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Kevin Sullivan has passed away.
News broke of Sullivan’s passing on Friday morning. He was 74 years old.
He had suffered from health problems in recent months due to a “devastating accident” that took place in May 2024 while he was in Florida for an autograph signing. According to a GoFundMe launched at the time, Sullivan had emergency surgery that ultimately saved his leg and life. However, he was facing many serious complications, including sepsis and encephalitis. Because of this, Sullivan spent time in and out of consciousness in the ICU.
Sullivan was known for his work as an in-ring performer and as the booker of WCW. He got his start in the Northeast, but he became more widely known for his “Prince of Darkness” gimmick in Championship Wrestling from Florida. Later, he caught on with Jim Crockett Promotions/WCW as a member of the Varsity Club with Mike Rotunda and Rick Steiner.
Sullivan returned to WCW in 1994, which led to his tenure as the leader of the Dungeon of Doom. The stable, led by Sullivan, had an ongoing feud against Hulk Hogan. Sullivan employed many wacky characters like Zodiac and Avalanche, and The Giant (Paul Wight) and Meng (Haku) in an effort to end Hulkamania.
After losing a retirement match in 1997, Sullivan focused more on his booking duties, which he held until WWE shuttered WCW. Later, Sullivan made sporadic independent appearances, as well as a brief run in Ring Of Honor beginning in 2016. In recent years, Sullivan hosted a weekly podcast, ‘Tuesday with the Taskmaster’.
WrestleZone sends its condolences to the family and friends of Kevin Sullivan.
Kevin Sullivan on The Dungeon Of Doom
WrestleZone spoke with Kevin Sullivan last year about the concept of the Dungeon Of Doom stable in WCW. Sullivan said people hated the idea at first, but appreciates how time has been kind to the group and its legacy.
“Hulk had his friends, and he wanted them to be used on TV. So I decided that I was booking them [and] rather than putting them in singles because their style was completely different to what was happening than in wrestling. I thought about putting them all together in one segment. It helps him because I wanted him to turn heel after six months when he got there. I wanted to gain his trust. He was used to somebody — I kind of filled the void of Bobby Heenan ending Hulkamania and me saying he’s not who you think he is. So, lump us all together, it gave a little bit of comedy to the show.”
He also said He-Man and Masters of the Universe was probably a subconscious influence.
“Now that they’ve grown up, [fans] love it. Masters of the Universe, yeah, I did it probably subconsciously because I used to watch the cartoon. I thought, yeah, [Hulk] was so over the top, say prayers, take your vitamins, that I had to go the other way. And I’m sure some of that rubbed off on me. And I mean, actually, you’re watching all this great wrestling from the luchadores to the cruiserweights to the nWo to the Four Horsemen. It gave a little bit of levity to the show.”
