Former WWE superstar Bret “The Hitman” Hart revealed he has prostate cancer Monday via his Instagram account.
Hart broke the sad news by posting a picture of him and his grandchildren, alongside a heartfelt message.
“I’ve had a great lifelong dance and I’m a survivor of many hard battles,” he said. “I now face my toughest battle. With hesitation and fear, I openly declare myself in my fight against prostate cancer. In the next few days, I will undergo surgery with the hope of defeating this nemesis once and for all.”
WATCH: Former wrestling champion Bret “The Hitman” Hart visits The Morning Show
Calgary-born Hart, 58, is widely thought to be one of the best wrestlers of all time, and revitalized the wrestling industry in the ’90s with his showmanship and ring presence.
Hart began his wrestling career in 1976 as part of his father’s show Stampede Wrestling. Hart was a champion in the WWE (then known as the WWF) in the ’80s and ’90s.
WATCH: Bret Hart meets fans in Calgary
He might be best-known for the way he left the WWF in 1997, after a public falling-out with Vince McMahon. Hart won his final championship in 2010 when he headlined the WWE’s SummerSlam.
Hart’s youngest brother Owen, also a wrestler, died in 1999 after an accident occurred during WWF event Over the Edge.
Family and friends immediately started posting their support to social media.