Kevin Sullivan was a pro wrestler with WCW and an early incarnation of WWE who went by such ring names as the Taskmaster and the Prince of Darkness.
- Died: August 9, 2024 (Who else died on August 9?)
- Details of death: Died in Concord, Massachusetts of complications from a blood clot in his leg at the age of 75.
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Kevin Sullivan’s legacy
Sullivan got his start in regional wrestling promotions of the 1970s, including Gulf Coast Wrestling and Championship Wrestling from Florida. In 1974, he joined the World Wide Wrestling Federation, a precursor to today’s WWE, becoming a face, or good guy. He was with WWWF for three years before returning to regional promotions, most notably spending much of the 1980s back with CWF. There, he debuted a goth wrestling persona known as the Prince of Darkness. The character was inspired by the “Satanic panic” scares of the 1980s, and it became one of Sullivan’s most famous personas, establishing him as a heel, contrary to his face origins.
Later in the ‘80s, Sullivan joined World Championship Wrestling, staying with the well-known promotion briefly before returning in the mid-90s for his best-known period. With WCW, he became the Taskmaster, a heel with the Dungeon of Doom stable. He had memorable feuds with legends like Hulk Hogan and Dusty Rhodes. After retiring from his wrestling career in the late ‘90s, Sullivan remained with WCW for a few years as a booker.
Notable quote
“I took a lot from pop culture, and I knew, in essence, any story passed down is always the ultimate good against the ultimate evil. Good has to triumph, but it has to go through trials and tribulations along the way to be victorious.” — from a 2023 interview for Pro Wrestling Stories
Tributes to Kevin Sullivan
Full obituary: Los Angeles Times
