[ad_1]
Professional wrestler Jonathan Huber, known in the ring as Brodie Lee and Luke Harper, has died at the age of 41.
Huber, who wrestled for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) for seven years before recently switching to All-Elite Wrestling (AEW) in March, died Saturday after a “tough battle with a lung problem unrelated to Covid,” according to his wife Amanda Huber.
At the time of his death, Huber, who was born in Rochester, New York, was receiving treatment for the undisclosed lung condition from doctors at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida.
In an Instagram post on Saturday, Ms. Huber wrote: “My best friend died today. I never wanted to write those words. My heart is broken.
“The world saw him as the amazing @brodielee (as Luke Harper), but he was my best friend, my husband and the best father you have ever met. There are no words that can express the love I feel or how broken I am right now. “
Ms. Huber added that her husband was “surrounded by loved ones” while battling the disease, before expressing gratitude to AEW for how “they treated not only my husband, but me and my children.”
She added that the team supported her husband, whom she married in 2008, but also “helped me to stand up” to “pick up all the broken pieces.”
AEW also paid tribute to Huber on Saturday, writing that “the All Elite Wrestling family is heartbroken. In an industry full of good people, Jon Huber was exceptionally respected and loved in every way. “
The group added that Huber was “a fierce and captivating talent, a thoughtful mentor and just a very kind soul who flatly contradicted his personality as Mr. Brodie Lee.”
Before joining AEW in March of this year as his Mr Brodie Lee character that he first used on the indie circuit from 2003 to 2012, Huber wrestled for WWE from 2012 to 2019 as Luke Harper.
Several WWE stars paid tribute to him on Saturday, when John Cena uploaded a photo of himself in the ring with Huber to Instagram, while wrestler Randy Orton wrote of his sadness, tweeting: “I don’t have the words. #RIPBrodieLee May God send his beautiful family as much strength as possible. “
In an Instagram post, Nikki Bella wrote: “She left too early. His laugh lit up a room. It was really fun to watch. And his caring soul will live forever, “while Sister Brie Bella wrote,” I will never forget what an amazing person, father and husband that he was !!! He left very soon. “
In a statement Saturday, WWE also paid tribute to Huber, writing that he “found success at every stage of his sports entertainment career as his soft yet commanding voice helped him create countless inspiring moments in the ring.”
Huber is survived by his wife and two children.
