Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart, best known for his time as part of The Hart Foundation tag team with Bret Hart, has passed away. Neidhart was 63 years old.
No details are known at this time regarding Neidhart’s passing. B Brian Blair tweeted out the news earlier this morning about the passing.
https://twitter.com/Killerbee1B/status/1029006644296998912
WWE confirmed the unfortunate news about an hour later on Monday morning.
“WWE is saddened to learn that Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart passed away. WWE extends its condolences to Neidhart’s family, friends and fans.”
Neidhart is a former professional football player having spent time with the NFL’s Oakland Riaders and Dallas Cowboys before transitioning to a career in pro wrestling. He was trained by the legendary Stu Hart and married Stu’s daughter, Ellie. Neidhart is the father of current WWE star Natalya (Nattie Neidhart).
His most well-known run came with Bret Hart as part of The Hart Foundation tag team, winning the WWF/WWE Tag Team Championships on two different occassions. The Hart Foundation was later re-formed in 1997 to feature Neidhart, Bret Hart, Owen Hart, “The British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith and Brian Pillman.
Neidhart made the jump to WCW in 1998, working mainly as a singles wrestler. He would go on to have a brief retirement before returning to the ring in 1999 working for promotions such as Heroes of Wrestling, MCW, ECCW, TRC, Border City Wrestling, World All-Stars, PCW, Jersey All Pro, IWS, Northeast Wrestling and many more.
He made a brief return to the ring for TNA in November of 2009, taking part in Jay Lethal’s Black Machismo Invitational Match. Neidhart would stay fairly active in the ring until 2016. He would later become heavily featured on the “Total Divas” reality show featuring his daughter Natalya, his wife Ellie and other family members.
Natalya was scheduled to wrestle at tonight’s RAW taping in Greensboro against RAW Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss. It remains to be see if that will still take place.
On behalf of the entire Wrestleview.com staff, we would like to send out our condolences to the entire family and friends of Neidhart during this very hard time.
WWE is saddened to learn that Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart has passed away. https://t.co/Isxv3ElA3Y
— WWE (@WWE) August 13, 2018