Jim Crockett Jr. has passed away at the age of 76.
Crockett Jr. was put on hospice care in recent days and was reportedly dealing with liver and kidney failure.
Robert Gibson first posted the news on his Facebook page.
Crockett Jr inherited Crockett Promotions from his father, Jim Crockett, in 1977, competing with Vince McMahon in the 1980s. He was elected NWA President for his first-term in 1980, a second term in 1985, and a third term in 1987. In November 1988 he sold Jim Crockett Promotions to Ted Turner. The promotion went on to become WCW.
Crockett Jr remained NWA President until 1991.
In 1985, he purchased the Saturday Night TBS timeslot from Vince McMahon, creating the television show World Championship Wrestling.
Besides WWE, Crockett was the first promoter to bring events to pay-per-view with 1987 Bunkhouse Stampede and 1988 Great American Bash.
Crockett left wrestling and moved on to real estate after failing to launch World Wrestling Network alongside Paul Heyman in 1994.
WWE issued the following statement:
WWE is saddened to learn that Jim Crockett Jr. passed away at the age of 76.
An influential promoter who helped champion the careers of WWE Hall of Famers such as Ric Flair, Ricky Steamboat and The Road Warriors, Crockett Jr. stewarded the family’s Crockett Promotions from 1977 to 1989. As part of the promotion’s affiliation, Crockett Jr. was later named President of the National Wrestling Alliance in 1980. During his tenure, Crockett Jr. helped expand the promotion’s footprint and held the inaugural Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. Under Crockett Jr.’s leadership, the NWA would eventually be sold and renamed as World Championship Wrestling.
WWE extends its condolences to Crockett Jr.’s family and friends.
Fightful would like to extend its condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Jim Crockett Jr.
