Former WWF Tag Champ And Hart Family Member Passes Away

We’ve lost another wrestling legend. Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart has passed away at age 63. Neidhart married into the infamous Hart family and was a member of the Hart Foundation throughout the 80s and 90s and WWF and WCW. Along with Bret Hart, Anvil won the WWF Tag titles twice. Before WWF he had success in the Florida and Calgary territories winning tag and individual gold. Neidhart was married to Hart daugher Elizabeth and is the father of WWE women’s wrestler Natalya.

The news was initially reported by B.Brian Blair, a former wrestler and President of wrestler charity organization The Cauliflower Alley Club

WWE later confirmed it.

Neidhart intitally played football and was an accomplished shot-putter and pursued a pro football career before turning to pro wrestling. According to Bret Hart, Neidhart was the last true trainee of the infamous Hart Dungeon under the tutelage of Stu Hart.

After wrestling around the indies, Neidhart’s greatest success came when he and tag partner Bret Hart joined the WWF. Known as “The Hart Foundation” The two held tag gold twice and were involved in numerous high-profile tag feuds. In fact, their first title run came after defeating fellow Stampede Wrestling alums the British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith and Dynamite Kid). Neidhart was known as the power and muscle to compliment Bret’s more technical savvy.

Later in life, Neidhart struggled with health problems and drug addiction. He also guest-starred on Total Divas alongside his daughter.