ALBANY, NEW YORK - The International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame is extremely saddened to learn of the passing of former WWE Superstar and member of the legendary Poffo wrestling family, Lanny Poffo.
Lanny, alongside big brother Randy, were synonymous with professional wrestling; following in the footsteps of their father, the late, great Angelo Poffo. While Randy would go on to a legendary career as "Macho Man" Randy Savage, Lanny carved a niche that made him a fan favorite throughout his entire career.
As "The Genius" and "Leaping Lanny", Poffo would draw the ire of fans while reading pre-match poetry that brought smiles to countless fans throughout his career and s often remembered fondly by generations of fans.
Lanny was also a part of Capital Region wrestling history and a dear friend to the IPWHF. Lanny holds the honor of winning the first-ever (then) WWF match in the brand-new Knickerbocker Arena (now MVP Arena) in 1990. That honor led to Lanny being tapped to emcee the first IPWHF Induction Ceremony in 2020; which was canceled unfortunately due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Along with the generations of fans, we share the shock and sadness of Lanny's passing. The Poffo boys are all back together. Rest in Peace Lanny.
The International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame is a registered 501-c(3) nonprofit and chartered by the NYS Dept. of Education as an educational museum. The IPWHF is an all-volunteer-run organization and relies on grassroots donations from members of the community to help maintain the physical museum at the MVP Arena.