Former professional wrestler Mark Hildreth, best-known to fans as Van Hammer during his time in WCW, has passed away at age 66.
News of his death was first announced on social media by Marc Mero, who worked with Van Hammer in WCW. As of press time, the cause of death is unknown.
“It is with a heavy heart that I share the passing of our dear friend, Mark Hildreth, known to so many as Van Hammer,” Mero posted on Facebook. “Mark was a fighter in every sense of the word. Life threw its share of challenges
his way, but he had a resilience about him… he always found a way to rise, to push forward, to keep going.”
Mero added that he met Hildreth at a local gym in Venice, Florida, and that the late wrestler drove Mero eight hours so that he could sign his first contract with WCW.
“That’s the kind of person he was loyal, selfless, and always there when it mattered most,” Mero wrote.
Hildreth went through wrestling school with Mero and eventually earned his own contract. He debuted as “Heavy Metal” Van Hammer, a rock star gimmick, for WCW in 1991 at Clash of the Champions, where he defeated Terrance Taylor in less than a minute.
Billed at 6’6” with a weight of 280 pounds, the imposing Hammer amassed a 42-0 win streak that was eventually ended by Cactus Jack.
After his initial push, Hammer’s stature in WCW faded somewhat before he returned as a member of Raven’s Flock in 1997. He was later repackaged as Major Stash and was a member of the Misfits in Action stable in the early 2000s.
Following his release from WCW, Hammer worked sporadically on the independent wrestling scene, often in Maryland Championship Wrestling (MCW).
In this tribute, Mero recalled working with Hammer “to help promote WCW for the United Kingdom Tour, doing countless personal appearances, television spots, and even promotional work alongside Gladys Knight.”
“Those were unforgettable moments… times I’ll never forget,” Mero wrote. “Rest easy, my friend. You will always be remembered.”
Another one of Hammer’s friends in the business, Diamond Dallas Page, also paid tribute to his late friend on social media.
Page recalled how Hammer was part of a “band of brothers” that included himself, Mero (as Johnny B. Badd), Kevin Nash, Mick Foley, Scott Hall, Erik Watts, and Raven.
Page noted that Hammer had battled addiction, but he “cleaned himself up” and was working as a salesman for a windows-and-doors company in Florida. DDP noted they’d grown close again in recent years, and the two men had been texting and talking on a regular basis.
“I’m grateful we found our way back into each other lives,” Page wrote. “I’ll carry those memories with me always my brother. Rest easy, I’ll see you in Valhalla.”
The staff at Cageside Seats extends their condolences to Van Hammer’s family, friends, and fans.
Please share your memories of Van Hammer in the comments below.
