Former pro wrestler Mike Rotunda, whose characters in the WWE included the notorious Irwin R. Shyster, or IRS, has entered a rehabilitation center after suffering a heart attack last month, according to his daughter.

That contradicts a statement made by the wrestler’s brother-in-law, Barry Windham, who made comments to a reporter during a fan convention over the weekend.

Rotunda, 67, was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2024 as a member of the U.S. Express tag team with his brother-in-law, fellow wrestler Barry Windham.

Windham spoke about Rotunda’s condition during an interview with longtime wrestling reporter Bill Apter during the Glory Days Grapple Con fan convention on Oct. 25 in Lutz, a suburb of Tampa, Florida.

“It’s kind of tough right now. Mike is in hospice right now,” Windham told Apter. “So anyway, that family, I love that family, but you know, it just is so tragic.

“He was just a good boy. He was such a good person, never got in trouble at all his whole life. He’s a good boy.”

But according to Mika Rotunda, the wrestler’s daughter, Windham “misspoke” about her father’s condition.

“Yes, my uncle Barry did make a comment mentioning that my father is in hospice care while answering a question about our late family member, whom we lost two years ago,” she wrote in a social media post. “We want to make it clear that he misspoke — not intentionally.

“My father is not in hospice, but rather in a rehabilitation center. He suffered a massive heart attack on September 20th, was in a coma for a week, and spent over a month hospitalized. By the grace of God, he has now transitioned to a rehabilitation center, where our family remains present, hopeful, and focused on his recovery.”

Mika Rotunda added that her family was “deeply grateful” for the love, prayers and support from wrestling fans and local community members.

“At this time, we kindly ask for privacy as we continue walking this journey together — but we warmly welcome continued prayers, good energy, and healing thoughts for his recovery,“ she wrote.

Rotunda is the father of the late wrestler Windham Rotunda, known professionally as Bray Wyatt, who died of a heart attack in 2023. He was 36. Another one of Rotunda’s sons wrestles professionally as Bo Dallas.

Rotunda competed during the 1980s and ‘90s, with stints in Florida Championship Wrestling, the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE) and World Championship. During his career, he would be referred to as Mike Rotunda or Mike Rotundo; the WWE Encyclopedia, for example, uses the latter spelling in its profile of him and Windham.

He was versatile and performed both as a babyface (good guy) and heel (bad guy).

The WWE Encyclopedia notes that Rotunda and Windham “teamed up in 1984 and quickly became America’s sweethearts.”

But Rotunda’s best character was the devious, sneering heel known as IRS. Wearing a white button-down shirt, tie and suspenders, Rotunda would taunt his opponents, calling them tax cheaters.

He would demand that his opponents pay their “fair share.” In addition to Windham, Rotunda’s tag team partners included Ted DiBiase; the pair formed the Money Inc. tag team and were three-time champions.

He would demand that his opponents pay their “fair share.” In addition to Windham, Rotunda’s tag team partners included Ted DiBiase; the pair formed the Money Inc. tag team and were three-time champions.

WWE women’s wrestling legend Leilani Kai spoke about Rotunda, sharing his condition on her X account.

“It breaks my heart to share that my friend Mike Rotunda has been placed under hospice care,” she wrote, adding a photograph of her hugging Rotunda. “This photo was from earlier this year — a moment I’ll treasure. Please keep Mike and the Rotunda family in your prayers. We love you, Mike.”

Earlier this year, Rotunda reminded fans that his stage name was still active.

“I’m back on X and the books are still open,” he wrote on X in February. “Some of you may have forgotten how this business really works … but I haven’t. The numbers never lie. The debts are still outstanding.

“And trust me, I ALWAYS collect.”

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