One of the original members of the Four Horsemen, WWE legend Ole Anderson, dead at 81

Original Four Horsemen member Alan Rogowski, known in the wrestling world as Ole Anderson, died at 81, according to a statement by WWE.

“A founder member of The Four Horsemen, Ole’s hard-nosed style and gruff demeanor helped define the group as one of the greatest stables in sports-entertainment history,” WWE said in a statement. “WWE extends its condolences to Anderson’s family, friends and fans.”

Four Horsemen member, Ric Flair took to X, formally known as Twitter, to share his admiration for his teammate and friend.

"I will be grateful forever for you giving me the opportunity to become who I am today," Flair wrote on X. "We didn’t always agree with each other, but the honest to God truth Is you & gene started me. Rest In Peace My Friend!"

Ole Anderson's WWE career

Rogowski began his wrestling journey in the 1960s, but it wasn't until 1986 that his career took off with the help of manager J.J. Dillon, as well as teammates Ric Flair, Tully Blanchard, and Arn Anderson. Together, they formed the Four Horsemen, a group known for their diverse styles and group tactics that set a high standard for all WWE legends to follow.

During their time, The Four Horsemen were a dominant force in both Mid-Atlantic Championship and World Championship Wrestling.

Rogowski had a short stint at retirement in 1987 before returning to form a new group with Arn Anderson, Flair, and Sting in 1989 before retiring for the final time.

After retiring, Rogowski held various roles in the wrestling industry including manager and head of WCW booking committee.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WWE legend Ole Anderson, member of the Four Horsemen, dead at 81