Rip Hawk dead at age 82

Pro wrestler Rip Hawk (a/k/a Harvey Maurice Evans) died over the weekend, according to WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross's Twitter page Twitter.com/JRsBBQ.. "RIP to pro wrestling villain Rip Hawk," Ross wrote on Saturday. "One of the all time greats before cable. Instrumental in launching Ric Flair's career in the Carolina's."

Powell's POV: Hawk's death is being attributed to cardiac issues. Hawk teamed with Swede Hanson as the Blond Bombers tag team. The duo held numerous tag titles and Hawk also held many singles titles throughout his 25-year-plus run in the business. Ric Flair was billed as Hawk's nephew in 1974 and the two later wrestled against one another.