Dead Wrestlers?

I've been asked by a lot of people why a website about dead wrestlers was created. The brusk answer is that this is more than or less a tribute website.

bam bam bigelow luna vachon death

Bam Bam Bigelow and Luna Vachon, a popular duo in the early 90'due south – both dead earlier historic period 50. photo: wwe.com

I grew upward watching the WWF in the 90s, and it always blew my mind how many wrestlers seemed to dice at a young age. Virtually of the tribute websites I found lacked information, or were sorely outdated. And so I decided to make my own.

Unlike other major sports, information technology wasn't until the last decade or and then that wrestler deaths were even acknowledged by mainstream media. Another wrestler dies and the news would practically exist swept under the rug. WWE deaths were not looked at in the same low-cal as those in the NFL or MLB.

Like him or not, journalist Phil Mushnick hit the boom on the head in 1997 when he said "sadly, the early deaths of professional wrestlers is treated much like the deaths of cartoon characters – 'they tin can't be real people, so they can't die real deaths'."

Most mainstream media attention surrounding wrestler deaths was overwhelmingly negative. When a wrestler dies, the headlines too ofttimes seem to include steroids, drug corruption, early middle attacks, or worse. But are these headlines surrounding deceased wrestlers warranted?

We tin't blame the media for only reporting on the dark side of wrestling. A night side of wrestling surely exists, or at to the lowest degree existed, and every year we're seeing the aftermath with more and more WWE deaths. Many wrestlers expressionless before historic period fifty.

Another wrestler dies. Simply wrestling is fake, right? The rough life inside and outside the ring

sid vicious compound fracture

Someone delight become tell Sid Vicious that wrestling is false. Thankfully still with us today, here Sid suffers a compound fracture mid-match during his WCW run. photo: youtube.com

Outsiders are quick to dismiss wrestling with the ever so popular merits that makes wrestling fans everywhere cringe: "Information technology's fake!" Choreographed with pre-determined outcomes, sure, simply "false" tends to dismiss the unbelievable bumps that can stop in real-life injuries or occasionally, wrestler deaths.

What happens when you're an injured wrestler and can't perform? You chance "losing your spot" – industry jargon for your storyline beingness scrapped by the creative team. This can oft exist the refuse, or finish of a career. The end or decline of a wrestler's livelihood. The solution?

Wrestle through injuries past numbing them with drugs and alcohol.

While this was plainly non the unfortunate formula responsible for all wrestler deaths, it'south still a pretty alarmingly consistent formula – especially for the various WWE deaths we saw in the 2000s.

Information technology'south a mortiferous formula that continues to contribute to WWE deaths to this day. I'm referring to guys like Curt "Mr. Perfect" Hennig – dead at 44. The Large Boss Human – dead at 42. Ravishing Rick Rude – dead at 41. Substance abuse, often leading to middle issues, being a major factor in all 3 of those wrestler deaths lonely.

ultimate-warrior-death

In the early 90s, WWE possessor Vince McMahon was under scrutiny for various steroid-related charges. Pictured here, The Ultimate Warrior in 1989. Warrior died from a heart attack at historic period 54. photograph: wwe.com

The fact is that professional wrestlers don't have an easy chore in the ring, or a forgiving lifestyle outside of information technology. The NFL, NBA, MLB, and NBA have the luxury of an off-flavour.Wrestlers work year round. Their livelihood depends on it.

Steroid scandals and their contribution to wrestler deaths

If we take a look back to the early on 90s, WWE owner Vince McMahon stood trial for various steroid-related charges. He was somewhen acquitted, although many of the surviving wrestlers from the 80s and 90s eras admit to taking steroids by their ain willingness, including tiptop billed talent similar Hulk Hogan.

The negative wellness effects of steroid apply and their contribution to WWE deaths is still being studied, but today, the visitor seems to be cleaning up its deed. Every bit a publicly traded billion dollar conglomerate, they can't risk the scandals of yesteryear.

More vigorous drug testing takes place cheers to a Health Program introduced in 2006 after the sudden expiry of Eddie Guerrero.

umaga dead

Umaga – expressionless at 36 from a drug overdose. His decease was largely ignored past the company. photo: wwe.com

If the health policy was simply a PR move to cover their asses when the next wrestler dies is still up for contend. Many have pointed out loopholes in the plan including part-timers similar Brock Lensar not beingness required to partake in drug testing.

To the WWE'southward credit, the freakish "larger than life" superstars nosotros remember from the 80s and 90s no longer seems to be the norm. It no longer takes an Incredible Hulk physique for a guy to be passed the torch to master outcome condition – guys like AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan are prime examples of this.

Whether it was steroids or other substance corruption, it's sad to await back earlier the explosion of social media, when most wrestler deaths were not being reported in the mainstream media. Many WWE deaths were not even acknowledged by the company. Some of them notwithstanding aren't. Another wrestler dies and it would practically go unreported.

crush and mr perfect dead

This website exists to admit deceased professional wrestlers, many of whom died immature. Pictured here: Curt "Mr. Perfect" Hennig and Brian "Crush" Adams – both dead before age 45. photo: wwe.com

Why a website about WWE deaths exists?

Pro wrestlers will likely never be as publicly respected as baseball and football players, yet they took fifty-fifty bigger concrete risks (and ofttimes for a much smaller paycheck). This website is my small-scale part to give dorsum to those who entertained for a living and paid the ultimate cost.

I couldn't find any other sites that we're strictly profiling deceased wrestlers (well I found i, but there was little, if whatever, data nearly their careers) then I decided to start my own. When a wrestler dies it will be added to the annal and I oftentimes characteristic total obituaries with highlights from their career, photos, and videos.

Have any suggestions or corrections? Feel free shoot me an email.