A SCOTS wrestling legend who earned superstar status in America has died aged 82.
The Angus-born athlete become one the of most recognisable faces in the Memphis wrestling scene, winning the Southern Heavyweight Championship belt several times over.
Shock news of Bill Dundee’s death was broken online by his son, fellow wrestler Jamie Dundee.
Jamie wrote: “With a heavy heart it hurts me to have to say this.
“At 3:30 this morning the SUPERSTSR BILL DUNDEE has passed away.
“I love you Dad, I’lll catch you on the OTHERSIDE: REST IN PEACE SUPERSTAR.”
The tragic news comes three years after Jamie revealed his father was living with late-stage dementia.
Speaking as a guest on Story Time with Dutch Mantell, Jamie said: ““[Bill] don’t know it, but he’s alright. I mean, he’s got that dementia… he just smiles all the time like that.”
He added: “WIth stage 3, they say once you get there you either cry all the time or you smile all the time and that’s what he does, so I’m glad he don’t just sit around crying all the time.”
Dundee’s career ran over multiple decades, including numerous championships and rivalries that helped put Memphis on the map as one of professional wrestling’s most iconic territories.
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Tributes have already started poured in from wrestling colleagues and fans alike.
Steve Stasiak, agent from BookProWrestlers, wrote: “At 5-foot-7, Dundee carried himself like the biggest man in any building.
“He could stand beside Jerry Lawler as his greatest partner or across from him as his fiercest rival—and make an entire territory live and die with every turn of the story.
For generations of fans, “Superstar” was never simply a nickname. He earned it.”
One heart-broken supporter wrote: “Grew up on Memphis wrestling and Dundee was ALWAYS in overdrive and never underperformed. NOT ONCE.
Superstar, I would say rest in peace but I know you crossed over and already in 8th gear.”
Another added: “We lost another hero from our childhood. RIP Superstar!”