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Ronda Rousey, Triple H and Other Legends Left Devastated as MMA Legend Gene LeBell Passes Away at 89

Published 08/10/2022, 11:43 AM EDT

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Fans from around the globe are deeply saddened as MMA and wrestling legend Gene LeBell tragically passed away. LeBell hailed as “The Godfather of Grappling” was well known for his iconic submission maneuver, the LeBell lock. LeBell in the course of his legendary career was hailed as a top master of judo and had a significant influence in the world of wrestling.

Additionally, he was valued not just in combat sports but also in Hollywood for his class. He has performed as a stuntman in an endless number of movies, which is a well-known fact.

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Notably, LeBell coached great fighters like Chuck Norris and Ronda Rousey, who later conquered the globe. Additionally, he also had an influence in the WWE world, as he inspired Bryan Danielson to use his lock.

“The Godfather of Grappling”, contributed to martial arts and will always be hailed as one of its greatest legends. The top contemporary martial artists regard him as being one of the sport’s pioneers and a huge contributor to MMA’s growth. Many famous individuals voiced their reactions to this dreadful news, which shook the entire world.

An outpouring of grief from the WWE world after Gene LeBell’s passing

Rousey shared a picture of herself with LeBell on social media in his respect, since she was one of the athletes he trained and they were close.

 

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A post shared by Ronda Rousey (@rondarousey)

LeBell is an iconic and inspiring personality in WWE. Hence, WWE legend Triple H said that he will always be remembered as a major figure in the evolution of mixed martial arts and sports entertainment.

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William Regal also took to Twitter and revealed how it was ‘unfortunate’ that he could never meet the legend.

Additionally, Adam Pearce also paid tribute to the icon.

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According to Rousey’s UFC friend, Judo Gene once tried to convince her to retire from fighting and pursue a career in Hollywood stunt work.

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Similar to these, tribute messages to “The great Gene LeBell” flooded in. Indeed, no one can take his place, and the worlds of MMA and wrestling lost a true diamond.

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Written by:

Adarsh Ojha

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Adarsh Ojha is a WWE and AEW Author at EssentiallySports. Before joining EssentiallySports, he gained valuable experience at Zee Entertainment and Awadh TV as a copywriter. An ardent fan of John Cena, Adarsh has earned his bachelor's degree in Broadcast and Communication.
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Edited by:

Paras Pande