According to PWInsider, former NWA World Tag Team Champion and WWE Superstar Don Kernodle passed way on Monday at the age of 71.
It is being said that Kernolde had been dealing with a number of health issues. However, as of this report there is no known cause of death.
Kernolde made his professional wrestling debut in 1973 with Jim Crockett Promotions, and regularly teamed with Sgt. Slaughter as a member of Slaughter’s Cobra Corps Faction. He was initially managed by Gary Hart and teamed with Bob Orton Jr., whom he held the NWA Tag Team Titles with.
Though he was never contracted to the WWF he defeated enhancement talents, but lost to Rocky Johnson and Tito Santana. Kernodle also worked events that were co-promoted by the WWF between 1982 and 1984 with the Tunney family at the Maple Leaf Gardens Arena in Toronto, which included a match where he captured the NWA Canadian TV title from Jay Youngblood.
Besides appearances with the NWA, he made appearances in WWE and spent time in Mid-Atlantic Wrestling and the World Wrestling Council in Puerto Rico, holding the WWC Puerto Rican and WWC TV titles.
After retiring from professional wrestling, Kernodle worked as a Sergeant for the Immigration Customs Enforcement for Alamance County, North Carolina. He then later became a deputy sheriff in Alamance County.
From the entire staff at Wrestleview, our thoughts, prayers and condolences to the family and friends of Don Kernodle during this difficult and sad time.
You can watch some of Kernolde’s classic matches below: