Dave Hebner, a former WWE referee, died at the age of 73. Brian Hebner, Hebner’s nephew, announced the news on his Reffin’ It Up podcast and subsequently on social media “Dave Hebner, rest in peace. Although he is no longer with us, he will never be forgotten. I have always been adored.” Brian, the son of Dave’s twin brother Earl Hebner, did not specify the reason of death at this time, yet recent images, notably one from a meeting with NASCAR driver Hermie Sadler, suggest he had been suffering with health concerns for some time (via WrestlingInc). At this terrible moment, our thoughts are with the Hebner family.

Dave Hebner began his career as a referee with WWE in the 1980s, and he was a part of numerous memorable events, including Randy Savage vs Ricky Steamboat at WrestleMania III and Hulk Hogan vs Randy Savage at WrestleMania V. He’d also played a role in the iconic match-up between Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant, in which Ted DiBiase locked him in a closet so Earl could swap places with him and give Andre the victory.

Dave appeared in WWF Superstars, WWE F Challenge, Saturday Night’s Main Event, WWE Sunday Night Heat, WWE Raw, and WWE SmackDown over the years, with his final appearance in 2005. Hebner was also a plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit filed by Hebner and 50 others against WWE, alleging that the company hid the dangers of neurological damage and labelled wrestlers as independent contractors to avoid culpability under labour laws. Hebner had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, according to the lawsuit.