WWE Hall Of Famer ‘Luscious’ Johnny Valiant Dies At 71 After Being Hit By Truck; Tributes Pour In

Johnny Valiant, a famous wrestler from the 1970s and 1980s, died Wednesday from injuries he sustained after being hit by a truck in Pennsylvania. He was 71.

‘Luscious’ Johnny Valiant Death News

The wrestler — whose real name was Thomas M. Sullivan — was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 1996. Valiant was killed after he reportedly ran across a high-traffic road in Ross Township and an oncoming pickup truck struck him, local televisions stations said.

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Valiant and his brother “Handsome” Jimmy won the World Tag Team Championship in 1974. Johnny and “Gentleman” Jerry Valiant captured the that same title a second time in 1979.

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Per WWE, Luscious Johnny started managing tag team champions and other famous wrestlers in the American Wrestling Association before returning to WWE in 1985. Among the well-known names he managed were Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, Dino Bravo and Demolition.

Luscious eventually served as an announcer for WWE, then came back to AWA in 1989 as a manager. He then transitioned to being an actor and comdian: he starred in Law & Order and The Sopranos, among other series.

Valiant also once hosted a one-man show in New York City: An Evening with Johnny Valiant. 

Here are some tributes to Valiant — from WWE and Hulk Hogan among others — that have been posted on social media:

WWE is saddened to learn that WWE Hall of Famer “Luscious” Johnny Valiant reportedly passed away this morning at the age of 71. https://t.co/vNfhyVo3Pb

— WWE (@WWE) April 5, 2018

R.I.P Luscious Johnny Valiant….Always kind to me and very helpful early in my career.

— Luke Gallows (@LukeGallowsWWE) April 5, 2018

Johnny Valiant’s #WWEHOF acceptance speech is one of the best ever. #ripjohnnyv

— Sean Waltman (@TheRealXPac) April 5, 2018

RIP Johnny V,nothing but great memories and good times my brother,only love and thank u for the guidance. HH

— Hulk Hogan (@HulkHogan) April 5, 2018