British professional wrestler Adrian “Lionheart” McCallum has died, independent wrestling promotion ICW tweeted on Wednesday. He was 36.
McCallum was the current ICW World Heavyweight Champion, a title he won on Dec. 2, 2018. No other details about his death were shared.
“We are heartbroken to learn of the tragic death of ICW World Heavyweight Champion, Adrian ‘Lionheart’ McCallum,” Insane Championship Wrestling tweeted. “Adrian was a mainstay of ICW and British professional wrestling. Most importantly, he was our friend. His passing leaves a huge hole in the lives of those who knew him.”
Here’s the tweet:
We are heartbroken to learn of the tragic death of ICW World Heavyweight Champion, Adrian ‘Lionheart’ McCallum. Adrian was a mainstay of ICW and British professional wrestling. Most importantly, he was our friend. His passing leaves a huge hole in the lives of those who knew him. pic.twitter.com/qmjnZTb5Lb
— ICW (@InsaneChampWres) June 19, 2019
A follow-up tweet asked fans to respect the McCallum family’s privacy at this time:
Please respect his family’s privacy at this time.
— ICW (@InsaneChampWres) June 19, 2019
McCallum competed for WWE once in a dark (non-televised) match, losing to Justin Gabriel at a “SmackDown” taping in Liverpool, England. He also competed in Ring of Honor and TNA and was the owner of Ayrshire-based wrestling promotion, Pro Wrestling Elite, as well as a coach at GPWA Glasgow Asylum.
In March 2014, McCallum broke his neck in two places after taking the Styles Clash finishing maneuver from current WWE “Raw” Superstar AJ Styles. Though doctors told McCallum he may never walk again, he returned to in-ring competition just one year later.
Lionheart’s last tweet was posted 13 hours ago and quoted Ricky Gervais’ Netflix series “Afterlife.”
“One day you will eat your last meal, You will smell your last flower, you will hug your friend for the last time,” it read. “You might not know it’s the last time, that’s why you must do everything you love with passion.”