Black Bart Passes Away

Professional wrestling veteran Richard Harris, best known as Black Bart, has passed away at the age of 76.

Harris had been battling Stage 4 rectal and liver cancer for a while and had recently made the decision to stop his chemotherapy treatments. This came after Harris's health insurance provider said they would not make any further payments towards his treatment. His wife Linda had said he was ready to 'meet his maker' and she announced on Thursday that Harris had passed away.

"You might know him as Black Bart but to me he was my husband Ricky. He left us this morning. He was pronounced at 5:26 this morning. He is Resting In Peace," Linda wrote.

Harris made his professional debut in 1975 and wrestled for various territories, including Mid-Atlantic, Georgia, Mid-South, World Class and Championship Wrestling from Florida during the 1980s.

Though he performed under various names, including Ricky Harris and Hangman Harris, he gained most notoriety as Black Bart, an outlaw cowboy gimmick. A former NWA National Heavyweight Champion, Harris also toured with both All Japan and New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

Black Bart signed with WWE in 1990, working mostly as an enhancement talent and appearing regularly on shows like Superstars, Wrestling Challenge, and Prime Time Wrestling.

He left WWE in early 1991 and joined WCW, though he would depart the promotion several months later. The rest of the decade saw him wrestle for Global Wrestling Federation, NWA Texas and other promotions as his in-ring career wound down. He retired in 2006.

Harris is credited with training several notable wrestlers, including Necro Butcher and JBL.

John Layfield paid tribute to Harris following his passing, writing:

"Black Bart took me under his wing and taught me how to be a professional wrestler. We were tag champs in Texas-but we were also just buddies. We sat together in the dressing room while Bart spit in his trashcan and constantly joked about everything. Bart meant the world to me. I love you big brother. RIP."

Cultaholic Wrestling would like to offer its condolences to the family, friends and fans of Richard Harris.