Former Wrestler Lanny Poffo Passes Away At Age 68
Emma Terry 
It has been reported that former WWE professional wrestler Lanny Poffo has passed away. He was 68 years old.
Poffo, also known by his ring name "The Genius," was a professional wrestler known for telling poems in the ring before his matches. He was the younger brother of "Macho Man" Randy Savage and the two performed together in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He was active in the industry from the 1970s to the 1990s and was known for his high-flying acrobatics, cartwheels, and distinctive poetry-reciting character. He was a heel that often worked with some of the industry's greats, including Mr. Perfect, Hulk Hogan, and more.
Related: 10 Things Fans Should Know About Leaping Lanny Poffo, Randy Savage's Brother
Wrestlers are reacting to the news with great sadness. Hacksaw Jim Duggan tweeted, "I always enjoyed his work in ring & that he had poem for us all. With a very, very heavy heart, I've been asked to let everyone know about the passing of our friend and colleague Lanny Poffo, The Genius." Franki Kazarian wrote an article remembering his time and sharing a glimpse into what it was like to know the man. I had the fortunate honor of interviewing him for a documentary he was part of and he was kind, courteous and often in character to keep me entertained, even though he didn't need to be.
Poffo Never Given Enough Credit
Poffo never got the push he probably deserved in wrestling but he was a major part of some really big storylines in WWE. He even defeated Hogan once via countout on an episode of Saturday Night's Main Event, and right when Hogan was in his prime. He didn't get the title and he was never a top-tier bad guy, but his mark was left on those he worked with and with fans. The WWE Universe absolutely loved to hate the guy when he was ranting during his promos.
We send our condolences to friends and family.
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