Veteran Wrestler Rick Link Dies at 66

Rick Link, a veteran professional wrestler known for his rivalries in the National Wrestling Alliance territories and as a former AWA Southern Heavyweight Champion, died on Wednesday at the age of 66.

Link, a native of North Carolina who stood 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighed 348 pounds, built a career spanning nearly five decades in promotions across the United States and abroad. His death came several weeks after he entered hospice care in December, following his decision to discontinue kidney dialysis treatments. At that time, his sister announced the news publicly, and a GoFundMe campaign was established to help cover funeral expenses.

A lifelong wrestling enthusiast, Link began training at age 15 under promoter Johnny Hunter in the Carolinas. He made his professional debut in 1975, shortly after turning 16, for Hunter's Eastern Wrestling Association and the International Wrestling Association, where he faced established competitors such as Bulldog Brower and Killer Karl Krupp. By 1979, Link had joined the NWA's regional circuits, gaining prominence in Memphis through intense feuds with Jerry "The King" Lawler.

Link's Memphis run included becoming the first wrestler in local...