Don Kernodle, best known for his work with the National Wrestling Alliance, Mid-Atlantic Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE), among other promotions, passed away yesterday at the age of 71.

Kernodle (real name Charles Donald Kernodle Jr), lettered four times in amateur wrestling while growing up in North Carolina and was a two-time National Arm Wrestling Champion before breaking in to the business under Ole Anderson and Gene Anderson.

During his professional wrestling career, Kernodle was a one-time NWA Canadian Television Champion during his time in Maple Leaf Wrestling, while for Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, Kernodle held the NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championships twice with Pvt. Jim Nelson, the NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championships once alongside Ivan Koloff and Nikita Koloff and the NWA World Tag Team Championships on three occassions alongside Sgt. Slaughter, Bob Orton Jr and Ivan Koloff. Additionally, during his time for the World Wrestling Council in Puerto Rico, Kernodle held the WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Championship once and the WWC Television Championships on two occassions.

In his post-wrestling life, Kernodle was a Sergeant for Immigration Customs Enforcement for Alamance County, and later a deputy sheriff in the area.

On behalf of Wrestling-News.Net, we would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends and fans of Don Kernodle.