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“Exotic” Adrian Street Passes Away At 82, The Wrestling World Reacts

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“Exotic” Adrian Street Passes Away At 82, The Wrestling World Reacts
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“Exotic” Adrian Street passed away at the age of 82 last Monday (July 24) at Cwmbran’s Grange University Hospital, The BBC reports.

Street survived cancer in 2001 and recently underwent brain surgery. His family confirmed that the cause of death was sepsis which had developed from a bout of colitis. Adrian’s wife, Miss Linda, said the following:

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“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.”

Linda also noted that Street was “the kindest, most lovely and loving man I’ve ever known. The total opposite to how he behaved on stage.”

The family plans to have the late wrestler cremated and scatter his ashes on the mountains near their residence. Linda said,

“He loved the outdoors and we’d go on long walks in the countryside all the time. He’d really be at peace up there.”

Street was a flamboyant, androgynous heel who worked in the professional wrestling industry in the 1970s and 80s. He was infamous for kissing his opponents to avoid being pinned and putting makeup on them when they were down.

Street wrestled in the UK, Canada, Germany, and Mexico, eventually going to the United States. He wrestled for companies like Mid-South Wrestling, NWA Hollywood, and Championship Wrestling. He also sang his theme song, ‘Imagine What I Could Do To You.’

Street is credited for inspiring many similar characters, most notably Goldust. He retired in the 90s but operated the Skull Krushers Wrestling School until 2004.

Street later came out of retirement and actively wrestled until 2014. It is assumed that he wrestled between 12,000 and 15,000 matches in his career.

Tributes and prayers have been pouring in since the news of Adrian’s passing broke, with WWE, Triple H, Drew McIntyre, and others remembering the influential wrestler.

WWE issued the following statement:

“WWE is saddened to learn that Adrian Street has passed away.

Born the son of a coal miner in Wales, Street enjoyed a nearly 60-year career that spanned the globe, as his flamboyant style entertained audiences and reimagined what was possible in sports-entertainment.

After competing as Kid Tarzan, “Exotic” Adrian Street was introduced to the world in bold fashion, as Street would make his way to the ring adorned in pastels and glitter with his glam-rock entrance music providing the perfect soundtrack.

Accompanied by his long-time manager and future wife, Miss Linda, Street worked throughout the UK, Germany, Mexico and Canada before finally settling in the Continental Championship Wrestling promotion in Birmingham, Alabama.

Street estimated that he competed in somewhere between 12,000 and 15,000 matches, but his influence stretched well-beyond in-ring competition. Street is credited with designing the gear worn by Mick Foley’s “Dude Love” during his rivalry with “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.

Street also starred alongside Ron Perlman in the 1981 film “Quest for Fire” and performed in the band “The Pile Drivers.”

WWE extends its condolences to Street’s family, friends, and fans.”

Triple H tweeted,

“A genre-bending pioneer whose larger-than-life presence and ruthlessness between the ropes changed the wrestling world forever. Honored to have called Adrian Street a friend. My thoughts are with Miss Linda and the family, friends and fans of Adrian Street.”

McIntyre wrote,

“Adrian Street was before his time, a genuine trailblazer and one of the toughest men you could wish to meet. My thoughts go out to his wife Linda & the rest of his family and friends. RIP.”

You can check out some tweets below:

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