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Wrestling star Brodie Lee dies at 41
Wrestling star Jonathan Huber, better known by his stage name, Brodie Lee, has died at the age of 41.
All Elite Wrestling, the wrestling promotion company Huber signed with, broke the news in a heartfelt statement Saturday night.
“The All Elite Wrestling family is heartbroken,” the message read. “In an industry full of good people, Jon Huber was exceptionally respected and loved in every way: a fierce and captivating talent, a thoughtful mentor, and just a very kind soul who flatly contradicted his personality as Mr. Brodie Lee … love and support to your beautiful family, today and always.
Jon’s popularity among his peers and influence in the wrestling world was global and transcended to AEW, so many will feel this loss for a long time. At AEW we had the privilege of calling Jon Huber brother, friend and one of our own. “
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Huber had been conspicuously absent from the ring for the past few months, with many fans speculating that he was out with injury. AEW President / CEO Tony Khan was pressed about Huber’s whereabouts during a press conference earlier this month, but kept mum on the issue, simply saying that he hoped Huber would return soon.
The New York native started wrestling early on, performing under his ring name Huber # 2 alongside his brother. He would go on to sign with WWE in 2012 and took the name Luke Harper. During his time with WWE, he became a WWE Intercontinental Champion and a two-time Smackdown Tag Team Champion. Huber left WWE about a year ago and made his AEW debut earlier this year. Just several months later, the AEW TNT Championship was secured at Dynamite.
WWE also released the following statement:
Known as Luke Harper and Brodie Lee in the ring, Huber found success at every stage of his sports entertainment career, as his commanding yet soft-spoken presence helped him create countless inspiring moments in the ring. After a highly decorated career on the independent circuit, Harper made his NXT debut as a menacing enforcer for The Wyatt Family. Harper had a dominant tag team career with Rowan that would set the stage for future championship success.
As a member of The Wyatt Family, he became involved in heated rivalries with the likes of Kane, Daniel Bryan, The Shield, John Cena, and The Usos. After being released from the family, Harper was the author of an impressive singles streak that culminated in him defeating Dolph Ziggler for the Intercontinental Championship.
Harper & Rowan then became part of The Bludgeon Brothers and embarked on a path of destruction that was highlighted with a SmackDown Tag Team title victory in a Triple Threat Match at WrestleMania 34.
WWE extends its condolences to Huber’s family, friends and fans.
In the hours since Huber’s death was announced, fans and figures from the wrestling world have taken to social media to pay their respects. You can read some of the messages below.
