“What a Gentle, Extraordinary Person”: Fans Pay Homage to 81-Year-Old WWE Legend After His Tragic Demise to Cancer

As the world celebrates the new year and is excited for 2023, the wrestling world lost another legend. The former WWE superstar was one of the known faces and was with the company when Andre the Giant wrestled.

The wrestling world is mourning for the WWE legend who also had a documentary made after his career.

Wrestling legend Manoli Savvenas, Aka Mike Pappas recently passed away. He fought colorectal cancer until his last breath. Fans knew Pappas as ‘The Flying Greek’ because of his physique and wrestling style.

Jason Braiser, the director of Pappas’ documentary The Flying Greek, tweeted about his passing away. His tweet was full of respect and a tribute to the wrestling legend.

He wrote, “It is with great sadness that I have to inform everyone that Manoli Savvenas, Aka Mike Pappas the Flying Greek has lost his battle with colorectal cancer.”  

Braiser added, “I am thankful to have known Manoli and that I was able to get to know his family and admirers through our documentary.”

Savvenas’ health began to decline in October 2022. Moreover, his sons shared the news of his being detected with stage 4 colorectal cancer. Furthermore, stage 4 cancer had shut both his kidneys from functioning.

The wrestling universe pays tribute to the WWE legend

Pappas can be called as one of the best high flyers in the business to ever stepped foot in the squared circle. He had many fans, even though he wrestled for a decade. Therefore, after his passing away, many wrestling fans paid their tribute to the legend.

A tribute to the legend.

A picture with Andre the Giant.

Fans remember the wrestling legend.

The Flying Greek was a top star back in the day.

The above reactions show how much Pappas meant for the wrestling universe and had an influential career.

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A dive into Mike Pappas’ wrestling career 

There is a reason why Pappas wrestling world called him The Flying Greek. As Slam Wrestling covered his career, Savvenas learned to wrestle in Rhodes, Greece.

After that, he moved to the North American continent to further hone his skills and make people surprised.

Pappas was a 5”9ft, 210-pounder wrestler back in the time when stars with massive physiques ruled the industry. His high-flying moves in the ring made him one of the biggest stars in professional wrestling.

He used to wrestle in the WWE undercard, back when it was known as WWWF. Pappas retired in 1978 and shined as a jeweler in his second career. He opened a shop in opened a store in Springfield, Missouri, with his wife Valerie.

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