Promoters for Kurtis ‘Mad Kurt’ Chapman, a British professional wrestler, confirmed Thursday that the 26-year-old died suddenly, Breitbart reported. There's no word on the cause of death.
Revolution Pro Wrestling, which represented the late athlete, shared the news in a post on Instagram. "We, at Revolution Pro Wrestling are absolutely heartbroken to report the loss of our dear friend Kurtis Chapman," the post said.
“We watched Kurtis grow from a child to a young man who loved professional wrestling and continued to excel in all aspects of his life. One of the most gifted technical wrestlers, charismatic characters and magnetic personalities," RevPro said.
"He will never be forgotten," the post added. Chapman's career began in 2014, and he quickly became a fan favorite due to his humorous antics.
The young wrestler clinched the 2017 and 2018 RevPro Wrestling British Cruiserweight Titles. Chapman's most recent match was in June when he defended his Resurgence Arthouse title, PEOPLE reported.
There were no indications that Champan was in poor health, and no cause has been given for his death. Many of Champan's colleagues shared tributes to the young man on social media following the news.
"Genuinely gutted. We had some laughs over the years, Mad Kurt, and I'm not sorry I stiffed you in the jaw. You will be missed," said Irish pro wrestler Karen "Session Moth Martina," Glennon.
"There'll never be another one like Mad Kurt," British wrestler Chris Wareing, known professionally as Chris Ridgeway, posted to X, formerly Twitter. TNT Pro Wrestling in the U.K. similarly shared an outpouring of grief.
"Everyone at TNT extends their deepest condolences to the loved ones of Kurtis Chapman, better known as Mad Kurt. Kurtis was not just a well-respected performer but a dear friend. We will miss not just him but the laughter and light he brought to all of us dearly," the post said.
Chapman also received support from wrestlers stateside. "RIP Mad Kurt. Had such an entertaining yet hard-hitting match with him last year in the UK," American WWE great Matt Cardona posted to X.
"I thought he was just some internet troll but he gained my respect that night," Cardona added. Unfortunately, Chapman is just one of many pro wrestlers to end up in an early grave.
Moreover, dozens of pro wrestlers have met their demise this year, including Killer Khan, who died within 24 hours of Chapman, The Sun reported. The 76-year-old Japanese wrestler, whose real name is Masashi Ozawa, died suddenly due to a ruptured artery.
One of this year's most jarring losses in pro wrestling came when Bray Wyatt suffered a heart attack and died at just 36 years old in August. He was considered to be in the prime of his career and was integral to the WWE.
It's unknown why there seem to be so many young, fit people in the prime of their lives dying suddenly. Unfortunately, it has changed the landscape of professional wrestling and broken the hearts of those who loved them.
