Ken Timbs Death – Heart Failure
Territory-era wrestler Ken Timbs gained a second career in lucha libre as Fabuloso Blondy.
1951-2004 (Age 53)
There are many interesting stories of how aspiring wrestlers broke into the pro ranks and Ken Timbs’ story is certainly one of them.
Timbs went from a career as a police officer and security guard to a pro wrestler, competing in the 80s and early 90s before retiring.
Timbs later founded the wrestling website Oldschoolwrestling.com in 2001, interacting with fans until his death at age 53.
Born on January 27, 1951, in Atlanta, Georgia, Timbs trained with main eventer Ole Anderson before starting work as an enhancement talent in Georgia Championship Wrestling in 1978.
Timbs recalled his first day on the job:
“I wore a warm up suit and went to the ring just to let the guy whoop up on me, throw me out, and pin me. I didn’t make the first move, I just did what I was told. This paid off, I became a regular on GCW-TV,”
Timbs caught his first big break when he teamed as the Fabulous Blonds alongside Eric Embry. The team feuded against the Rock-n-Roll Express in Joe Blanchard’s Southwest Championship Wrestling, winning the area’s tag team title three times.
Embry and Timbs eventually split. Timbs formed a new team with Dusty Wolfe, the Hollywood Blonds. The Hollywood Blonds campaigned in Championship Wrestling from Florida.
Success South of the Border
As territories in North America continued to disappear, Timbs found work in Mexico and South America, becoming a much-hated heel in Mexico’s CMLL lucha libre promotion.
Working as Fabuloso Blondy, he scored a significant win when he defeated Lucha legend Lizmark to win the NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship, one of Mexico’s top two belts.
Timbs played a foreign heel who sang the American national anthem before matches. He also carried an American flag to the ring. Both actions mirrored how foreign heels taunted fans in the United States.
For example, the Soviet Union’s Nikolai Volkoff sang the Soviet national anthem before matches. He also waved the Soviet flag proudly before matches, antagonizing American fans.
Enjoying his success, he worked in other nations in Latin America including Guatemala through the 1990s.
The Death of Ken Timbs
Timbs died on August 1, 2004, from heart disease and congestive heart failure. He was 53.
According to his obituary in the August 16, 2004 issue of Figure Four Weekly, Timbs was “survived by his wife of 28 years, Juanita, and his nine children.”
Other pro wrestlers who died in 2004 include Big Boss Man, Hercules, Jack Tunney, and Marianna Komlos.
What are your favorite memories of Ken Timbs? Let us know in the comments below.
