WWF legend Steve Regal—known professionally as Mr. Elasticity—died at age 73, the National Wrestling Alliance announced Monday, December 8.
“The National Wrestling Alliance is saddened to note the passing of former NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion ‘Mr. Electricity’ Steve Regal,” the statement shared via X read. “Defeating Denny Brown for the title, this flashy and charismatic grappler reigned atop pro wrestling’s junior heavyweight in 1986, paving a path for generations to come. The NWA extends its most sincere thoughts to Regal’s family, friends and fans during this time.”
The National Wrestling Alliance is saddened to note the passing of former NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion “Mr. Electricity” Steve Regal. Defeating Denny Brown for the title, this flashy and charismatic grappler reigned atop pro wrestling’s junior heavyweight in 1986, paving… pic.twitter.com/HXLKPRVOEU
— NWA (@nwa) December 8, 2025
Regal passed away on July 30 in Greenwood, Indiana, according to his obituary.
Born in August 1951, Regal began his wrestling career in the late 1970s. A decade later, he made his WWF debut on September 16, 1986, with Terry Gibbs against the Junkyard Dog and George Steele. Throughout the next year, he defeated stars such as Jose Luis Rivera at Madison Square Garden and Jerry Allen in Richfield, Ohio.
Regal took a hiatus from wrestling in 1987, returning to the National Wrestling Alliance the following year. He was later crowned World Heavyweight Champion after joining Windy City Wrestling, a title he held for nearly two years.
“Steve was a great guy. Fellow Hoosier. Son in Law of legendary wrestler Wilbur Snyder. Always a friendly dude,” one fan wrote in a tribute shared via X.
“Horrible news!! I met Steve Regal in 1986 and he was just a super nice guy, we spent an hour chatting at the bar after his WWF match that night,” another wrote.
