Canadian wrestling legend Bret (Hitman) Hart says he has prostate cancer

Canadian professional wrestler Bret Hart says he has prostate cancer and will undergo surgery “in the next few days.”

Posting on his verified Instagram account, the Calgary-born grappler known as “The Hitman” said he was about to face his “toughest battle.”

The 58-year-old has had serious health issues before.

He suffered a significant stroke in 2002 that left him partially paralyzed, but made a successful recovery.

Hart was born into a legendary wrestling family led by his father Stu Hart, the founder of Calgary’s Stampede Wrestling promotion.

Monday’s Instagram post had more than 8,000 likes within an hour of it going up.

“With hesitation and fear, I openly declare myself in my fight against prostate cancer,” Hart said.

He made his debut in the WWF (now WWE) in 1984 and rose to fame as a member of the Hart Foundation with tag-team partner Jim (The Anvil) Neidhart.

Hart went on to win the WWF World Heavyweight Championship five times before an acrimonious split with the promotion.

He joined rival WCW, where he won the heavyweight title four times.

Hart has since mended fences with WWE and was inducted into the promotion’s Hall of Fame in 2006.