was when I turned on my TV at the age of 10 years old and Kevin Sullivan was spiking Dusty Rhodes in the head. I was hooked for life at that moment. I got to I see Kevin wrestle many times. Several times we would interact with him as he stood behind the curtains at our local arena in South Florida and would just roll his eyes at us and snarl and scare the living heck out of us. To this day I don't think his act was a gimmick. Rip Taskmaster.
I remember Kevin Sullivan from his mid-70s in the WWWF. I can remember The Grand Wizard at Ringside, running his mouth - and The Wizard had both his hands on the ring apron. I can see Sullivan running over and stomping on The Grand Wizard's hands like it happened yesterday.
Also, doing all these interviews keeps these wrestlers alive for future generation's to discover them and hear their opinions on things. I know many people don't like breaking kayfabe. But 50 years down the line, people will be glad we catalogued these personalities and their achievements.... thanks for all the interviews, James. It helps keep wrestling history alive in its own way.
This one hurts.
I'd never even heard of Kevin before his Dungeon of Doom days, and I didn't care for him as a wrestler at all back then. But as I dived deeper into the history of wrestling, my respect for Kevin grew by leaps and bounds. He was truly one of the last great booking minds in wrestling.
Thx James, I never missed a RUclips Kevin interview. His story telling was the best. Sad day...
I really wasn't much of a fan until 10 years ago or so and I starting watching shoot interviews with him and found the guy was truly brilliant and was behind a lot of the storylines I liked in WCW. One thing that always stood out is I never heard Kevin talk trash about anyone, he just never had anything bad to say about anyone.
@@longjohn526Same here, I grew up with the A.W.A. as my territory, so I wasn't super familiar with him until the W.C.W. days. But man he was so believable in everything he did, and them shoot interviews are great, I've yet to see many shoots where other wrestlers bash him either. I think he was pretty much a well respected man.
Kevin Sullivan will go down in history as one of the hardest workers in the business, and a man whose fingerprints are all over wrestling. He was everywhere and did darn near everything a man in wrestling could do. And to live to 70 in a business where people die far too before their time is incredible. If he's not in the WWE Hall of Fame he should be. And should have been already
Thank you for breaking this story on your channel, this is the first place I've come across the info. Sullivan was a legend, a great mind and passion for the business. His humor was bone dry and any shoot interview he ever did was brilliant. RIP
So sorry to hear of Kevin's passing. He made you believe that wrestling was 100% real!
I am heartbroken, I grew up in Clearwater Florida in the 80's. I watched CWF on WTOG TV channel 44, Kevin Sullivan was the main heel. Loved his feud with Dusty, Blackjack Mulligan and Barry Windham, then he went to WCW as the Taskmaster. RIP Kevin, thank you for the great memories.😢😢💔💔
A great mind for wrestling, in and out of the ring, he will be miss. RIP Mr Sullivan and thank you for all your work.
Huge loss. Seemed like a genuine dude, and a real genius in the business.
I’ve literally just read this. Kevin was one of the best heel bookers I’ve ever seen. He understood that real heat draws money. Loved his shoots, his booking philosophy and just his stories. Thank you, Kevin. 😢😢😢😢😢
Another iconic wrestler gone. Not many of the old school larger than life characters left.
Thanks for the lovely tribute 😢
Kevin Sullivan was one of those guys that could legit scare a little kid in the NWA Florida days … he sure scared THIS little kid back then ! I’ve loved him ever since! R.I.P.
R.I.P Kevin. My condolences to his family and friends.
He was on my TV every Saturday growing up in West Palm Beach in early 80's. I saw him wrestle in person many times at the West Palm Beach Auditorium. I was legitimately scared of him and thought he was dangerous. He was one of the greatest heels of all time imo.
Well done James..respectful..RIP Kevin Sullivan
Another wrestler who should of been added in the hall of fame soon hopefully
Just found out. Thank you for the video. Very sad. Absolute pro wrestling legend both in the ring and booking.
As a fellow englishman and a subscriber, You deal with all your content with the utmost class! you deserve all the success you get mate!
Oh wow, so sad. Such an influential and important guy in this business. He had such a fantastic mind for the business
Probably not wwe is gae I'd be surprised if they did.
Yeah now we praise him. we were calling him a murderer for years. How fickle we wrestling fans are.
This was a good tribute. Thank you James.
I used to watch Kevin Sullivan on All-Star Wrestling in Kansas City, this was the 70"s and back then he was a very young face.
Very classy update James thank you.
A very nice tribute video to a wrestling legend, and my condolences to his family and friends and fans. Rest in peace Kevin Sullivan, you will be missed.
Great tribute to an underrated legend ✊️
I woke up to this news. He seemed to be in good health in all those shoot interviews before his health turned for the worse. I loved him as the Taskmaster and his feuds with Hulk Hogan and Brian Pillman infamously calling him booker man. His feud with Benoit was great too. I also remember he had a brother in WCW too who said his name backwards.He lived longer than a lot of his peers in the business. It's sad another legend gone.
R.I.P. Kevin Sullivan
So underrated by so many. Great heel, particularly remember him feuding with Black Jack Mulligan
Being from Florida I loved watching Kevin in Florida during the 1980s. His interviews with Gordon Solie were legendary! RIP!
R.I.P. Kevin Sullivan. What an amazing wrestling mind.
Rest in peace to a true treasure for the history of wrestling. A man involved in wrestling at a high level through so many decades.
James, thank for the beautiful and heartfelt tribute about Kevin Sullivan. What a great man and legend he was! For every hero like Dusty Rhodes, Hulk Hogan and Blackjack Mulligan, there had to be an antagonist/heel like Kevin Sullivan. His work in Florida was genius and cutting edge and as a big fan of Florida in the early to mid-1980s, he truly deserves to be in ALL Hall of Fames. The man was incredibly unselfish, an awesome money maker and a great mentor to the other wrestlers. I’m truly sorry to all of his family and friends. And James, thank you for ALL you do!
Rip Kevin, great wrestling mind, you'll be missed
R.I.P and condolences to his family and friends.
The list of superlatives would not do justice to Kevin's impact on wrestling and pop culture, not to mention his qualities as a man. RIP 'Johnny West'. You're already missed.
Much respect to you James for that heartfelt, honorable tribute. RIP Kevin Sullivan
Another link to my childhood is gone. What a sad day. Thank you, Kevin, for all of the amazing memories. Requiescat In Pace.
Rest in peace Kevin!!! You are already missed❤❤😢
Grew up in central Florida with CWF and Gordon Solie..got to witness his heel turn..he had so much heat in Florida with Army of Darkness..mom always threatened to not let us watch wrestling because of Kevin..so many great matches..RIP
Kevin was one of the best in so many ways. His laugh was outstanding!! Great heel booker. God bless.
Kevin Sullivan was one of my favorite wrestlers. He was very convincing as the Taskmaster. I used to watch him on Championship Wrestling From Florida hosted by Gordon Solie. The world lost a wrestling legend. Thank you Kevin for some of the greatest memories from my childhood. Rest In Paradise
Mr Sullivan was the man who introduced me to wrestling. I had the pleasure of meeting him on two separate occasions, once at the age of 14 in a store with Angel, and the other at the age of 51 at an Indy show. He was super nice and humble both times I spoke with him. He went out of his was to make me feel appreciated for being a fan, and that’s a genuine trait of his I’ve always appreciated. He will forever be my favorite wrestler of all time. Growing up in a Florida, Kevin is legendary here. I went many times to the Tampa Armory to see him, and once when he was giving Dusty repeated spikes to the head, I was cheering so loud to “HIT HIM AGAIN!!!”, the crowd turned on me and pelted me with beer and soda… to the point my dad rushed me out of there . I’m so thankful I was able to tell him that story 2 yrs ago and hear him laugh and laugh, and then thank me for risking my life to cheer for him 😂
I am deeply saddened by this loss and will always hold a spot in my heart and mind for the great Kevin Sullivan. May he RIP knowing how much he is loved ❤
Damn. This is very sad to hear. What an absolute beast in the ring. So many great memories. Was fortunate to have seen him many times live, in his prime. RIP to the Games Master💚💚💚
Rest In Peace, Kevin Sullivan.
his bouts with Dusty Rhodes are legendary
Loved Kevin when I 1st discovered his Army of Darkness in the early-to-mid '80s, when Sir Oliver Humperdinck, The Lock, Luna Vachon later on, Purple Haze, and the beautiful Fallen Angel, Kevin's then-wife Nancy. As he progressed later on as the leader of The Varsity Club, then with The Dungeon Of Doom, in WCW, as well as his time as a booker, his legend grew by leaps and bounds, and the business is a lot richer for it. Rest in Power and Peace, Mr. Sullivan, and God bless you.
Made a great heel turn when he turned on Mike Graham during a match that became a big feud for a long while.He never broke Kayfabe while he worked for CWF and Eddie Graham.He would go shopping in the grocery stores in his weird outfits. RIP Kevin you were one of the best.
This one hurts personally. I will always cherish my conversations with Mr. Sullivan at the Cauliflower Alley Reunions here in Las Vegas. The first year I met him i was wearing my Roddy Piper shirt and he made his way over to me and Thanked me for keeping his close friend "Rod" alive.
We talked for a good 15min and at the end he pulled out his phone and said, "Very few I have showed this to..."
It was a text message he received on his phone from Roddy Piper the day before we lost Mr. Piper.
He said it will be with him forever.
Every year at the CAC Mr. Sullivan remembered me and we continued a conversation like I saw him yesterday. Ill always cherish the photo he asked Me to take with him that I later printed and he signed. Rest easy Legend and give my best to Mr. Piper.
Condolences to his Family and dear friend Mr. Andrew Anderson. 💔🙏
One of the best. RIP Kevin Sullivan.
Damn RIP Kevin Sullivan
Aww man this really hurts. I get up watching Kevin Sullivan on TV in the 80's and he was one of the best wrestling entertainers in the business. Listening to his interviews on RUclips he was also very articulate and intelligent. A great loss for wrestling and the fans.
OMG. I knew it was coming but it still hurts like hell
He was himself and not a afraid 2 speak his mind I respect that always
I have watched Kevin Sullivan since he was a kind of babyface jobber in the WWWF in the early 70's. He has had an amazing career and a major player in every role of the game. He will be missed. RIP.
He genuinely creeped me out and I loved him for it. He was one of a kind and he was one of the greats. God bless his family and friends 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼💔
Sullivan was amazing and definitely knew how to get crazy heat❤. He was a decent booker too. He made being evil cool back in the 80s and will definitely be missed. Sending best wishes to his family. Thank you for this video❤❤❤❤❤
Sad to hear the passing of Kevin Sullivan. He was awesome on the mic and in the ring. I started watching Kevin Sullivan in the 80s as part of Florida Championship Wrestling. So sad 😢 RIP The taskmaster
Always come across as a nice guy out of wrestling and had one great mind for it RIP
I remember first reading about Kevin Sullivan through the wrestling magazines in the early 80s when he was feuding with Dusty Rhodes. Loved all his work in the 90s as well. All the best to his family and friends 💪🏼
Cheers 🍻 to a legend. R.i.p.
Every wrestler that dies it reminds me of my childhood what a time RIP MR KEVIN SULLIVAN
Thank you for sharing. R.I.P. Kevin Sullivan
Thank you and thank you Kevin Sullivan for a great career.
Rest in Heaven
🕊️😇🕊️💪🏾❤️
Holy shit, this one blindsided me. I was too young at the time to appreciate most of his in-ring career. He had one of best minds the business has ever seen, and I sought to watch every interview Kevin Sullivan had ever done in the past 20 years. RIP Kevin, and thoughts and prayers to his family.
This hurts.
RIP Kevin Sullivan 🙏
Made the taskmaster the evil one Kevin Sullivan rest in peace chili was a wrestling legend credibly, creative deathly longtime friend with Dusty and I guess now him and Nance can be near each other again. May he rest in peace in Florida and WWE also ring of honor and other organizations, Texas wrestling AWA a lot of wrestling organizations through the years. A true wrestling icon and legend rest in peace Mr. Sullivan truly I hope you have peace in your death that you didn’t have in your life. God bless your soul, and God bless your family and friends.
Kevin you will be missed your contributions to wrestling will never be duplicated
I always respected Mr. Bookerman. As James said, his booking style made the nwo what it was in the early days.
Rest easy, Taskmaster.
Now everyone is a fan definitely should be praised
A very creative and interesting characters he projected 🙏🏼
Sullivan was one of the wrestlers who stood out to me as kid when I first started watching Georgia Championship Wrestling in the late 1970s. As the Boston Battler, my favorite Sullivan character, his matches were always fun to watch, and I liked that, though a face, he always had chip on his shoulder. He had great feuds in GCW with the Russians while teaming with Tony Atlas (ether rag match), Austin Idol, the Freebirds ("Jailbirds") with Idol as his partner, and Maniac Mark Lewin. Though I was a little disappointed with his heel turn in GCW, it was fun to watch it happen while he was wrestling a lot against Steve O and Steve Keirn.
Saddened to hear this, Kevin was one of those that got me interested in watching rasslin in the early 70s. I first saw him in the Gulas territory teaming with Joey Rossi as the Boston Battler...R.I.P. and THANK YOU FOR MAKING ME BELIEVE
kevin sullivan was a true heel unlike so many wrestlers nowadays that are heels..,i was always a fan of his.
What?? Wow!! I wasn’t ready for this. Soo many memories but I need a few moments!!
Rest in Peace Kevin Sullivan
Oh sh*t...yea, that really sucks....his creativity was always so undervalued.
Rest well, Taskmaster... you've earned it.
RIP Kevin and thank you🙏
R.I.P. Kevin Sullivan.🎉❤🎉
Several years ago National Geographic ran a TV series “The Legend of Mick Dodge” about a guy who was living off the grid in the rainforest of Washington state. Kevin Sullivan showed up in the series as a part of a gathering of those living off the grid in the area. The show ran in 2014.
R.I.P booker man. We respect you
My favorite spot will ALWAYS be the respect match between him and Pillman. “I respect you BOOKER MAAAAAAN”. Rest in peace to both of them. God bless you Sullivan
Sullivan was also part of a big tag team in the late 70's or early 80's with Austin Idol. It eventually led to the 2 to have a huge feud. Prayers to his family and friends.
Rest in Peace Kevin. 🙏🌹
Oh no......I just saw this and it's so sad. One of the greats. I loved his gimmick in Florida, and he was such a great force in wrestling- both in the ring and behind the scenes. God speed.
~ Caretaker
I remember seeing him @ MSG in the early 70'S
Oh no I felt I could see Kevin getting weaker the last times I seen him on video I love Kevin so much he was such a great person and had such a great mind and he lived such an amazing life I know I will miss Kevin and many many more ppl will I'll be praying for his family
Genuine and Profound mind for the business. Will be missed dearly
Dang. I just found out he was ill. Rest well taskmaster
Hadn't realised his health issues extended beyond the crash. Well done to James for the obituary.
what happened to him?
Im a ole Florida boy and always loved Kevin Sullivan.. RIP to the taskmaster