A female bodybuilder-turned-wrestler who later found fame alongside radio king Howard Stern has died, according to a post on her Facebook page.
Nicole Bass, who performed in ECW and WWE, died after an illness, her girlfriend Kristen Marrone posted on Bass’ Facebook page on Thursday. She was 52.
“A few days ago Nicole got very sick,” according to the post. “She was brought into the hospital and they did everything they could to help her. I have been sitting here with her in the room 24/7 since she got here making sure she was being given the best possible care. Today we learned that there is nothing else that can be done.”
Marrone described Bass as an “amazing woman” with a beautiful soul and kind heart.
“Many people knew Nicole but few ever got close enough to know the REAL woman that she was,” the post continued. “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.”
Bass is named in a post on WWE.com detailing the top 30 all-time ECW stars. She was a bodyguard for ECW standout Justin Credible and flanked him during matches.
She later was signed by the WWF as a surprise for WrestleMania XX in Philadelphia, where she served as Sable’s bodyguard before being released after several months, according to USA Today.
Bass sued WWF for $120 million after being released, claiming she was wrongly terminated and had been sexually assaulted by another wrestler. Both the company and the wrestler denied the allegations and a jury ruled in favor of the WWF in 2002.
Bass would later become a frequent guest on Stern’s radio show, where she last appeared in May. Bass, then one of the longest-tenured members of the host’s “Wack Pack,” stripped for Stern and a panel of judges.
“You actually look great … I wish you a great success,” Stern told her.
Messages seeking comment from WWE spokespeople were not immediately returned Friday.