Former WWF Wrestler Jim ‘The Anvil’ Neidhart Dead at 63

The professional wrestling world lost another great performer from its boom period as Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart passed away this morning at the age of 63. Best known as one half of the popular 1980's tag team, The Hart Foundation, Neidhart's trademark goatee and pink tights were as synonymous as Hulk Hogan's yellow and red. Tributes immediately flooded Twitter.

Neidhart briefly attempted a pro football career and played for the Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys in preseason games. In the last 1970s, he began training at Stu Hart's Dungeon in Calgary and started his professional wrestling career. It took off in 1985, when he joined the WWF and teamed up with his brother-in-law, Bret Hart. The two held the WWF tag team belts on two occasions and they had legendary battles with the British Bulldogs, Rougeau Brothers, and Killer Bees during the mid to late 80s. Here is a classic Hart Foundation promo cut in 1985, along with a match against the Killer Bees. Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse "The Body" Ventura call the action.

When Bret Hart was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006, he told the crowd about his days teaming with Neidhart. It comes at the 24-minute and 12-second mark of the video.

Neidhart is currently not in the WWE Hall of Fame. His daughter, Natalya is a star on Raw and a former WWE Divas champion. I would not be surprised if Vince McMahon inducts him posthumously into the 2019 class.