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Touching. I still have the memory of her being put through the table by the Dudley's at 75-80 years old. Nobody else would have the courage to take that bump. A massive loss to women's wrestling.

                             



WWE Hall of Fame wrestler Mae Young is gravely ill ... BUT NOT DEAD ... this according to local reports.

Young -- the only wrestler to compete in NINE DIFFERENT DECADES (her first match in 1939; her last in 2010) -- was hospitalized and placed on life support in South Carolina last month.

The Post and Courier initially reported 90-year-old Young passed away, but later updated the story ... saying the wrestling legend is alive but very sick.

Mae and fellow pioneer female wrestler The Fabolous Moolah returned to the WWE back in 1999 -- when they were both in their 70s -- and were involved in numerous iconic moments like being powerbombed through a table by the Dudley Boyz ... and the birth of "hand.".

Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2014/01/09/mae-young-wwe-dead-dies/#ixzz2pv8tGehv

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Update 01/14/2014: Mae Young eventually passed away today confirmed by sources in the WWE.



WWE posted the following statement on Mae Young's passing tonight:

"WWE is greatly saddened by the news that WWE Hall of Famer Mae Young, beloved member of the WWE family and oldest living squared circle personality, has passed at the age of 90.

Johnnie Mae Young was truly one of the greatest female competitors to ever lace up a pair of boots. A proud competitor for three quarters of a century and valued part of WWE to her last day, Young truly blazed a path for future female grapplers beginning in the 1940s.

From the moment she first stepped through the ropes, Young established herself as one of the most active and successful female Superstars ? including becoming the first U.S. Women's Champion, carrying out one of the most storied rivalries of the time with the legendary Mildred Burke in 1954 and being among the first female competitors to tour post-war Japan.

In addition to her contributions inside the ring, Young played a huge part in training the Superstars of tomorrow, including late, great Hall of Famer The Fabulous Moolah ? the longest reigning champion in sports-entertainment history.

In recent years, Young's career received the recognition it deserved. In 2005, she and several of her contemporaries were profiled in ?Lipstick and Dynamite,? a documentary film about the early pioneers of women's wrestling. In 2008, Young joined co-star, trainee and late friend Moolah and "Sensational" Sherri Martel in the highest class of Superstars, as she became only the third female to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame at that time.

The entire WWE Universe offers a standing ovation to a true queen of the canvas and bids Mae Young a heartfelt farewell."



The following WWE Wrestlers from the passed and present, have expressed their condolences to Mae Young Via Twitter

Dwayne Johnson ‏@TheRock

She's a wrestling pioneer. I truly had deep affection & respect for "Aunty Mae" Young. RIP. #IMissUMae pic.twitter.com/r9oG9rLw9Z

Ezekiel Jackson ‏@zekewwe

#Rip #MaeYoung

#Godspeed

if I was as tough as #Maeyoung, I'd be a monster...

my condolences to her family...

http://www.wwe.com/inside/mae-young-passes-at-90-26173408 ?

MVP ‏@The305MVP

Every time I saw Mae Young, EVERY TIME, she would greet me with a BIG smile & hug & then say "Now what was your name again?" & laugh! 
RIP

JR FATU,, ‏@TheREALRIKISHI

Mae Young passes at 90 | http://WWE.com  - http://www.wwe.com/inside/mae-young-passes-at-90-26173408 ?
My condolences to Mae s entire family . #Respect

Triple H ‏@TripleH

#RIPTheOneandOnlyGreatMaeYoung Thank you for your example to my girls on how to get all you want out of life! #pioneer #legend  #whatarun

Nattie ‏@NatbyNature

I'll always remember Mae Young. We shared wonderful memories of my grandfather. She made me want to fight. There was no one like her.
=
?@TysonsKidd: @NatbyNature Love this picture of you and Mae! She will be missed! #RIPMaeYoung" couldn't agree more pic.twitter.com/vIGKctHWH5

Mickie James ‏@MickieJames

A fighter until the very end! Forever in our hearts,memories, & fighting spirit! A true HOF legend!💋💖💋 #RIPMaeYoung pic.twitter.com/Jf091tIRvO

Stephanie McMahon ‏@StephMcMahon

#RIPTheOneandOnlyGreatMaeYoung A true pioneer and legend has passed tonight.  Long live the memory of my friend and @WWE Hall of Famer.

TheMarkHenry ‏@TheMarkHenry

Johnnie Mae as I knew her was part of my wrestling family. She will be missed as much a anyone I've ever known! pic.twitter.com/4o8riZYkBk

Zack Ryder ‏@ZackRyder

RIP Mae Young. You will be missed. pic.twitter.com/FXwlMEQHJL

Titus O'Neil ‏@TitusONeilWWE

Very sad 2Hear of the passing of @WWE Hall of Fame Diva Mae Young. One of the Greatest Women I've ever met. Funny,Sassy&Witty #RIPMaeYoung

Stevooooooooooooooo. Wondeful. Delighted to have you back mate.

Glad to see you back, we have missed you greatly. See you around.