WWE Attitude Era staple Nicole Bass passes away at 52

Former bodybuilder and one-time WWE diva Nicole Bass-Fuchs passed away Friday night shortly after being taken off life support. She was 52.

Pro Wrestling Sheet and many news outlets first reported her death Thursday when she was declared brain dead by doctors. Bass' girlfriend Kristen Marrone posted on her Facebook:

A few days ago Nicole got very sick. 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.

Nicole's first national exposure came far, far away from a wrestling ring: the female bodybuilder was a contestant on The Miss Howard Stern New Year's Eve Pageant in 1993, and would become a staple on the radio show.

After being trained at ECW's House of Hardcore, she appeared for the promotion before joining the WWF at Wrestlemania XV as Sable's bodyguard. She feuded with Debra McMichael and became a love interest of Val Venis. She briefly aligned with Ivory before abruptly leaving the company later in 1999, then suing them for sexual harassment. The suit was dismissed in 2003.

Despite appearing sporadically on the independent circuit, Bass had financial and health issues in recent years. Pro Wrestling Sheet reported that a she had suffered a heart attack, causing her to become brain dead, and the decision was soon made to take her off life support.

We at Cageside Seats send our condolences to the family and friends of Nicole Bass-Fuchs.