Family speaks on the passing of Superstar Bill Dundee

HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) — On September 6, the wrestling world lost a groundbreaker.

Superstar Bill Dundee at age 82. A pioneer of the early days of wrestling entertainment, Dundee lived a full life as an entertainer and did so in the Tri-State and all over the south.

Bill was born in Scotland, moved to Australia by boat, then came to the American South in 1975. His entertainment career began with the circus before finding his way to wrestling entertainment.

“His passion for entertainment is as big as he was, 5 ‘8 205 pounds he gave it all, bro,” Bill’s son Jamie Dundee said. “And then from the circus and became a wrestler and has passed on 50 years later as the superstar”

Then eventually starting his wrestling bloodline and passing it down to family while also coexisting with some of the most famous wrestlers ever. Authenticity is what makes good wrestlers even better entertainers. Bill’s son Jamie said that is what made him so special.

“In the wrestling world man your character is not far from who you actually are,” Dundee said. “People tell you and him how great he is and after so long in life you begin to believe that. He was my dad but he was the superstar bro.”

Though world-renowned, many locals grew up watching Dundee on their TV screens right here in the Tri-State

“My whole life and everybody in Evansville’s whole life on Saturday mornings when the wrestling show came on everybody sat down and shut up because wrestling is on,” Dundee said. “There were only three things you could do, most people chose Bill Dundee and Jerry Lawler.”

Dundee and Lawler paved the way for some of the next two generations’ biggest stars

“CM Punk, The Rock, Stone Cold, The Undertaker, guys like Ric Flair, Dusty Rhoades, my dad Jerry Lawler they made wrestling what it is because they paved the way,” Dundee said. “Without Bill Dundee and Jerry Lawler there is no WWE wrestling.”

There are countless Dundee family memories working with the king and other wrestling legends but what Jamie cherishes the most are the lessons Bill taught about being the best wrestler you can be and effort that went off the charts.

“He gave it 100% man, he did it all the way to the end matter of fact he did a show the day before he passed away,” Dundee said.

Superstar Bill Dundee was a born entertainer, doing so until his final days.

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