WWE pays tribute to ‘avid fan’ Kyle Busch after NASCAR driver’s death

WWE Kyle Busch tribute
WWE mourns the loss of NASCAR driver Kyle Busch. (Image credit: WWE)

WWE is mourning the loss of Kyle Busch, a NASCAR star and “avid” pro wrestling fan who suddenly passed away on Thursday at 41 years old.

Busch died shortly after being hospitalized in Concord, North Carolina due to what was described as a “severe illness.” Less than two weeks after needing medical attention for a sinus cold, he became unresponsive while testing in a racing simulator on Wednesday ahead of this weekend’s NASCAR race. He was transported to the hospital but passed away on May 21.

With a big personality and multiple NASCAR championships, Busch crossed over into WWE as a Raw guest host in 2009 and, a decade later, won the WWE 24/7 Championship. Sitting in the front row at a Raw episode, Busch took part in an angle where he helped R-Truth hide from a group of 24/7 title chasers. But Busch then took the opportunity to pin Truth and win the title for himself. Backstage in a post-show segment, Truth snuck up on Busch during a photo shoot and won the title back.

Busch also once won a race in 2010 while driving a car themed after the SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 video game.

WWE.com posted the following tribute to Busch today, extending its condolences to those who knew him and were fans of him:

  • WWE is saddened to learn that legendary NASCAR driver and avid WWE fan Kyle Busch has passed away.
  • The former two-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion made several appearances in WWE, including guest hosting Monday Night Raw in 2009, and even driving a WWE-themed car to Victory Lane in 2010.
  • Busch would go on to make history when he pinned R-Truth to win the 24/7 Championship in 2019, becoming the only NASCAR driver to ever win the title.
  • WWE extends its condolences to Kyle’s family, friends, and fans.

Kyle Busch wins WWE 24/7 Championship —

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Joseph Currier
Joseph Currier

Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.

In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.