WCW wrestler Van Hammer passes away at 66
Mark Hildreth, better known to wrestling fans as Van Hammer, has passed away.
News of his passing was shared by Marc Mero on Sunday, who noted that they are still awaiting the results of an autopsy to determine the cause of death. He was 66 years old.
Mero wrote:
“It is with a heavy heart that I share the passing of our dear friend, Mark Hildreth, known to so many as Van Hammer. At this time, we are still awaiting answers regarding the cause, pending an autopsy. Mark was a fighter in every sense of the word. Life threw its share of challenges his way, but he had a resilience about him… he always found a way to rise, to push forward, to keep going.
I have so many incredible memories with him that I’ll carry forever. We first met while he was vacationing in Venice, Florida, working out at a local gym. Not long after, I got the call from Dusty Rhodes to come to his office the next day. Mark didn’t hesitate, he drove me eight hours so I could sign my very first contract with World Championship Wrestling. That’s the kind of person he was loyal, selfless, and always there when it mattered most.
We went through wrestling school together, chased the same dream, and before long, he earned his own contract. We even lived together in Atlanta, training, grinding, and building a life around the passion we both shared. We were also chosen to help promote WCW for the United Kingdom Tour, doing countless personal appearances, television spots, and even promotional work alongside Gladys Knight. Those were unforgettable moments… times I’ll never forget.
My heart goes out to his family, his friends, and the fans who supported him throughout his journey. Rest easy, my friend. You will always be remembered.”
A former member of the United States Navy, Van Hammer was trained by Boris Malenko in the early 1990s.
He wrestled under the “Heavy Metal” Van Hammer gimmick in WCW, later dropping the more over the top parts of the character by the mid-90s. In late 1997, he was added to Raven’s Flock. After the breakup of the stable, he adopted more of a hippie-type gimmick, and in 2000, he joined the Misfits in Action faction under the name Major Stash.
Following the closure of WCW, he wrestled for Maryland Championship Wrestling and toured with Big Japan Pro Wrestling in the fall of 2001.
People from around the wrestling world have been paying tribute to Van Hammer online. Some of their social media posts are below.
Ian Carey is a writer from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, whose work has been featured in NOW Magazine, The Huffington Post, and more. A lifelong wrestling aficionado born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, he has covered the industry for a decade and a half. He joined the f4wonline.com team in 2019.