Independent wrestler Mark Wolf, a fixture of the Midwest scene, has died at the age of 56.
Podcaster JJ Fannin broke the news on social media on Thursday, stating he had been contacted by Wolf’s family.
His half brother wanted me to get the word out that Mark Wolf passed away yesterday. This one devastates me. So glad I got to chat him for a few hours a couple weeks ago for the podcast. I love you @markywolf. RIP my friend.
Wolf was born in Baltimore, Maryland on October 21, 1969. He was trained in part by Ian Rotten, who described Wolf as his childhood best friend in a 2016 interview:
Mark’s family had one of those giant satellite dishes. I’d walk down the block to his house at 8 am Saturday morning and wouldn’t go home until 4 am, when Pacific Palisades Wrestling in Hawaii went off the air.
He became a staple of the IWA Mid-South promotion, where he captured the Heavyweight, Light Heavyweight, and Tag Team championships between 2001 and 2003.
His rivalry with Chris Hero was a defining period of his career. On June 7, 2003, Wolf defeated Hero to win the IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Championship, ending Hero’s third reign.
Wolf also holds a special place in the history of German promotion wXw. In 2003, he challenged Hero for the wXw Heavyweight Title. The promotion credited this match with elevating the championship to World Title status.
Several figures and promotions paid tribute to Wolf following the news.
GCW sends condolences to the friends & family of midwest indie wrestling legend Mark Wolf as they mourn his loss
Mark was a mainstay/beloved member of many mid-south wrestling locker rooms in the 00’s and contributed to the development of many of today’s top stars
Rest in peace
We would like to express our sincere condolences to the friends and family of Mark Wolf.
In 2003, Mark challenged Chris Hero for the wXw Heavyweight Title, elevating it to a World Title – a moment that forever shaped our history. His continued friendship with wXw was truly cherished.
Last night, the world lost an underrated wrestler… but an even better human being.
Rest in Peace, Mark.
Godspeed, Mark Wolf. You were always a pleasure to be around and I’m grateful for the time we shared in IWA-Mid South. My heart goes out to his family and friends. Rest well, Marky.
Wolf’s final documented match took place in November 2017.
View this post on Instagram
