Nick “Big Bully” Busick has passed away at the age of 63 following several battles with cancer.
The news was announced Tuesday by his wife Lorie with her husband recently in hospice care.
Busick had been diagnosed with stage four esophageal cancer in 2015 after having difficulty swallowing for months. Following surgery, the cancer went into remission. In 2017, they discovered the cancer had returned in his brain and had a tumour removed. His latest battle was with spinal fluid cancer and sadly, he was not able to recover this time.
Busick came up in Pittsburgh, heavily influenced by the city’s legend Bruno Sammartino, with Busick eventually entering the industry and getting his start in the city.
He would travel and work in Atlanta for Georgia All-Star Wrestling as well as with the Global Wrestling Federation, but it was his brief run with the World Wrestling Federation where he is most associated.
As “Big Bully” Busick, he had a memorable look with a bowler hat and moustache that stood out on television to go along with the size discrepancy with manager Harvey Wippleman.
He left the GWF and began with the WWF in July 1991 but only staying with the company until November. During this time, he was put over various enhancement talent and then beaten by the established talent on television. He television matches with Sid Justice, Bret Hart, and Kerry Von Erich.
The WWE issued the following statement on his passing:
Former WWE Superstar Nick “Big Bully” Busick has passed away at the age of 63, WWE is saddened to learn.
A notorious in-ring villain known for his signature derby and mustache, Busick battled Superstars like Bret “Hit Man” Hart, Sid and The British Bulldog in the early ’90s.
WWE extends its condolences to Busick’s family, friends and fans.
Busick’s son is MMA heavyweight fighter Branko Busick, who has a 1-1 professional record and fought Tyrell Fortune in his pro debut in April 2017 at Bellator 178, where he lost by unanimous decision.
