Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
Beloved Television personality Regis Phibin, who had a long-time relationship with the WWF and a love of professional wrestling that helped put him on the map as a TV host in California, passed away overnight, his family announced to People Magazine.
"We are deeply saddened to share that our beloved Regis Philbin passed away last night of natural causes, one month shy of his 89th birthday," the family statement read.
There are media reports circulating that Philbin suffered a heart attack overnight.
Philbin's TV career was greatly assisted as he started out in San Diego, California by the late Fred Blassie, who was a regular on Philbin's weekend late night talk show during the time period Blassie was the biggest star in California for the Lebell wrestling territory. Other personalities appeared as well, including the late Destroyer Dick Beyer, but Blassie was the central figure at the time.
As Regis became a greater known TV star, hosting the nationally syndicated Live talk show, he regularly welcomed WWF performers. Philbin was a big fan of professional wrestlers and genuinely enjoyed having WWF personalities on his shows. When Blassie passed away, Philbin used his TV series to give a glowing tribute to Blassie. In his autobiography, Philbin credited and thanked Blassie for all of his help cementing Philbin's career at the time.
Philbin, who would go on host ABC's Who Wants To Be A Millionare when it was one of the most popular series in the country, appeared at Wrestlemania VII as a special guest backstage interviewer and color commentator on the main event of the PPV, Hulk Hogan challenging Sgt. Slaughter for the WWF Championship.
PWInsider.com sends our deepest condolences to the family, friends and fans of a true legend and someone who will undoubtedly be posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, Regis Philbin.
Below is a collection of WWF/WWE personalities on Live with Regis and Kathy Lee:
If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!
Bang On Casino
