Throughout the duration of 2015, WWE, or “world wrestling entertainment,” lost many legendary personalities. Many of them represented an era that will forever be etched in the memory of longtime fans. During their prime, they were some of the most recognized names in all of wrestling entertainment. Some of them were so passionate about their jobs that they lived out of a suitcase, spent more than 300 days a year on the road, and worked in territorial circuits during a time when the profession was much different than it is today.

Wrestling fans have gotten used to the idea of loss. In 2014, we lost namesakes such as “The Ultimate Warrior” and “The Original Diva”, Mae Young. This year, however, has been a particularly painful one. This year we said goodbye to legends Dusty Rhodes, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, Verne Gagne, and many more.

Rhodes, who passed away on June 11 at the age of 69, was one of the greatest characters to ever step inside the squared circle. Dusty Rhodes was a name that had long transcended the wrestling business. To put it simply, he was a force of nature. “He was an American hero. He gave us The Dream,” said 16-time world champion Ric Flair, one of Rhodes’ most famous in-ring rivals. Longtime wrestling broadcaster Jim Ross called Rhodes “arguably the most charismatic performer of all time.” His one-of-a-kind verbal style was the first of its kind, and no one will come close to ever replicating it. He was exactly what he portrayed on TV: a blue collar common man, who rose from being the son of a plumber to being a part of American pop culture whose legacy will live forever. Therefore, in essence, he really was the American dream.

Roddy Piper, one of wrestling’s most popular characters, was only 61 when he died in his sleep on July 30. Piper’s phenomenal success traveled beyond the world of professional wrestling. He soon became a crossover celebrity whose charisma would attract Hollywood’s attention, soon making him a well-known film star.

The wrestling business is notorious for having a great entrance plan, but it lacks a real exit plan. In an interview with HBO’s “Real Sports” some 12 years before his death, Piper predicted that he would not see the age of 65.

Gagne, who passed away at the age of 89 after an extended battle with Alzheimer’s disease, was an Olympic-caliber athlete. He excelled in sports such as football and wrestling in college, and then paralleled those skills to the wrestling industry. For decades, he was one of the most celebrated performers and promoters.

The straight-laced, no-nonsense Gagne wore many hats during his career in the Midwest-based American Wrestling Association (AWA) — as president, owner, and main-event star. He held the AWA world title 10 times between 1960 and 1981.

It is arguable that some of these names are the best in history; however, it is not arguable that they all took part in the shaping of the WWE. Rhodes has two sons who are currently performing on a weekly basis, Piper has given the public decades of entertainment that they won’t soon forget, and Gagne took part in making the transition from AWA to, at the time, WWF. They are all legendary icons, and they will always be remembered.