Curt Hennig: living up to the moniker Mr. Perfect can be a demanding order, yet the late wrestler—more often than not—fit the description - Wrestling Digest Tribute

Wrestling Digest, June, 2003 by Steve Anderson

He never captured the world title, but in the spring of 1990, Hennig nabbed the intercontinental title in a tournament for the vacant strap. He also added Bobby "the Brain" Heenan as his manager.

While not at the top of the card, Hennig had heat. Fans hated the persona that Hennig portrayed, but loved the pure wrestler underneath it. Hennig enjoyed a lengthy run as intercontinental champion, but a nagging back injury would interrupt his career. A consummate professional, Hennig dropped the strap to Bret Hart at Summerslam on August 26, 1991. Mr. Perfect was in pain, but he bumped around the ring like a wrestler at 100%.

Hennig took time off to recover and served in a non-wrestling role as Ric Flair's executive consultant, but when the Ultimate Warrior abruptly departed WWE in November of 1991, Hennig was called back into action.

Hennig enjoyed his first run as a WWE babyface. He would make sporadic appearances in the promotion for the next several years, but never experienced another run like the one enjoyed from 1988 to 1991.

In 1997, Hennig showed up in WCW as a supposed Horseman, but eventually became a member of the hated NWO. He captured the United States championship during his brief time with the clique. As the NWO broke up and reunited several times, Hennig moved on to other things. He embraced his real-life love of country music and formed the West Texas Rednecks with Barry Windham and Bobby Duncum Jr. While the group enjoyed heel status, Hennig immediately found favor with the fans when he picked an in-ring fight with rap star Master P in the summer of 1999.

After the demise of the Rednecks and WCW as a separate promotion, Hennig joined the "whatever happened to" file. He wrestled in various start-up and independent promotions before finally returning to the WWE in January of 2002 at the Royal Rumble. While it was initially considered a one-time shot for WWE fans to see an old, familiar face, Hennig earned a spot on the WWE roster.

But by May, Hennig was out after the infamous "Plane Ride from Hell" where he tussled with Brock Lesnar during an overseas flight. Hennig next showed up in NWA/TNA and a few independent promotions.

An interview in January of 2003 revealed his desire to possibly return to WWE, perhaps by Wrestlemania 19.

That would not happen.

Goodbye, Mr. Perfect

Hennig passed from this world in an uncharacteristically quiet fashion on February 10. One of the greatest wrestlers, pranksters, and ribbers was gone suddenly. His death came at a young age, but Hennig packed a full life in those brief 44 years. Love. success, and a zest for life. There will ever be another Mr. Perfect. There will never be another Curt Hennig.

Perhaps the closing words of Sean Waltman's online tribute sum up everyone's feelings when it comes to the life and death of Curt Hennig.

"I learned many valuable lessons from Curt Hennig, and I believe he taught me one thing above all else: It's how you live, not how you die, and you never know when your number is up, so don't think you'll do something tomorrow because there may not be one."