“He Was a Great Guy. RIP”: Bodybuilding World Mourns the Saddening Demise of a Champion Bodybuilder

Dorian Yates may have once called Johnnie Morant the biggest waste of genetic talent. Funnily enough, Morant wasn’t even mad because he knew Yates was right. But they didn’t call him ‘The Executioner’ for nothing.

“A mountain of a man in the Reaper’s grim hood stepped on stage as funeral bells began to chime at the 1991 WBF Championship.” That’s how the WBF described the champion bodybuilder’s presence. “The irony of the whole thing was striking. ‘The Executioner’ Johnnie Morant doesn’t need any props or accompaniment to elicit fear in the hearts and minds of his competition—so scary is his countenance.” He may have been scary on stage, but off it, he was a gem of a person who’s left behind a legacy that others in the bodybuilding community would hope to follow.

RxMuscle broke the news on Instagram, writing, “Sad news to report as Johnnie Morant, 1989 NPC North American Championships Overall Winner and icon of New Jersey bodybuilding, has passed away.” The cause of death is still unknown, but one thing is certain: Johnnie Morant, a true legend in the field, left an indelible mark on the sport.

His stint with the unconventional and short-lived World Bodybuilding Federation (WBF)—spearheaded by the WWE—earned him the moniker of ‘The Executioner.’ The WBF lasted only a few years, during which Morant showcased his impressive physique, although he fell short of winning international titles. But years before being a part of the WBF, Morant’s early bodybuilding achievements set the tone for all that was to come in his career.

They included a second-place finish at the NPC Junior Nationals in the Heavyweight division, setting the stage for a remarkable career. In 1987, he made waves, securing second place at the USA Championships, followed by a third-place finish the following year. The momentum didn’t stop as he clinched another third-place spot at the 1988 North American Championships. The pinnacle of his early career came in 1989 when Morant earned his pro card by claiming the overall title at the NPC USA Championships and dominating the Heavyweight division.

After his WBF stint, ‘The Executioner’ stepped into the IFBB Pro League, showcasing his prowess with a 10th-place finish at the German Grand Prix, marking the beginning of a series of notable competitions. His rookie year featured impressive performances, including 9th at the Italy Grand Prix and a remarkable 4th at the Night of Champions.

Following his untimely demise, the bodybuilding community has come together to bid farewell to this great icon.

Johnnie Morant was a “warrior” and the “funniest guy,” all at the same time

The bodybuilding community has expressed their heartfelt sentiments and reactions to the sad news of Johnnie Morant’s passing. One of the first to react to the sad news was fellow bodybuilder Dean Caputo, who reminisced about their times together. “What a punch in the gut…This is a shock….Johnny and I would battle it out show after show back in the day….Johnny will be missed…Great Person…🙏🙏🙏” they wrote.

When talking about bodybuilding, not mentioning Diamond Gym is almost a crime. Owned by Dwayne McDaniel, Diamond Gym has produced numerous titleholders. And one of them was none other than Johnnie Morant. Referring to this, a fan wrote, “Diamond Gym legend. Humble as he was big 💪🏼💔” 

IFBB Pro Guy Ducasse joined the conversation, writing, “Yes extremely Sad day for me !!! This hurts big time because Johnnie is my Big Lil brother, and every year in March, we plan to get together in Tampa around our birthdays.” Explaining how they would train and spend time together, Ducasse revealed a heart-warming yet heart-wrenching tidbit.

He continued, “March 13th is my birthday, March 20th is his, and I was looking forward to our meeting sometime next week. With that said: My thoughts, prayers, and condolences go out to Kenny, his Mom, his kids, his grandkids, and his entire family and loved ones. RIP, my brother, we will meet again.” Another fellow bodybuilder got nostalgic about Morant’s Diamond Gym days.

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They wrote, “Damn, this one really hurts. He was like a big brother to me. One of the funniest guy at Diamond Gym. He had the whole gym rolling. Damn big bro, you will be truly missed 💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾👊🏾👊🏾👊🏾” Given his sudden demise, most fans were taken aback, but they couldn’t help but think about all the good times Morant had.

“He was a great guy. RIP,” wrote one fan. Others penned comments like, “Wow, Prayers and Condolences to the family,” and “Oh man.. RIP my Iron brother.” Some reminisced about ‘The Executioner’s’ prime bodybuilding days, writing, “Remember him from around the way in 1990s NJ.” Another regarded him as a bodybuilding warrior and mourned, “Truly a shame.. another fallen warrior from the beautiful 90’s.”

The reactions to Johnnie Morant’s death showcase the respect he commanded in the bodybuilding realm during his career. As he leaves the world behind, his legacy will remain etched in the annals of the sport. May he rest in peace.

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