WWE Hall of Famer "Luscious" Johnny Valiant was struck and killed by a truck early Wednesday morning north of Pittsburgh, Ross Township, Pa., police said (via WPXI.com).

Valiant, whose real name is Thomas Sullivan, was 71.

“WWE is saddened to learn that WWE Hall of Famer “Luscious” Johnny Valiant reportedly passed away this morning at the age of 71,” WWE tweeted.

WWE is saddened to learn that WWE Hall of Famer “Luscious” Johnny Valiant reportedly passed away this morning at the age of 71. https://t.co/vNfhyVo3Pb
— WWE (@WWE) April 5, 2018

“The driver of the truck stayed here on the scene," a police detective told WPXI. "There's no indication that this was anything other than a terrible accident at this point, but we're still investigating.”

Sullivan was transported to the hospital, where he died.

According to WWE's website, Sullivan's heyday was in the 1970s and early '80s, most notably when he wrestled alongside James "Handsome Jimmy Valiant" Fannin as the tag team title-winning Valiant Brothers.

"Some consider the Valiant Brothers the premier tag team of the 1970s," the WWE site says. "With their bleached blond hair, rugged ring moves and overall flamboyance, the Valiants were revolutionary, giving fans a taste of what sports-entertainment would look like in the future."

Sullivan later became a manager who counted Hulk Hogan among his wrestlers and also served as a TV commentator. As an actor, the native of Queens, N.Y., also appeared in multiple episodes of "The Sopranos" and "Law & Order."
He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 1996