Wrestlers Pay Tribute to KISS Legend Ace Frehley

Legendary KISS guitarist Ace Frehley has died at age 74.

An original member of the explosive New York rock band, Frehley brought KISS their sonic swagger through massive rock riffs and loose, bluesy soloing. With KISS, Frehley helped pioneer larger-than-life theatrics in music and transformed the arena rock show from a stripped-down experience to an unprecedented spectacle.

Pro wrestling clearly took a page from KISS from the boom period of the '80s up until present day. One only has to look toward wrestling's presentation of massive characters, grandiose live shows and billion-dollar empires built on merchandise.

Wrestlers like Chris Jericho, Bully Ray and Vampiro are just a few who've taken to social media to eulogize the Spaceman of KISS:

"THANK YOU ACE!!" writes Jericho. "Your laugh and influence will be remembered for eternity…. (And please Say hi to Big VIN for us!)"

"KISS ALIVE II was the first Album I ever purchased," writes Bully Ray. "Ace inspired so many young kids to pick up a guitar. Im sure Dimebag was waiting for him at the Pearly Gates. Ace was the epitome of cool. Another sad day for RnR."

KISS famously performed "God of Thunder" on a 1999 episode of WCW Monday Nitro, playing out the debuting Demon.

RIP to an American icon in Ace Frehley.

10 Most Emotional Returns After Career-Threatening Injuries

Mick Foley famously said that wrestling isn't about how many great matches you have... it's how many classic moments you can create. Few moments in pro wrestling can compare to a return after injury, especially when that injury threatens to end a top talent's career far too early.

Just think about the moment Edge returned to WWE at the 2020 Royal Rumble. His career had been over for nine years, he'd suffered a serious neck injury that require triple fusion surgery... it was an absolute impossibility for Edge to return, right?

"Once the music hit, and that reaction... I mean, I truly feel like I could have beat King Kong's ass," Edge told ESPN about his 2020 surprise return. "It was all surreal, kind of like a dream sequence, but everything's so focused and hyper-focused that I can't really explain it. But I think when you look at the video of me walking out, I think you see it in my eyes."

Iconic moments like these only come once in a while, but they're unforgettable every time! Check out these incredibly emotional moments when wrestlers returned after suffering career-threatening injuries.

Gallery Credit: WWE / NJPW / AEW / NWA

Categories: Music, Rock & Wrestling