The wrestling world suffered a great loss on Monday with the passing of Ole Anderson, a legendary professional wrestler who was known for his role as an original member of the Four Horsemen team in the 1980s. Anderson, who was 81 years old, died at his home in Monroe, Ga., as confirmed by the Carter Funeral Home in Winder, Ga. The cause of his death was not disclosed.

World Wrestling Entertainment, formerly known as the World Wrestling Federation during Anderson’s wrestling career, paid tribute to him in a statement, highlighting his “hard-nosed style and gruff demeanor.” Anderson wrestled professionally from the late 1960s through the 1980s, after being trained by Verne Gagne, a revered member of the WWE Hall of Fame.

During the 1970s and early 1980s, Anderson was part of the tag team known as the Minnesota Wrecking Crew, alongside wrestlers like Gene, Lars, and Arn Anderson. Together, they achieved popularity across regional circuits like the Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling and the Georgia Championship Wrestling, all under the umbrella of the National Wrestling Alliance. They were crowned tag team champions multiple times.

One of Anderson’s most notable achievements came in the 1980s when he joined forces with Arn Anderson, Ric Flair, and Tully Blanchard to form the Four Horsemen stable. The group went on to dominate the N.W.A. and later World Championship Wrestling, setting a standard of success and attitude that inspired many stables in the future.

After retiring from active competition, Anderson continued to contribute to wrestling by booking matches for W.C.W. in the 1990s. His strong opinions on the commercialization of professional wrestling were evident in his book “Inside Out: How Corporate America Destroyed Professional Wrestling,” co-written with Scott Teal in 2003. Anderson was critical of the corporate transformation of the sport and his clashes with top executives, including Vince McMahon.

In more recent years, Anderson remained vocal about his views on the direction of wrestling, particularly the entertainment-focused approach of the W.W.E. He expressed his disillusionment with the current state of the industry in interviews, stating that the emphasis on entertainment had overshadowed the sport itself.

Despite being left out of the W.W.E. Hall of Fame induction for the Four Horsemen, Anderson’s legacy was recognized in the N.W.E. and W.C.W. halls of fame. Born as Alan Robert Rogowski on September 22, 1942, in St. Paul, Minn., Anderson developed a passion for wrestling after serving in the U.S. Army and being influenced by the wrestling scene in Minnesota.

An excerpt from his book revealed Anderson’s dedication to the sport, as he recalled a moment with Verne Gagne where he refused to show any sign of fatigue during a tryout. This determination and relentless attitude defined Anderson’s wrestling career and contributed to his success in the ring.

Anderson is survived by his children and his longtime companion Marsha Cain. His impact on professional wrestling, both in the ring and behind the scenes, will be remembered by fans and peers alike.