Nelson Frazier, best known to the wrestling world as Mabel/Big Daddy V/Viscera, died on Tuesday after suffering a heart attack, according to reports.
Wrestling agent Eric Simms shared the news on his Facebook page:
“I hate to be the bearer of bad news but I just got off the phone with Big Daddy V’s wife. He had a massive heart attack and passed away today. He was 43 years old
my thoughts and prayers are with his family right now,” Simms wrote.
Many figures in the wrestling world began to pay their respects, including legendary WWE announcer Jim Ross.
Nelson Frazier, Jr passed away today at age of 42 apparently of a heart attack. He was Viscera, Big Daddy V & Mabel in @WWE RIP Big Fella
— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) February 19, 2014
Nelson Jr. just celebrated his birthday on Friday (there is some confusion about his age — Simms says he was 43, but his birthday is listed as 2/14/1972, which would make him 42). Nelson Jr. wrestled in both the WWF and WWE, and he was the 1995 King of the Ring. Many remember him best when he was Mabel wrestling in WWF back in the mid-’90s.
Big Daddy V was an imposing figure best known for his enormous size. He stood 6-foot-9 and weighed around 500 pounds. The video below is his entrance to the ring a day after winning King of the Ring in ’95. His announced weight was 468 pounds!
He was even more intimidating later in his wrestling career:
As King Mabel, he was part of the long feud involving Yokozuna and The Undertaker. Yokozuna was one of the few wrestlers who could match up to Mabel in size:
