Nicole Bass, the bodybuilder who in 1999 joined WWE for a short period of time, passed away yesterday at age 52.
A post on her Facebook page by her apparent partner Kristen Marrone said that Bass got very sick over the past few days and was admitted to a hospital. The 6’2” Bass suffered a stroke which ultimately led to her death.
“Nicole was an amazing woman. Strong not only on the outside but inside as well. Beautiful soul and kind heart. Many people knew Nicole but few ever got close enough to know the REAL woman that she was. I got to be one of the lucky few. Not only was she my soul mate and my girlfriend but she was my best friend, my teacher and my business partner,” Marrone wrote.
Tommy Dreamer, who worked with her in ECW, also confirmed the news of her passing on Twitter. “Her heart was as big as she was. A wonderful & loyal friend,” he wrote.
Bass had an extensive career as a bodybuilder starting in the mid 80s and went on till 1997 where she won the NPC Nationals on her 7th attempt.
In 1998, she joined ECW but her stint came to a halt when WWE came knocking. She made her debut as Sable’s bodyguard at WrestleMania XV and later aligned herself with Val Venis. She had one match at the Over The Edge pay-per-view that same year, teaming with Venis to take on Jeff Jarrett and Debra. Bass spent her few months in the company feuding with Debra.
She left the company after Bass filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against WWE. She claimed that Steve Lombardi, better known to fans as the Brooklyn Brawler, sexually assaulted her backstage in 1999. In 2003, the court dismissed the charges and the case.
