One of the most recognizable fans in WWE history has died.
Rick Achberger, better known to generations of wrestling fans as “WWE Sign Guy,” passed away Sunday, Sept. 27. Lance Peterson announced the news on social media, remembering Achberger as a great person who loved talking with fellow fans at wrestling shows. Peterson said Achberger had dealt with health issues for the past couple of years and that his condition had declined rapidly over the past month. A specific cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.
Achberger became instantly recognizable during the 2000s for his red hat, blue work shirt and seemingly endless collection of signs. He attended dozens of WWE events each year and eventually became enough of a fixture that seeing him on television felt like part of the show itself.
Tributes quickly poured in Sunday from wrestlers and personalities who had gotten to know him over the years.
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Big E, Bayley and Other Wrestling Stars Remember Sign Guy
Rhea Ripley added her tribute to Sign Guy late Sunday evening.
JBL also remembered Sign Guy as someone who made a positive impact on the wrestling business and eventually became a friend.
Former WWE Champion Big E remembered looking forward to spotting Achberger’s unmistakable outfit in the crowd.
“Always looked forward to seeing his signature red hat and blue shirt,” Big E wrote, adding that their interactions were consistently “fun and light-hearted.”
Bayley shared an especially fitting tribute. She recalled watching Sign Guy on television when she was a child, including his appearance on WWE Confidential, before eventually becoming one of the wrestlers featured on his signs herself.
“Felt like I really made it when he started making signs for me,” Bayley wrote.
NXT announcer Mike Rome remembered Achberger as “always clever, always fun,” sharing a photo of Sign Guy holding a sign jokingly identifying himself as Rome’s hairdresser.
Alexa Bliss responded to Rome’s tribute with her own simple message: “RIP Rick.”
Wade Barrett also remembered Achberger as a “top dude” who made him laugh both during his years as a wrestler and later from the commentary desk.
Sign Guy Was Part of a Generation of WWE
For newer WWE viewers, the idea of a famous fan sitting near ringside might immediately bring Green Shirt Guy to mind. For those of us who grew up watching WWE during the Ruthless Aggression Era, Sign Guy was that person.
He was a staple of my childhood WWE viewing experience.
The red hat, blue shirt, and of course signs appeared so frequently that he almost felt like an unofficial on-air personality. You didn’t need WWE to explain who he was. If you watched enough Raw, SmackDown and pay-per-views, you simply knew Sign Guy.
I had actually wondered in recent years what had happened to him and why we didn’t see him as frequently. That makes Sunday’s news particularly sad to read.
His fandom became so famous that WWE incorporated it into mainstream television. Achberger appeared on Deal or No Deal in 2007, where John Cena and Bobby Lashley supported him while Edge and Randy Orton heckled him. WWE reported at the time that Achberger had attended more than 1,000 events. He ultimately walked away with $106,000.
Wrestling is built on the relationship between the people in the ring and the people in the crowd. Rick Achberger found a way to become a memorable part of that relationship without ever taking a bump or cutting a promo.
My condolences go out to Rick Achberger’s family, friends, and the wrestling community.
