Adrian Street Passes Away at Age 82

British wrestling legend Adrian Street passed away on July 24th at the age of 82.

Street’s passing was first announced by his family in a statement to the BCC. The family stated that he had recently underwent brain surgery prior to his passing.

Street’s former wife Linda, also known as Miss Linda in wrestling, provided more details stating that prior his passing, Street had been dealing with several health-related issued including a heart-related problem. Linda also stated that Street had suffered a stroke earlier this month that resulted in a brain bleed. Linda also stated that while he was recovering, Street had developed colitis that later turned into sepsis which caused his death.

“He’d had a heart problem a while ago which was resolved.

But then he had a stroke earlier this month which resulted in a bleed on the brain.

He was recovering from that at home when he developed colitis – a chronic inflammatory bowel disease – which later turned into sepsis. That’s what killed him.

It all came about so quick. I’ve still not come to terms with it yet.”

Street’s career in wrestling spanned from 1957 to 2014 and was most known for his flamboyant “Exotic” Adrian Street character that was implied but never outright stated to be a gay character. As part of his “Exotic” persona, Street would come out in glittery makeup and flamboyant clothing and had a signature move involving him giving a kiss to his opponents to escape their pinfalls. Street would also apply makeup to his downed opponents as another aspect of his “Exotic” persona.

Street primarily wrestled in the United Kingdom, Germany, Mexico, and Canada but would eventually start working in the United States in 1981. In 1969, Street met his would be future wife Miss Linda, real name Linda Gunthorpe Hawke, and the two worked together in a wrestler and female valet combo during their time in the United States with Linda becoming one of the first female valets in wrestling history.

During his career in North America, Street worked for several notable promotions including Stampede Wrestling, Universal Wrestling Association, Memphis, Continental Championship Wrestling, and Mid-South Wrestling.

Street’s career was also most known for an infamous incident involving Jimmy Savile in 1971. This incident revolved around backstage issues over Street not wanting to be booked nor put over Savile due to him not feeling he was a believable “tough guy” wrestler compared to the people he was being put over in matches. This incident led to Street “shoot” fighting and ripping out Savile’s hair in the ring leaving him in a bloody mess afterwards. This would be Savile’s last ever match in wrestling. In an interview in 2013, Street stated that had he known at the time the full extent of Savile’s sexual abuse and pedophilia towards children, he would have given Savile a even bigger beating if it was physically possible.