1885
Name: Clarence Whistler
Date
of Death: November 6, 1885
Age:
29
Cause
of Death: Illness
Story
of Death: Shortly after the boxing fiasco, "all round athlete" and
longtime claimant to the Greco-Roman wrestling
championship"Professor" William Miller invited Whistler to tour
Australia as an athlete and wrestler, and meet Miller at the end of the tour to
settle the championship question between them. Whistler accepted. After a
string of victories Down Under, Whistler defeated Miller in September of 1885
at the Theatre Royal on Bourke Street in Melbourne, for the graeco-roman
championship.At this time, Whistler's strength and courage made him a sensation
and he became an idol to the local Australian population, starved for heroes.
In celebration of his championship victory, he engaged in a reckless,
month-long celebration and contracted pneumonia. By November 6, he was dea. Sources
referring to the nature of his early death are conflicting. Some suggest that
the illness was caused by excess alcohol consumption during celebration Other
sources purport that Whistler's condition was complicated by him either biting
the tops off champagne bottles for sidebets or eating a champagne glass whole.
Known
For: Australian Heavyweight Wrestling Championship
1891
Name:
Sorakichi Matsuda
Date
of Death: August 16, 1891
Age:
32
Cause
of Death: Illness
Story
of Death: Matsuda tried, unsuccessfully, to bring American wrestling to Japan. On August 16, 1891, he died destitute in New York City at age 32. He is interred in Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx, New York City.
Known
for: Remains the lone pioneer as a Japanese wrestler who became a feature
attraction in America
1895
Name:Carl
Abs
Date
of Death: February 18, 1895
Age:
44
Cause
of Death: liver and kidney disease
Story
of Death: Abs died on February 18, 1895, in Hamburg after a month-long battle with the disease. At the time of his death his daughter was 17 years old and his son was 13.On February 22, 1895 he was buried in the Ohlsdorf cemetery in Hamburg Germany.
Known
For: Won the European Greco-Roman Heavyweight Championship in 1894, a year
before his death at the age of 44
1898
Name:
Yousouff the Terrible Turk
Date
of Death: July 4, 1898
Age:
41
Cause
of Death: Drowned
Story
of Death: He was heading to Turkey on the French transatlantic liner SS La
Bourgogne when on July 4, 1898 the ship collided with an Irish cargo liner near
Sable Island and he drowned in the disaster. His body was lost in the Atlantic
Ocean. There are several urban legends surrounding his death, including people
not allowing him access to a lifeboat for fear that his weight would overturn
it, to the theory that he refused to remove his gold championship belt which
weighed him down enough where he could not swim back to the surface of the
ocean. Another story asserts that he attempted to rescue a child trapped under
a bulk of irons; supposedly he saved the child but not himself.
Known
For: American Heavyweight
1900
Name:
Emil Naucke
Date
of Death: January 24, 1900
Age:
44
Cause
of Death: Heart Attack
Story
of Death: On January 25, 1900, immediately after performing at a charity event in Sagebiel, Emil Naucke died of a heart attack .On the day of his funeral , thousands of people lined the path that the funeral procession took from his variety show to the Ohlsdorf cemetery , where he was buried. The memory of Emil Naucke's extraordinary appearance survived indirectly until the 1970s ; Seventy years after his death, children in Hamburg sometimes referred to a bulbous spinning top or a thick marble as a naucke .
Known
for: His partial gigantism was always the No. 1 attraction in pro wrestling
1901
Name:
Dr. Vladislav Von Krajewski
Date
of Death: March 14, 1901
Age:
Unknown
Cause
of Death: Unknown
Story
of Death: Unknown
Known
for: the trainer of wrestler George Hackenschmidt
1917
Name:
Frank Gotch
Date
of Death: December 16, 1917
Age:
40
Cause
of Death: Uremic Poisoning
Story
of Death: After a year of health problems, what was rumored to be syphilis that
he died from was false, the official cause of death was uremic poisoning
Known
for: Consider to be the First World Champion in America
1933
Name:
Dr. B.F. Roller
Date
of Death: April 20, 1933
Age:
57
Cause
of Death: pneumonia
Story
of Death: Roller died of pneumonia on April 19, 1933 at the age of 57
Known
For: The World's first wrestler to use a gimmick in the ring
Name:
Fred Beell
Date
of Death: August 5, 1933
Age:
57
Cause
of Death: Gun Shot
Story
of Death: On August 5, 1933, at around 3am, Beell and his partner George Fyksen
investigated a break-in at the Marshfield Brewing Company. Suspects were still
on the scene. Beell, according to the later report published in the Marshfield
News-Herald, and a more in-depth report in a 1933 edition of True Detective
Mysteries, waited near the patrol vehicle to watch the exits, while Fyksen
entered the building. As he entered, the suspects began firing on Fyksen, who
dropped to the ground and avoided injury, while returning fire. Beell, hearing
the shots, left the vehicle to go to Fyksen's aid. As he rounded the front of
the car, the suspects exited the building, firing as they ran. Four buckshot
from a shotgun blast hit Beell in the head, without his being able to return
fire, killing him instantly. The suspects then stole the police vehicle, but
abandoned it less than a mile away. They had stolen $1,550.00 in a safe
burglary.
Marshfield
police chief William Paape organized a posse with Wood County, Wisconsin
sheriff Martin Bey. One of the suspects, Edward "Speed" Gabriel, was
hit by shots fired from Fyksen in the initial gun battle, his body being
located in a shallow grave alongside a roadway in Minnesota the next day. Two
other suspects, Joe "Sleepy Joe" Hogan and Elmer Digman were
captured. Hogan received 25 years in prison for his part in the murder, while
Digman received a life sentence.
Known
For: American Heavyweight Wrestling Champion
1937
Name:
Martin "Farmer" Burns
Date
of Death: January 8, 1937
Age:
75
Cause
of Death: Unknown Reason
Story
of Death: Burns died on January 8, 1937, in Council Bluffs, Iowa at the age of 75, and was buried at the St. James Cemetery in Toronto, Iowa.
Known
For: Feuding with Frank Gotch
Name:
Jack Curley
Date
of Death: July 12, 1937
Age:
64
Cause
of Death: Heart attack
Story
of Death: Curley's health gradually declined during the late 1930s, and he died after suffering a heart attack in Great Neck, Long Island on July 12, 1937.
Known
For: Jack Curley promoted his first major wrestling bout between Frank Gotch
and Fred Beell
1939
Name:
The Mask Marvel
Date
of Death: Auguest 4, 1939
Age:
60
Cause
of Death: Unknown
Story
of Death: Unknown
Known
For: Is believed to be the very first Mask Marvel
1940
Name:
John Tunney
Date
of Death: January 14, 1940
Age:
32
Cause
of Death: Unknown
Story
of Death: Unknown
Known
For: Father of WWF President Jack Tunney
Name:
Dan Koloff
Date
of Death: March 27, 1940
Age:
42
Cause
of Death: tuberculosis
Story
of Death: Unknown
Known
For: between 1918 and 1927 during which he was undefeated and won all 1,500
matches
1949
Name:
Ivan Poddubny
Date
of Death: August 8, 1949
Age:
78
Cause
of Death: Heart attack
Story
of Death:Poddubny maintained a lifelong professional rivalry with wrestler Stanislaus Zbyszko. He died undefeated on 8 August 1949, in the town of Yeysk, in the Kuban region in Southern Russia from a heart attack.[1] Ivan was buried in Yeysk in a park outside of the city.At his burial site was installed an obelisk that used to say "Here lies the Russian bogatyr".
Known
For: lifelong professional rivalry with wrestler Stanislaus Zbyszko. He died
undefeated
Name:
Ray Steele
Date
of Death: September 11, 1949
Age:
49
Cause
of Death: Heart Attack
Story
of Death: Ray Steele served as a mentor to many young stars, including Lou Thesz before his death of a heart attack n September 1949.
Known
For: NWA World Heavyweight Champion
1950
Name:
Earl Caddock
Date
of Death: August 25, 1950
Age:
62
Cause
of Death: Heart Attack
Story
of Death: Earl Caddock died in 1950 after major surgery for a heart attack.
Known
for: Defeated Joe Stecher for the World Heavyweight Championship in Omaha,
Nebraska..
1951
Name:
Jenette Wolfe
Date
of Death: July, 1951
Age:
18
Cause
of Death: Head Injuries
Story
of Death: Dies on her 18th Birthday in her very first Pro Wrestling match of
head injuries due to a body slam she had received from Ella Waldek during a tag
team match, though she was not injured by the move. Wolfe rolled out of the
ring and collapsed at ringside. Waldek called for the timekeeper to assist her
and get her away from the ring. Though Wolfe's death was eventually ruled to be
an accident, police initially arrested Waldek and the other participants in the
match—Mae Young and Eva Lee. The police reportedly considered charging the
three with manslaughter, but all three women were eventually released.
Ironically, as a result of the incident, people attended wrestling events to
see Waldek, who had to endure crowd chants of "murderer" directed at
her.
Known
for: The daughter of famous Wrestling Promoter Billy Wolfe.
1953
Name:
Man Mountain Dean
Date
of Death: May 29, 1953
Age:
63
Cause
of Death: Heart Attack
Story
of Death: Dean died of a heart attack in his home in Norcross, Georgia, aged 61, in 1953,and is buried in Marietta National Cemetery under a military marker bearing his birth name and an erroneous year of birth (1889).
Known
for: Participating altogether in 6,783 professional bouts and commanding fees
upwards of $1,500 for each match..
1954
Name:
The French Angel
Date
of Death: August 4, 1954
Age:
51
Cause
of Death: Heart Disease
Story
of Death: Wrestler Bobby Managoff asked French Angel on his death bed if he
could make a plaster cast of his face. The Angel agreed, and Managoff made
three masks of his face. One of which was given to Milo Steinborn, while two
ended up with Patrick Kelly. Steinborn donated this mask to the USA
Weightlifting Hall of Fame inside the York Barbell Building in York,
Pennsylvania. One of the masks sat on Kelly's office desk for years, the other
he donated to the International Wrestling Museum in Iowa.
Known
for: The most unusual Looking Wrestler in history and worked for the famous
Jack Pfefer..
Name:
Jess McMahon
Date
of Death: November 21, 1954
Age:
72
Cause
of Death: cerebral hemorrhage
Story
of Death: On November 22, 1954, as a result of a cerebral hemorrhage, Jess died at a hospital in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
Known
for: The patriarch of the McMahon wrestling family.. Founder of the Capitol
Wrestling Corporation than changed to World Wide Wrestling Federation, than to
the World Wrestling Federation now known as World Wrestling Entertainment that
we see on TV
1957
Name:
Cora Livingston
Date
of Death: 1957
Age:
unknown
Cause
of Death: Unknown
Story
of Death: Unknown.
Known
for: One of the first ladies to wrestle in the 1900's and the mentor of Mildred
Burke..
Name:
Gina "Bronco" Bouza
Date
of Death: Auguest 17, 1957
Age:
25
Cause
of Death: Broken Neck
Story
of Death: agreed to a charity wrestling match with a baboon from a local zoo
which resulted in the baboon breaking her neck in seconds.
Known
for: Famous Female Wrestler..
Name:
Mars Bennett
Date
of Death: 1957
Age:
35
Cause
of Death: Car Accident
Story
of Death: Unknown.
Known
for: Famous Female Wrestler..
1961
Name:
Chick Garibaldi
Date
of Death: February 18, 1961
Age:
46
Cause
of Death: Heart Attack
Story
of Death: Chick Garabaldi (46) died after a match against Bruno Sammartino upon
suffering a heart attack
Known
for: Wrestling Bruno Sammartino..
Name:
The Blimp Martin Levy
Date
of Death: November 8, 1961
Age: 56
Cause
of Death: unknown
Story
of Death: Levy's career came to an end around 1950. He died in 1961 in his Alabama trailer park home at the age of 56, reportedly weighing 900 pounds.
Known
for: The heaviest Wrestler in history
1963
Name:
Billy Wolfe
Date
of Death: March 3, 1963
Age:
67
Cause
of Death: Unknown
Story
of Death: Unknown
Known
for: The ex-husband of Milred Burke that ended in disaster as Him and Mildred
Burk feuded over the control of the Ladies Bookings in the US
Name: Gorgeous George
Date
of Death: December 26, 1963
Age:
48
Cause
of Death: Heart Attack
Story
of Death: In 1962, Wagner was diagnosed with a serious liver condition. On
advice of his doctors, he retired. This, combined with failed finances (due to
bad investments) worsened his health. He suffered a heart attack on December
24, 1963 and died two days later, at age 48.
Known
for: Gorgeous George Wagner from what my Grandfather told me that his own
mother my great Grand Mother was his Biggest Fan and he was very famous for his
golden locks and his Valet's & Butlers who he had and was the first Person
to come up with the gimmick of the golden boy in the USA and was the first
wrestler to become a TV Star
1965
Name:
Yukon Eric
Date
of Death: January 16, 1965
Age:
65
Cause
of Death: Sucide
Story
of Death: Following his divorce, Eric drove into a church parking lot in
Georgia and committed suicide with a gun.
Known
For: Former WWWF Tag Team Champion..
1966
Name:
Lady Angel
Date
of Death: February 25, 1966
Age:
Unknown
Cause
of Death: Unknown
Story
of Death: Unknown.
Known
for: Legendary Female wrestler trained by The Fabulous Moolah
Name:
Ed "Strangler" Lewis
Date
of Death: August 8, 1966
Age:
75
Cause
of Death: Natural Causes
Story
of Death: Lewis went blind from trachoma. He was destitute and relied on his wife and acquaintances to survive. He died in New York on August 8, 1966 at the age of 75. In 1999, Lewis was inducted into the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Hall of Fame. Today, a Wisconsin state historical marker commemorates his achievements in his hometown of Nekoosa on Prospect Avenue.
Known
for: involved in the longest running match in history against Joe Stretcher to
5 and half hour draw in the year 1916
1967
Name: Stainless Zbyszko
Date
of Death: September 23, 1967
Age:
88
Cause
of Death: Heart Attack
Story
of Death:On September 23, 1967, Stanislaus Zbyszko died of a heart attack at age 88. He was cited by Strangler Lewis as one of the best legitimate wrestlers of all-time; and as a tribute, his surname was later adopted by Larry Zbyszko.
Known
for: noble feud with Frank Gotch
1968
Name:
"Major Little" Lacy Myrle Bateman
Date
of Death: January 11, 1968
Age:
39
Cause
of Death: Pneumonia brought on by a viral infection
Story
of Death: Unknown
Known
for: the world's smallest midget wrestler
Name:
George Hackenschmidt
Date
of Death: February 19, 1968
Age:
90
Cause
of Death: Unknown
Story
of Death: UHackenschmidt was already hospitalized at St. Francis Hospital in Dulwich, a suburb of London, when he died on 19 February 1968. He was 90 years old. He was cremated at West Norwood Cemetery, where his memorial plaque records him as George Hackenschmidt.
Known
for: The first widely recognized World Heavyweight Champion in wrestling
history, Hackenschmidt is believed to be the creator of the professional
wrestling version of the bear hug
Name:
Wladek Zbyszko
Date
of Death: June 10, 1968
Age:
76
Cause
of Death: Unknown
Story
of Death: He died on June 10, 1968, aged 76.
Known
for: The Brother of Stainless Zbysko
Name:
Oklahoma Kid
Date
of Death: August 11, 1968
Age:
29
Cause
of Death: Heart Attack
Story
of Death: Unknown
Known
for: The Oklahoma Kid defeated Killer Kowalski in an upset victory in roughly a
minute and a half the day before he died
1969
Age:
45
Cause
of Death: Heart Attack
Story
of Death: Lubbock, Texas, DiBiase suffered a fatal heart attack in the ring
during a match with Man Mountain Mike. Harley Race, realizing that he was
suffering a heart attack, attempted to perform CPR on DiBiase and then rode in
the ambulance to the hospital with him. DiBiase was pronounced dead at the
hospital.
Known
for: Father of WWF Star "The Million Dollar Man" Ted Dibiase &
The Grandfather of WWE Star Ted Dibase
1970
Name:
Skull Murphy
Date
of Death: March 23, 1970
Age:
39
Cause
of Death: Over-dose of Sleeping Pills
Story
of Death: On March 23, 1970, Murphy and Bernard were scheduled to face The Kentuckian and Mr. Wrestling. Before the event, his wife found him dead in their apartment, having overdosed on sleeping pills in an apparent suicide
Known
for: Former WWWF United States Tag Team champion
1971
Name:
Tor Johnson
Date
of Death: May 12, 1971
Age:
67
Cause
of Death: Heart Failure
Story
of Death: Johnson died of heart failure in San Fernando, California, at the age of 68.He was buried at Eternal Valley Memorial Park, in Santa Clarita, California.
Known
for: Although he started off as a wrestler in the early 30's, he is more known
as an Actor in B Horror Movies, Until this very day, he is still consider a
Horror Icon
Name:
Hercules Cortez
Date
of Death: July 24, 1971
Age:
39
Cause
of Death: Car Accident
Story
of Death: Hercules Cortez died of injuries suffered in a one-car accident near
St. Cloud, Minnesota early in the morning.. Hercules and partner Red Bastien
were returning to Minneapolis-St. Paul after a tag team match in Winnipeg just
hours earlier.. Hercules, who was reported to have been the driver of the car,
had been scheduled to wrestle Nick Bockwinkel later that day. .
Known
for: AWA (American Wrestling Association) World Heavyweight Tag Team titles
w/Red Bastien
1972
Name:
Luther Lindsay
Date
of Death: February 21, 1972
Age:
47
Cause
of Death: Heart Attack
Story
of Death: Lindsay was facing local wrestler Bobby Paul at Park Center in
Charlotte. After only ten minutes into the match, Lindsey pinned his opponent
with a diving belly-flop. He apparently suffered a fatal heart attack when he
made the pin and died on top of his opponent. When Lindsay did not respond to
the referee after scoring the pin fall, the police were called. Lindsay was
taken back to the dressing room where he was declared dead shortly thereafter.
Known
for: One of the first African American wrestlers to become a major star
1973
Name:
Jim Crockette
Date
of Death: April 1, 1973
Age:
54
Cause
of Death: Unknown Reasons
Story
of Death: Unknown Reasons
Known
for: The Founder of the Jim Crockette Wrestling Promotions
Name:
Dory Funk Sr.
Date
of Death: June 13, 1973
Age:
54
Cause
of Death: Natural Causes
Story
of Death: Unknown
Known
for: Legendary Wrestler and the Father of the now ledgendary wrestlers Dory
Funk Jr. & Terry Funk
Name:
Wild Red Berry
Date
of Death: July 23, 1973
Age:
66
Cause
of Death: Heart Attack
Story
of Death: A year and a half before he died, Berry suffered a stroke which
inhibited his ability to speak. In 1973 he died of a heart attack
Known
for: Berry began managing wrestlers in 1958, including The Fabulous Kangaroos
(Al Costello and Roy Heffernan). He also managed Gorilla Monsoon and Hans
"The Great" Mortier.He was often seen at ringside wearing a warm up
jacket with the phrase, "I am Right" emblazoned on the back.
Berry
Was mentioned at WWF's Wrestlemania 4 telecast When discussing Berry as a
former manager of Monsson
1974
Name:
The Swedish Angel
Date
of Death: February 10, 1974
Age:
66
Cause
of Death: unknown
Story
of Death: unknown
Known
for: The Swedish Angel was one of Jack Pfefer's ripoff versions of the popular
"French Angel" Maurice Tillet
Name:
Jack Pfefer
Date
of Death: September 13, 1974
Age:
79
Cause
of Death: Natural Causes
Story
of Death: unknown
Known
for: Pioneered an earlier form of sports entertainment, as he was one of the
first promoters to visualize the pro wrestling business in the mold of theater.
However, he developed an infamous reputation when he exposed the sport’s inner
secrets to the mainstream press in a spiteful attack that nearly destroyed the
entire industry.
1975
Name:
Bobby Shane
Date
of Death: February 20, 1975
Age:
27
Cause
of Death: Plane Crash
Story
of Death: Bobby Shane died in the crash of a private airplane near Tampa, FL..
~~~Wrestlers Buddy Colt, Austin Idol and Gary Hart were also injured in the
crash..
Known
for: The King of Wrestling
Name:
Miss Sherri
Date
of Death: Unknown
Age:
unknown
Cause
of Death: Suicide
Story
of Death: Miss Sherri was never the same after the divorce with Bobby Shane and
even got worse after his death that she took her own life..
Known
for: Bobby Shane's Valet
Name:
Jim Londos
Date
of Death: August 19, 1975
Age:
78
Cause
of Death: Heart Attack
Story
of Death: Londos died of a heart attack August 19, 1975 and is buried at Oak Hill Memorial Park in Escondido, California.
Known
for: Considered to be a national hero in Greece, Londos once drew a crowd
estimated to be made of nearly 100,000 fans to see one of his matches when he
traveled there ..
1976
Name: Toots Mondt
Name: Toots Mondt
Date
of Death: June 11, 1976
Age:
82
Cause
of Death: Illness
Story
of Death: Mondt died on June 11, 1976 at the age of 82 after a long battle with an illness.
Known
for: Legendary Wrestler & Booker... Was the CO Founder of the Capital
Wrestling Corporation w/ Jess McMahon than later with Vince McMahon Sr. known
as the World Wide Wrestling Federation and then the World Wrestling Federation
and now the World Wrestling Entertainment that we see on TV now
Name:
Pepe Lopez
Date
of Death: July 27, 1976
Age:
39
Cause
of Death: Car Accident
Story
of Death: Died near Dickson, Tennessee on 7/27/1976 in the crash with Sam Bass
& Frank Hester
Known
for: Popular Tag Team Wrestler. .
Date
of Death: 1976
Age:
48
Cause
of Death: Unknown
Story
of Death: Unknown
Known
for: WWWF Midget Wrestler
1977
Date
of Death: January 1977
Age:
53
Cause
of Death: Unknown
Story
of Death: Unknown
Known
for: The Zebra Kid defeated Buddy Rogers for the Ohio version of the World
Heavyweight title
Name:
Pancho The Bull
Date
of Death: 1977
Age:
62
Cause
of Death: Unknown
Story
of Death: Unknown
Known
for: famous midget wrestler
Name:
Sam Bass
Date
of Death: July, 27, 1977
Age:
41
Cause
of Death: Car Accident
Story
of Death: Died in a car crash along with Frank Hester & Pepe Lopez near
Dickson, Tennessee
Known
for: Sam Bass was the man who dubbed Jerry Lawler "King Of Wrestling"
while working a program in Memphis
1978
Name:
Antonio Rocca
Date
of Death: March 15, 1978
Age:
55
Cause
of Death: Urinary Infection
Story
of Death: Rocca died on 15 March 1977, at Roosevelt Hospital in New York City after complications following a urinary infection. His funeral was attended by thousands and made the front page of New York newspapers.
Known
for: WWF Hall Of Fame 1995
Name:
Michel "Mad Dog" Martel
Date
of Death: June 30, 1978
Age:
33
Cause
of Death: Heart Attack
Story
of Death: On the night of June 30, 1978, Martel was wrestling at a WWC event in
Ponce, Puerto Rico appearing on the undercard in a 6-man tag team match Pierre
Martin and Jack Lafarb facing Carlos Colon and "The Invaders"
(Invader I and Invader II). Although showing no signs during the match, he
complained of suffering discomfort during the match to his tag team partner
while backstage preparing to leave for the night. Although Martin had offered
to take him to a hospital, Martel claimed he felt better and instead wanted to
go back to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Within minutes of leaving the arena, however,
Martel began suffering some sort of heart attack and asked Martin to pull over
to the side of the road. Martel attempted to vomit, but was apparently unable
to and his lips began turning blue. Although Martin drove Martel to a nearby
hospital only five minutes away, Martel was pronounced dead on arrival and
attempts to resuscitate him failed. Rick Martel, then 21 years old, would
eventually be flown in to Puerto Rico to identify his brother and eventually
charged with bringing his body back to Quebec. His death was not only announced
by Bob Leonard in Stampede Wrestling but also the World Wrestling Council where
promoter Carlos Colon and Jose Gonzalez would use Martel's death to promote a
long running feud between The Invaders and Pierre Martin and Rick Martel with
the promotion claiming that Martel's attack had been caused by Gonzales using
the then banned "heart punch" during their last match.
Known
for: Working for WWC in Puerto Rico and the brother of WWF & WCW Star Rick
Martel
Name:
Lonnie Mayne
Date
of Death: August 13, 1978
Age:
33
Cause
of Death: unknown
Story
of Death: unknown
Known
for: As a Moondog in WWWF
1979
Name:
Chris Taylor
Date
of Death: June 30, 1979
Age:
29
Cause
of Death: Cardiovascular complications
Story
of Death: He died of cardiovascular complications at his home in Story City, Iowa at the age of 29, two years after health problems caused him to retire from professional wrestling. He is buried in Riverside Cemetery in Dowagiac, Cass County, Michigan.
Known
for: AWA Wrestling Star
1981
Name:
"Killer" Buddy Austin
Date
of Death: August 12, 1981
Age:
51
Cause
of Death: myocardial infarction
Story
of Death: Rogers died on August 12, 1981 from a myocardial infarction
Known
for: Buddy Austin was a long-time partner with Fred Blassie before they turned
on each other in California..
Name:
Mike Marino
Date
of Death: August 24, 1981
Age: 59
Cause
of Death: Leukemia
Story
of Death: Marino died in August 1981 whilst returning to his South London home
from a tournament in Folkestone. He had been booked to wrestle Big Jim Harris
at the town's Leas Cliff Hall but after being adjudged unable to perform was
taken to Ashford Hospital where he was treated for a swollen tongue. Marino
discharged himself the same night and left with fellow wrestler Mal Sanders but
suffered from a convulsive attack as they travelled on the M20 motorway. He
died by the roadside and was afterwards revealed to have been suffering from
leukemia. A Mike Marino Memorial Shield was later contested, with Sanders winning
the inaugural tournament
Known
for: Marino won the World Mid-Heavyweight Championship in 1957 and went on to
hold the title four times
Name:
Ali Baba
Date
of Death: November 16, 1981
Age:
80
Cause
of Death: Unknown
Story
of Death: Unknown
Known
for: 1930's era wrestler who gained his greatest fame under the Arabic gimmick
of "Ali Baba"..
1982
Name:
Sterling "Dizzy" Davis
Date
of Death: 1982
Age:
70
Cause
of Death: Unknown
Story
of Death: Unknown
Known
for: The Wrestling World's first admitted Bisexual, also wrestling in Mexico
was considering the first wrestler in history to use the flamboyant Gimmick...
Gave Gorgeous George permission to use the same gimmick in the USA only because
he didn't think it would get over with the fans..
Date
of Death: January, 1982
Age:
82
Cause
of death:
Story
of death:
Known
for: Named Pro Wrestling number 1 fan in the WWWF Ring in 1979
Name:
George "Scrap Iron" Gadaski
Date
of Death: June 12, 1982
Age:
52
Cause
of Death: Unknown
Story
of Death: Unknown
Known
for: Wrestling Ric Flair in Flair's debut match (went to a time limit draw)..
Name:
Peter Myvia
Date
of Death: June 13, 1982
Age:
47
Cause
of Death: Cancer
Story
of Death: Unknown
Known
for: Peter Myvia is the Father in Law of former WWWF Star Rocky Johnson and the
grandfather of WWE & Hollywood star The Rock.
Name:
Bearcat Wright
Date
of Death: August 8, 1982
Age:
50
Cause
of Death: Sickle Cell Anemia
Story
of Death: Unknown
Known
for: Capitol Wrestling Corporation Star and had a noble feud with Classy
Freddie Blassie
1983
Name:
Frank Tunny
Date
of Death: May 10, 1983
Age:
70
Cause
of Death: Unknown
Story
of Death: During a trip to Hong Kong, Tunney died in his sleep on May 10, 1983
at the age of 70
Known
for: Canadian professional wrestling promoter and the Uncle of Jack Tunny, the
WWF President from 1984-1995
Name:
Grand Wizard
Date
of Death: October 12, 1983
Age:
54
Cause
of Death: Heart Attack
Story
of Death: Unknown
Known
for: The WWF Grand Wizard of Wrestling in the 70s and 80s
Name:
Lana Lamar
Date
of Death: October 12, 1983
Age:
54
Cause
of Death: unknown
Story
of Death: Unknown
Known
for: famous girl wrestler
Name:
Art Nelson
Date
of Death: October 20, 1983
Age:
unknown
Cause
of Death: unknown
Story
of Death: Unknown
Known
for: Art Nelson formed a tag team with Jerry Lawler in Georgia
1984
Name:
El Santo
Date
of Death: February 5, 1984
Age:
66
Cause
of Death: Heart Attack
Story
of Death: Just over a year after his retirement El Santo was a guest on
Contrapunto, a Mexican television program and, completely without warning,
removed his mask just enough to expose his face, in effect bidding his fans
goodbye. It is the only documented case of Santo ever removing his mask in
public. Santo died from a heart attack on February 5, 1984, at 9:40 p.m., a
week after his Contrapunto TV appearance. As per his wishes, he was buried
wearing his famous silver mask. His funeral is considered one of the biggest in
Mexican history as fans and friends flocked to see "el Enmascarado de
Plata" (the Silver-Masked Man) one last time.
Known
for: The Greatest Mexican Star of all time
Name:
David Von Erich
Date
of Death: February 10, 1984
Age:
25
Cause
of Death: Acute Enteritis
Story
of Death: David died during a tour with All Japan Pro Wrestling on February 10,
1984, with many theories about what caused his death being proposed for many
years after. The most popular theory suggests that David died of a drug
overdose,[1] as Ric Flair had mentioned this theory in his autobiography,
claiming that Bruiser Brody (the Von Erich's long-time friend) removed the
evidence. The Von Erichs however claimed that David's death was a heart attack,
caused by ruptured intestines resulting from acute enteritis. In the
documentary Heroes of World Class: The Story of the Von Erichs and The Triumph
and Tragedy of World Class Championship Wrestling, Kevin Von Erich and former
referee David Manning both attested to the heart attack theory, as they claimed
that the autopsy supported the myocardial infarction. Manning and Kevin also
claimed that David had been complaining about a pain in his stomach prior to
his excursion to Japan. David had been taken to the emergency room at Spohn
Hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas less than two weeks before his ill-fated trip
to Japan. He had complained of dizziness and flu like symptoms and been put on
an antibiotic at that time.
Known
for: From the Famous Wrestling Family The Von Erich's in World Class
Championship Wrestling
Name:
Helen Hild
Date
of Death: March, 1984
Age: 58
Cause
of Death: Illness
Story
of Death: Unknown
Known
for: Wife of Legendary Iron Mike Dibiase, The Mother of former WWF Star Million
Dollar Man & The Grandmother of current WWE Star Ted Dibiase
Name:
Andy Kaufman
Date
of Death: May 16, 1984
Age:
35
Cause
of Death: Cancer
Story
of Death: At Thanksgiving dinner with his family on Long Island in November
1983, several family members grew concerned over Kaufman's persistent coughing
during the dinner, and openly expressed worry about it. Kaufman claimed to them
that he had the cough for nearly a month, but also claimed that an initial
visit to his doctor told him that nothing was wrong. After returning to Los
Angeles, Kaufman consulted a physician where he checked himself into
Cedars-Sinai Hospital for a series of medical tests and a few days later, he
was diagnosed with a rare type of lung cancer. Despite his doctor's prognosis
that there was no hope for recovery, he was committed to fighting the disease
until his death. After audiences were shocked by his gaunt appearance during
his performances in January 1984, Kaufman acknowledged having an unspecified
illness, which he hoped to cure with "natural medicine" including an
all-fruit and vegetables diet, among other measures. Kaufman received
palliative radiotherapy, but by then the cancer had rapidly spread from his
lungs to his brain. His last resort was "psychic surgery", a debunked
procedure that includes the use of sleight of hand, performed in Baguio,
Philippines, in March 1984. Kaufman died in a hospital in Los Angeles on May
16, 1984 of kidney failure, caused by metastasized large cell carcinoma, and
was interred in the Beth David Cemetery in Elmont, New York (Long Island). He
was 35 years old. Because he kept the true nature of his illness a
secret—almost until the day he died—fans have, over the years, doubted
Kaufman's death, thinking that he staged it as the ultimate Andy Kaufman stunt.
Kaufman allegedly told many people—including Bob Zmuda—that he wished to fake
his own death prior to his actual death. This has caused some fans to believe
Kaufman is still alive. Kaufman himself purportedly claimed that if he were to
fake his death, he would return 20 years later, which would have been in 2004.
Known
for: Hollywood Actor & Comedian but more so known for his Memphis Wrestling
feud with Jerry Lawler that gain National media Attention
Name:
Vince McMahon Sr.
Date
of Death: May 27, 1984
Age:
69
Cause
of Death: Pancreatic cancer
Story
of Death: McMahon died at age 69, and is buried in Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Known
for: The Owner of the World Wide Wrestling Federation than the World Wrestling
Federation, now the World Wrestling Entertainment owned by his son Vince
McMahon Jr.
Name:
Brute Bernard
Date
of Death: July 14, 1984
Age:
63
Cause
of Death: Gun Shot
Story
of Death: He died in 1984 of a self-inflicted gunshot; it was not determined if
his death was a suicide or an accident. One story states that Bernard was
playing Russian Roulette
Known
for: WWWF United States Tag Team Championship - with Skull Murphy
Date
of Death: August 2, 1984
Age:
41
Cause
of Death: Heart Attack
Story
of Death: Unknown
Known
for: WWWF Star, WWWF United States Tag Team titles w/Don McClarity & WWE
Hall of Fame
1985
Name:
Eddie Graham
Date
of Death: January 20, 1985
Age:
55
Cause
of Death: Suicide
Story
of Death: Committed suicide by gunshot after a lifelong battle with alcoholism
Known
for: NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Northeast version) (4 times) -
with Jerry Graham
Name:
Bull Curry
Date
of Death: March 8, 1985
Age:
70
Cause
of Death: Unknown
Story
of Death: Unknown
Known
for: Wrestled icons such as Gorgeous George, Ski Hi Lee, Dory Funk Sr., Yukon
Eric, & Don Leo Jonathon
Name:
Jay Youngblood
Date
of Death: September 1, 1985
Age:
30
Cause
of Death: Ruptured Spleen
Story
of Death:During a wrestling tour of the South Pacific, Youngblood was experiencing abdominal pain and went to hospital where he was diagnosed with hemorrhagic pancreatitis. He started to develop abdominal sepsis and kidney failure before suffering a series of heart attacks. He was in a coma for two weeks before dying on September 2, 1985 in Parkville, Victoria, Australia.He is buried at Llano Cemetery by Cox Funeral Home at Amarillo, Texas, beside his parents Ricky and Stella Marrujo Romero.
Known
for: Former AWA Heavyweight champion
Name:
Rick McGraw
Date
of Death: November 1, 1985
Age:
30
Cause
of Death: Heart Attack
Story
of Death: McGraw was well-known in the business as having a severe drug
problem, and was one of the first of many in professional wrestling to die from
one. In Bret Hart's autobiography Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of
Wrestling, Bret wrote: "Every night he'd swallow a handful of Placidyls
and wind up passed out face down in his dinner...The cause of his death was labeled
a heart attack, but we all knew his heart had given out under deadly dosages of
downers." McGraw died just days after wrestling Roddy Piper in a
nationally televised match. McGraw took such a beating that the match had to be
stopped. Though some less savvy fans felt the match led to McGraw's death, the
two incidents were not related. Shortly after McGraw's death, Roddy Piper
headlined a show held to benefit McGraw's family. He had left behind a wife and
a baby daughter.
Known
for: WWF Star
1986
Name:
The Beast
Date
of Death: 1986
Age:
59
Cause
of Death: Unknown
Story
of Death: Unknown
Known
for: Wrestled Bruno Sammartino for the WWWF title three times at Maple Leaf
Gardens in 1964
Name:
Gino Hernandez
Date
of Death: February 4, 1986
Age:
29
Cause
of Death: Drug Over-dose
Story
of Death: concerned with Hernandez's well-being, two World Class officials,
David Manning and Rick Hazzard, and several local law enforcement officers
broke into his Highland Park apartment and found Hernandez dead (he had been
dead for approximately two-three days). Initially, Hernandez's death was ruled
a homicide case, but following autopsy reports, his death was ruled as a result
of an overdose of cocaine. Many people believe Gino was murdered in a drug
related incident. According to Manning, he said that Hernandez had three times
the amount of cocaine in his system that would have resulted in a fatality, and
he and Kevin Von Erich stated that Gino also had cocaine in his stomach. Manning
also suspected foul play due to the fact that Hernandez's dead bolt on his door
was not locked, as he made it a habit in the past to lock the dead bolt at all
times. Scotland Yard in fact contacted and questioned Chris Adams, who had
returned to England three days before hearing the news of Gino's death. Adams,
who was never considered a suspect, was never charged in the case, as the FBI
and Scotland Yard later ruled him out as a potential suspect.
Known
for: World Class Championship Wrestling Star
Name:
Warren Bockwinkel
Date
of Death: March 25, 1986
Age:
74
Cause
of Death:Heart Attack
Story
of Death: Unknown
Known for: National Wrestling Alliance and North American regional promotions during the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s and the Father of Nick Bockwinkel who became a top star in AWA
Known for: National Wrestling Alliance and North American regional promotions during the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s and the Father of Nick Bockwinkel who became a top star in AWA
Name:
El Solitario
Date
of Death: April 6, 1986
Age:
39
Cause
of Death: Heart Attack
Story
of Death: El Solitario had suffered injuries during the latter part of his
career, resulting in several infections and illnesses. During a match with
Fishman, he re-injured himself and was taken to the hospital while complaining
of abdominal pain. Unfortunately, his doctors initially misdiagnosed his
condition, it was later discovered that he was suffering from internal bleeding
that required immediate surgery. On April 6, 1986, at the age of 39, El
Solitario died while on the operating table as a result of a cardiac arrest.
Known
for: Consider being one of the top 10 Mexican stars of all time in Mexico
1987
Name:
Tiny Mills
Date
of Death: 1987
Age:
76
Cause
of Death: Unknown
Story
of Death: Unknown
Known
for: NWA World Heavyweight Championship
Name:
Mike Von Erich
Date
of Death: April 12, 1987
Age:
23
Cause
of Death: Suicide
Story
of Death: A few days before his death, Mike was arrested on drunk driving and
drug charges. On April 12, 1987, he left a suicide note for his family, then
went to Lake Dallas, where he overdosed on the sleeping pill Placidyl and
alcohol. He was found dead four days later and buried at
Known
for: From the Famous Texas Wrestling Family the Von Erichs from World Class
Championship Wrestling
Name:
Malcolm Kirk
Date
of Death: August 24, 1987
Age:
50
Cause
of Death: Car Accident
Story
of Death: Kirk died after a tragic turn of events during the final moments of
the match at the hippodrome circus in Great Yarmouth in Norfolk against British
wrestling legend Shirley "Big Daddy" Crabtree. After Big Daddy had
delivered his signature belly-splash, Kirk turned an unhealthy color and was rushed
to the James Paget hospital in Gorleston in Norfolk, but was pronounced dead on
arrival. The inquest into Kirk's death found that he had a serious heart
condition and cleared Crabtree of any responsibility
Known
for: Kirk's work rose to its prominence in the 1970s and 1980s due to the
popularity of televised wrestling in the United Kingdom
Name:
Scott Irwin
Date
of Death: September 5, 1987
Age:
35
Cause
of Death: Brain Tumor
Story
of Death: Unknown
Known
for: Former WWF & AWA Star
Name:
Betty Joe Hawkins
Date
of Death: December 4, 1987
Age:
57
Cause
of Death: Unknown
Story
of Death: Unknown
Known
for: Legendary tag team wrestler with Penny Banner
1988
Name:
Fred Atkins
Date
of Death: May 4, 1988
Age:
77
Cause
of Death: Unknown
Story
of Death: Unknown
Known
for: WWWF Referee
Name:
Adrian Adonis
Date
of Death: July 4, 1988
Age:
33
Cause
of Death: Car Accident
Story
of Death: While riding in a minivan with fellow wrestlers William "Mike
Kelly" Arko, Victor "Pat Kelly" Arko, and Dave
"Wildman" McKigney. Adonis, McKigney, and Pat Kelly were killed when
the driver, Mike Kelly, allegedly swerved in order to avoid hitting a moose
and, blinded by the setting sun, inadvertedly drove into a lake. Mike Kelly
survived, albeit with severe leg injuries
Known
for: AWA Star 1979 to 1981 & 1987, AWA World Tag Team Champion w/Jesse
Ventura, WWF Star 1981 to 1987, WWF Tag team Champion w/Dick Murdoch
Name:
Dave McKigney
Date
of Death: July 4, 1988
Age:
56
Cause
of Death: Car Accident
Story
of Death: While riding in a minivan with fellow wrestlers William "Mike
Kelly" Arko, Victor "Pat Kelly" Arko, and Arian Adonis,
McKigney, and Pat Kelly were killed when the driver, Mike Kelly, allegedly
swerved in order to avoid hitting a moose and, blinded by the setting sun,
inadvertedly drove into a lake. Mike Kelly survived, albeit with severe leg
injuries
Known
for: Wrestling Real Life Bears
Name:
Pat Kelly
Date
of Death: July 4, 1988
Age:
unknown
Cause
of Death: Car Accident
Story
of Death: While riding in a minivan with fellow wrestlers William "Mike
Kelly" Arko, Adrian Adonis, and Dave "Wildman" McKigney. Arian
Adnois, Dave McKigney, and Pat Kelly were killed when the driver, Mike Kelly,
allegedly swerved in order to avoid hitting a moose and, blinded by the setting
sun, inadvertedly drove into a lake. Mike Kelly survived, albeit with severe
leg injuries
Known
for: Stampede International Tag Team titles
Name:
Bruiser Brody
Date
of Death: July 18, 1988
Age:
42
Cause
of Death: Murder
Story
of Death: On July 16, 1988, Brody was in the locker room before his match with
Dan Spivey in Bayamón (a city near San Juan, Puerto Rico), when José Huertas
González, a fellow wrestler and booker, asked him to go into the shower to
discuss business. Brody entered the shower stall and a few minutes later a
scuffle ensued, followed by two groans, loud enough for the entire locker room
to hear. Tony Atlas ran to the shower and saw Brody bent over and holding his
stomach. Atlas then looked up at González and saw him holding the knife. When
the paramedics arrived Atlas carried Brody downstairs to the waiting ambulance.
González, who always maintained his innocence, was initially charged with
first-degree murder but was later reduced and tried for involuntary homicide.
In January 1989, González was acquitted on all counts, citing self-defense
Known
for: American Wrestling Association, and World Class Championship Wrestling
Name:
Bad Leroy Brown
Date
of Death: September 6, 1988
Age:
37
Cause
of Death: Heart Attack
Story
of Death: Daniels died on September 6, 1988, as the result of a stroke and subsequent heart attack caused by severe cirrhosis at a hospital in Savannah, Georgia at the age of 37
Known
for: Jim Crockett Promotions Star
Name:
Leroy McGurik
Date
of Death: September 9, 1988
Age:
77
Cause
of Death: Unknown
Story
of Death: Unknown
Known
for: Legendary Wrestler & Promoter and the Father of the WWF's First Female
Ring Announcer Mike McGuirk and the Grandfather of former WWE Hopeful Maximus
McGuirk
Name:
Ricky Lawless
Date
of Death: November 30, 1988
Age:
29
Cause
of Death: Murder
Story
of Death: Leon was shot to death in Baltimore by 22-year-old Raymond Michael
Swartz, although at least one newspaper, The Toronto Star, claimed the murder
had been committed by "former tag team partner" Vladimir Koloff. On
January 12, 1989, Swartz was extradited to Middlesex County, New Jersey on
suspicion of stealing a rental car in Saluda. While still being held in
custody, Sheriff Lewis Jones III discovered via the National Criminal
Information Network that he was wanted in connection with Leon's murder. Police
speculated that Swartz could have used the car in the murder having rented it
weeks before Leon's death. Charged with being a fugitive from justice and held
without bail, the car theft charges were dropped so Swartz could be returned to
Baltimore to be tried for first-degree murder. Leon's murder, specifically
focusing on the aspect of his death at the hands of an irate husband over an
extramarital affair, would later appear as an expose by Hustler ("Shotgun
Justice: A Pro Wrestler's Final Fall") in May 1991.
Known
for: Tag Team with Joey Maggs and trained ECW Legend Axl Rotten
1989
Name:
Mildred Burke
Date
of Death: February 18, 1989
Age:
73
Cause
of Death: Stroke
Story
of Death: Burke died from a stroke on February 18, 1989 in Northridge, California, and was buried at the Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles.
Known
for: Mildred Burk is Consider next to Fabulous Moolah the most recognized woman
in wrestling history
Name:
Shirley Strimple
Date
of Death: February 25, 1989
Age:
unknown
Cause
of Death: unknown
Story
of Death: Unknown
Known
for: Legendary Woman Wrestler
Name:
Happy Humphery
Date
of Death: March 14, 1989
Age:
62
Cause
of Death: Heart Attack
Story
of Death: In later years, Humphrey regained much of his weight, and died of a heart attack on March 14, 1989. At the time of his death, he weighed over 600 lb. He was buried at South lawn Cemetery, Aiken County, South Carolina.
Known
for: Notable match was a sold-out main event at Madison Square Garden, promoted
by Vince McMahon Sr., against Haystacks Calhoun
Name: Villiano II
Date
of Death: April 17, 1989
Age:
39
Cause
of Death: Sucide
Story
of Death: Alfredo Díaz died on April 17, 1989, the official cause of death at
the time was that he died of injuries suffered in the ring. Later it was
revealed that he had committed suicide due to a depression.The shock of his
early death, he had not yet turned 40, rattled his younger brother José de
Jesús (Villano I) that he was never able to show the same enthusiasm about
lucha libre.
Known
for: The Famous Mexican Family The Villianos
Name:
Sweet Georgia Brown
Date
of Death: July, 1989
Age:
56
Cause
of Death: Breast Cancer
Story
of Death: Unknown
Known
for: Pioneered Women pro wrestling as the first African American Women to ever
step in the ring in the 1950's
Name:
Haystacks Calhoun
Date
of Death: December 7, 1989
Age:
55
Cause
of Death: Diabetes
Story
of Death: However, his weight and declining health eventually forced him into retirement, and he was ultimately confined to a double-wide trailer after losing his left leg to diabetes in 1986. He died at age 55 on December 7, 1989. He is buried in Scott Cemetery in Collin County, Texas. His daughter donated mementos of his wrestling career to the Collin County museum.
Known
for: WWWF World Tag Team Championship - with Tony Garea
Placidyl,
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