WCW star “Heavy Metal” Van Hammer has passed away. He was 66-years-old.
Marc Mero made the announcement on social media about his friend, Mark Hildreth.
“It is with a heavy heart that I share the passing of our dear friend, Mark Hildreth, known to so many as Van Hammer. At this time, we are still awaiting answers regarding the cause, pending an autopsy. Mark was a fighter in every sense of the word. Life threw its share of challenges his way, but he had a resilience about him… he always found a way to rise, to push forward, to keep going. I have so many incredible memories with him that I’ll carry forever,” wrote Mero.
Mero then explained what it was like to work with him and be his friend.
“We first met while he was vacationing in Venice, Florida, working out at a local gym. Not long after, I got the call from Dusty Rhodes to come to his office the next day. Mark didn’t hesitate, he drove me eight hours so I could sign my very first contract with World Championship Wrestling. That’s the kind of person he was loyal, selfless, and always there when it mattered most. We went through wrestling school together, chased the same dream, and before long, he earned his own contract. We even lived together in Atlanta, training, grinding, and building a life around the passion we both shared. We were also chosen to help promote WCW for the United Kingdom Tour, doing countless personal appearances, television spots, and even promotional work alongside Gladys Knight. Those were unforgettable moments… times I’ll never forget. My heart goes out to his family, his friends, and the fans who supported him throughout his journey. Rest easy, my friend. You will always be remembered,” he continued.
In 2024, Mick Foley wrote on his Facebook page:
It was great to catch up with my old colleague Van Hammer, a few nights ago in West Palm Beach. We not only did some good things inside the rain, but we’re really good friends outside of it. I remember Hammer babysitting Dewey and Noelle on a few occasions, and he was in attendance for Dewey’s first birthday party, going all the way back to 1993.
Anytime a guy comes in without a lot of experience and gets pushed right away, he is going to face a certain amount of cynicism from fans and fellow wrestlers alike. But I really enjoyed wrestling Van Hammer – and suggest you look into our Falls Count Anywhere match from Topeka, Kansas that ended up in a real life bullpen, with real life bulls…and those bulls were not playing!
We were reminiscing about the time he and I collided heads, while bowling in the aisle, and unbeknownst to me, I walked into the dressing room, looking like a miniature version of the Grand Canyon had been etched into my forehead. Bobby Eaton had a notoriously weak stomach, and the wicked laceration set off a series of dry heaves from Beautiful Bobby.
Hammer no longer has that long, blonde hair, but he’s still in great shape – especially for a guy in his early 60s.
Hildreth became a wrestler after touring with the Navy. He was trained by Boris Malenko. He worked for WCW from 1991 to 1995 using a rock star gimmick. He returned in 1997 to 2000 as a member of Raven’s Flock and Misfits in Action.
