WWE Announces Larry 'The Axe' Hennig Has Died at Age 82

Wrestling legend Larry "The Axe" Hennig died at age 82, WWE confirmed Thursday. 

Hennig's grandson, who wrestles with WWE as Curtis Axel, posted a statement about his death on Twitter:

According to WWE, Hennig suffered from a lengthy illness as well as kidney failure.

Hennig is a legend in his own right as a result of his time with the American Wrestling Association, where he was a four-time tag team champion. His bigger legacy, though, came as the patriarch of the Hennig wrestling family, which includes Axel and Axel's father, "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig. 

Given his place in wrestling history, many spoke fondly of Hennig on social media:

Curt Hennig earned a posthumous induction into WWE's Hall of Fame in 2007, four years after his death in 2003. Larry Hennig was among the family's representatives on stage to formally accept Mr. Perfect's induction.

When WWE brought the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view to Minneapolis in 2014, Hennig was on hand to accompany Axel and Ryback to the ring for a tag team match against Cody Rhodes and Goldust.

In addition to his lengthy spell with AWA, WWE noted Hennig unsuccessfully challenged Bruno Sammartino for what was then Sammartino's WWWF title.

According to the Internet Wrestling Database, Hennig last wrestled for the AWA in 1985, teaming with Mr. Perfect in a losing effort against the Road Warriors.