The following was issued by WWE on Tuesday evening.
WWE is saddened to learn of the passing of WWE Hall of Famer Johnnie Mae Young.
“There will never be another Mae Young,” said WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon. “Her longevity in sports entertainment may never be matched, and I will forever be grateful for all of her contributions to the industry. On behalf of WWE, I extend our sincerest condolences to her family and friends.”
One of the original WWE Divas, Young began her sports entertainment career in 1939, and went on to perform in the ring for an unprecedented eight decades.
In addition to her many in-ring achievements, Young became a trainer for many female sports-entertainers, including WWE Hall of Famer The Fabulous Moolah.
Young was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2008. In March 2013, WWE Superstars and fans joined Young to celebrate her 90th birthday live on Monday Night Raw.
The entire WWE Universe offers a standing ovation to a true queen of the canvas and bids Mae Young a heartfelt farewell.