Remembering a true legend, Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart

If you were to ask any casual wrestling fan today who Jim Neidhart was, chances are they would probably say, “that funny guy on Total Divas.” If you look deeper however, “The Anvil” was one of the most popular wrestlers of his generation, changing the tag team wrestling scene with Bret Hart as The Hart Foundation. This week, all we can really do is honor all that he has accomplished, from TV to the ring.

It was confirmed by WWE that Jim Neidhart passed away yesterday afternoon at the age of 63. TMZ later confirmed that the death was a result of a brain injury after a fall. The news shocked the wrestling world, with each member of the community coming together to honor one of the all time greats.

A former football player, Neidhart began training to be a pro wrestler with the legendary Stu Hart in the late 1970’s-80’s. While training, he eventually met his tag partner in the ring Bret, and manager Jimmy Hart. Any wrestling fan could tell you their favorite tag team match was The Hart Foundation v. Demolition at SummerSlam 1990. They became one of the top heel acts in WWE in the 80’s before becoming a fan favorite in the 90’s with the New Hart Foundation. He was a two-time WWF Tag Team Champion, with a laugh as memorable as The Million Dollar Man.

After Bret became a singles star, Neidhart moved around between WCW and WWE. He always found an opportunity to teach the young stars a thing or two. Whether it was regarding training, golf or family, it appeared that “The Anvil” was the guy in the locker room to go to.

It was at the Hart Family Dungeon where he met his partner in life, Ellie. They had three kids together, one of them being Natalie, aka Natalya.

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— Nattie (@NatbyNature) August 13, 2018

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— Nattie (@NatbyNature) August 14, 2018

Throughout his run and after, Neidhart battled through substance abuse issues, arrests and rehab. It was also noted that Neidhart may have had a form of Alzheimer’s. That did not stop him from being the family man that is showcased on E!’s hit reality show, or through Natalya’s many Instagram posts.

It has been a sad few months for the pro wrestling community. Neidhart joins Bruno Sammartino, Vader, Nikolai Volkoff and Brian Christopher as the latest to pass away in 2018.

The legacy of Jim Neidhart is one to remember, no matter how brief. As the only active member of the Hart Foundation, Bret made sure to point out all the good Neidhart brought to the world. The Revival, one of the top WWE tag teams today, emulate their style from teams like the Hart Foundation and the Four Horsemen. It is a lost art form that “The Anvil” perfected.

We here at Double G Sports offer our condolences to the family and friends of Jim Neidhart.

Celebrating the life and legacy of Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart tonight on #RAW. pic.twitter.com/eZyOwMWJu5

— WWE (@WWE) August 14, 2018