Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart died this morning in Tampa, FL at the age of 63.
According to his brother-in-law Ross Hart (via Dave Meltzer), his death was due to a grand mal seizure related to Alzheimer’s Disease, which Neidhart had been suffering from.
The Pasco County sheriff’s office released a statement to TMZ saying, “Preliminary information indicates that [Neidhart] fell at home, hit his head, and succumbed to his injury. No foul play suspected. No additional information to release at this time.”
TMZ also reported that emergency personnel were called at around 6:30 AM about a man having seizures and convulsions.
Another TMZ report added that his wife, Elizabeth Neidhart, told investigators that Jim was having difficulty sleeping, so he went to change the thermostat, then “turned weirdly as if he were about to dance” and “fell towards the wall and ground.” Elizabeth then called 911, telling them that Jim was having a seizure. She said that his last seizure was December 2017 and he had been taking medication for it.
Neidhart is best known as part of the Hart Foundation, where he teamed with Bret Hart in the late 80s and early 90s and won two WWF Tag Team Championships. Neidhart is also the father of Natalya. Her scheduled match against Alexa Bliss tonight on Raw has been canceled.
WWE is saddened to learn that Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart has passed away. https://t.co/Isxv3ElA3Y
— WWE (@WWE) August 13, 2018
Stunned and saddened. I just don’t have the words right now. pic.twitter.com/fcO8Skuuhz
— Bret Hart (@BretHart) August 13, 2018