Former NWA & AWA world champion Gene Kiniski passed away this morning at the age of 81.

He had been fighting cancer for years and was hospitalized due to heart failure earlier this year.

In Japan, he is remembered as one of Giant Baba's biggest rivials as they battled for the prestigeious International Heavyweight Title. Kiniski also attended Baba's "retirement ceremony" few months after the death of the Japanese legend.

RIP...