List of premature professional wrestling deaths

Last updated

According to a 2014 study by Eastern Michigan University examining professional wrestlers who were active between 1985 and 2011, mortality rates for professional wrestlers are up to 2.9 times greater than the rate for men in the wider United States population. [1] A 2014 report by John Moriarty of the University of Manchester and Benjamin Morris of FiveThirtyEight also found that the mortality rate for professional wrestlers was significantly higher than that of athletes in other sports. [2] [3] [4] Experts suggest that a combination of the physical nature of the business, no off-season, and potentially high work load (with some wrestlers fighting more than 100 and even 200 matches per year), along with the drug culture in wrestling during the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s contributes to high mortality rates among wrestlers. [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] Another study ascribes the higher death rate largely to higher rates of cardiovascular disease compared to the general population with morbidly obese wrestlers being especially at risk. [10] [11]

Contents

Many promotions employ performers as "independent contractors" and do not offer company-sponsored group health insurance coverage in most instances. This is said to have a causal connection to their longevity, morbidity and mortality. WWE performers' status as independent contractors was spotlighted by John Oliver on an episode of his show Last Week Tonight with John Oliver in March 2019, [12] [13] [14] with Oliver calling on WWE fans to protest at WrestleMania 35. [12] [13] [14] WWE denied Oliver's critique. [15]

The concept of the untimely deaths of professional wrestlers was a frequent topic of discussion on the Opie & Anthony show. [16] After Scott Hall's death in 2022, Bret Hart and Kevin Nash talked about the premature death of several wrestlers, mentioning the mental and body damage as possible causes. [17] [18]

List

Under 20

AgeRing name
(Birth name)
Promotion(s) worked forDate of birthDate of deathCause of death
18 Janet Wolfe
(Janet Boyer Wolfe)
NWA June 13, 1933July 27, 1951Brain hemorrhage

Under 30

Hana Kimura Mu Cun Hua 2019.jpg
Hana Kimura
Reid Flair Reid Flair.jpg
Reid Flair
Lance Cade Lance Cade cropped.jpg
Lance Cade
Trent Acid RIP Trent Acid (Mike Verdi) -crop.jpg
Trent Acid
AgeRing name
(Birth name)
Promotion(s) worked forDate of birthDate of deathCause of death
21 Oro
(Jesús Javier Hernández)
CMLL, UWA December 24, 1971October 26, 1993Head injury during match [19]
21 Jeff Peterson Independent circuit, ECWA, MCW, IPWAugust 13, 1981November 29, 2002 Leukemia
21 Chris Von Erich
(Chris Adkisson)
WCCW, USWA September 30, 1969September 12, 1991 Suicide by gunshot [20]
21 Asahi
(Name unknown)
Ice Ribbon, Actwres girl'Z October 19, 2002February 1, 2024Car accident
22 Rey Celestial (Oscar Leonardo Torres Parra) AAA, CLL, DTU August 29, 1995September 17, 2017Struck in a hit and run
22 Hana Kimura
World Wonder Ring Stardom, ROH, Wrestle-1, various Japanese PromotionsSeptember 3, 1997May 23, 2020Suicide by hydrogen sulfide ingestion
22 Mass Transit (Erich Kulas) ECW, independent circuit October 17, 1979May 12, 2002Complications from gastric bypass surgery [21]
22 Mirai
(Chiemi Kitagami)
AJW, K-DOJO, AtozNovember 17, 1982September 14, 2005Drowned in bathtub; possibly suicide
22 Spider
(Daniel Quirk)
NWA New England, independent circuit, WXW, ACW July 19, 1982May 28, 2005Head injury in match
23 Edouard Beaupre
(Joseph Édouard Beaupré Piché)
N/AJanuary 9, 1881July 3, 1904 Tuberculosis
23 Chri$ Ca$h
(Christopher Bauman Jr.)
CZW July 13, 1982August 18, 2005Motorcycle accident
23 Emiko Kado JWP, ARSIONJanuary 28, 1976April 9, 1999Intercerebral bleeding in match
23 Shane Shamrock
(Brian Howser)
MCW, MEWF, IPWA February 8, 1975August 18, 1998Shot by police
23 Mike Von Erich
(Michael Adkisson)
WCCW, NWA, NJPW March 2, 1964April 12, 1987Suicide by drug overdose [20]
25 Reid Flair
(Reid Fliehr)
AJPW, WCW, NWA, SSW, Lucha Libre USA February 26, 1988March 29, 2013Drug overdose [22]
25 David Von Erich
(David Adkisson)
WCCW, NWA St. Louis, NWA, AJPW July 22, 1958February 10, 1984Acute enteritis [20]
26 Kasavubu
(Jimmy Banks)
Stampede Wrestling, WWWF, NWA, IWE May 14, 1956July 27, 1982 Heart attack during operation
26 Kurtis Chapman Revolution Pro Wrestling, Progress Wrestling, GCW, various British promotionsDecember 19, 1997December 29, 2023Unknown
27 J.C. Bailey CZW, IWA Mid-South, IWA East-CoastAugust 23, 1983August 30, 2010 Intracranial aneurysm
27 Masakazu Fukuda WAR, NJPW May 17, 1972April 19, 2000Head injury in match
27 Russ Haas
(Thomas Russell Haas)
ECWA, CZW, MCW, HWA, WWF, JAPW March 11, 1974December 15, 2001Heart failure
27 Louie Spicolli
(Louis Mucciolo Jr.)
WWF, ECW, WCW, UWF, AAA, FMW February 10, 1971February 15, 1998Drug overdose [23]
28 Art Barr PNW, WCW, AAA, EMLL October 8, 1966November 23, 1994Heart attack caused by a drug overdose [24]
28 Gino Hernandez
(Charles Wolfe Jr.)
WCCW, SCW, Houston Wrestling, NWA, UWF Mid-South August 14, 1957February 2, 1986Possible drug overdose or murder [25]
28 Ricky Lawless
(Medardo Leon Jr.)
ICW, NWF, independent circuit December 3, 1959November 30, 1988Murder
29 Trent Acid
(Michael Verdi)
ROH, CZW, BJPW, JCW November 12, 1980June 18, 2010Drug overdose
29 Lance Cade
(Lance McNaught)
WWE, HWA, OVW, MCW, FCW, AJPW March 2, 1981August 13, 2010Heart attack caused by drug overdose [26]
29 Plum Mariko
(Mariko Umeda)
JWP, AJW, Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling November 1, 1967August 16, 1997Head injury in match [19]
29 Bobby Shane
(Robert Schoenberger)
NWA, CWF, CCW, CSW, GCW, WCW Australia August 25, 1945February 20, 1975Drowning from plane crash
29 Chris Taylor AWA, AJPW, NWA June 13, 1950June 30, 1979 Cardiomyopathy
29 Clarence Whistler N/AFebruary 24, 1856November 6, 1885Pneumonia

Under 40

Jay Youngblood Jay Youngblood 1979.jpg
Jay Youngblood
Crash Holly Crash Holly signing autographs.jpg
Crash Holly
Chris Candido ChrisCandidoMarch1998.png
Chris Candido
Test Andrew Martin (cropped) (cropped).jpg
Test
Lonnie Mayne Moondog Mayne - Wrestling Annual - June 1975.jpg
Lonnie Mayne
La Parkita La Parkita.jpg
La Parkita
Brain Damage Marvin "Brain Damage" Lambert.jpg
Brain Damage
Yokozuna Yokozuna walking.jpg
Yokozuna
Owen Hart Owen Hart with a fan.jpg
Owen Hart
Umaga UmagaWrestler2009.png
Umaga
Ray RAY2011Nian .jpg
Ray
Eddie Guerrero Eddie Guerrero on SmackDown cropped.jpg
Eddie Guerrero
Rikidozan Rikidouzan.jpg
Rikidōzan
Davey Boy Smith The British Bulldog.jpg
Davey Boy Smith
El Solitario El Solitario - WRESTLING NEWS 15 June 1972 VOL 1 NO 1 (cropped).jpg
El Solitario
Ashley Massaro Ashley chalkphoto.jpg
Ashley Massaro
Bray Wyatt Bray Wyatt at WM30.jpg
Bray Wyatt
AgeRing name
(Birth name)
Promotion(s) worked forDate of birthDate of deathCause of death
30 Zubair Jhara
(Muhammad Zubair Aslam)
Wrestled in Pakistan, NJPW November 24, 1960September 10, 1991 Heart failure
30 Sara Lee WWE June 7, 1992October 5, 2022Suicide by combined drug intoxication [27]
30 Pierre Lefebvre GCW, WWF, Lutte Internationale, ESA, NWA, UWF February 24, 1955December 24, 1985Car wreck [28]
30 Rick McGraw WWF, NWA, Lutte Internationale, MACW, GCW, SCW, WWA March 19, 1955November 1, 1985Heart attack [29]
30 Giant Ochiai
(Takayuki Okada)
Battlarts, WJ May 8, 1973August 8, 2003 Subdural hematoma
30 Johnny Perry UnknownOctober 24, 1972November 21, 2002Heart failure
30 Larry Sweeney
(Alexander Whybrow)
Chikara, IWC, ROH, CZW, IWA Mid-South, PLW February 18, 1981April 11, 2011Suicide by hanging
30 Jay Youngblood
(Steven Romero)
AWA, NWA, MACW, MLW, CWF, AJPW June 21, 1955September 2, 1985Heart attack [30]
31 Christin Able
(Josh Burgess)
ROH, AAW Wrestling, independent circuit January 11, 1985April 14, 2016Unknown
31 Ed Gantner CWF, MACW February 4, 1959December 31, 1990Suicide by gunshot [31]
31 Gene Lipscomb NWA, NWA San Francisco August 9, 1931May 10, 1963Drug overdose
31 Scott Peterson PNW, NWA June 10, 1963July 25, 1994Motorcycle accident
31 Kazuharu Sonoda AJPW, NWA, WSS, WCCW, CWF, MACW September 16, 1956November 28, 1987Plane crash (South African Airways Flight 295)
31 Frank Speer UnknownMay 27, 1907June 10, 1938 Bronchial pneumonia
31-32 Sorakichi Matsuda
(Koujiro Matsuda)
N/A1859August 16, 1891Tuberculosis
32 Steve Bradley
(Steve Bisson)
WWF/E, PPW, OVW, NECW, HWA, WWA December 10, 1975December 1, 2008Unknown
32 Jaime Cardriche Pacific Wrestling AllianceMarch 28, 1968July 28, 2000Complications during gallbladder surgery
32 Adam Firestorm
(Adam Dykes)
ECCW, Stampede Wrestling, various promotions in Western Canada and Pacific NorthwestNovember 25, 1976November 5, 2009Suicide
32 Crash Holly
(Mike Lockwood)
WWF/E, ECW, FC !Bang!, APW, TNA August 25, 1971November 6, 2003Suicide by drug overdose and alcohol poisoning [32]
32 Billy McCrary NWA, NJPW December 7, 1946July 14, 1979Motorcycle accident [33] [34]
32 Buzz Sawyer
(Bruce Woyan)
NWA, WWF, UWF, WCCW, MACW, WCW June 14, 1959February 7, 1992Cocaine-induced heart attack [19] [35]
32 Frank Townsend NWA, MLW, CWC, ASW, JWA, Joint Promotions March 20, 1933May 15, 1965Drowning in boating accident; considered a missing person
32 Kris Travis TNA, RPW, PCW, ICW, PROGRESS December 16, 1983March 31, 2016Stomach cancer
33 Karsten Beck
(Karsten Pitann)
WXW, BJPW, CZW, various European promotionsNovember 25, 1986October 15, 2020Brain cancer
33 Jim Browning N/AMarch 31, 1903June 25, 1936Pulmonary embolism
33 Chris Candido WCW, WWF, ECW, SMW, NJPW, TNA March 21, 1972April 28, 2005Acute pneumonia [36]
33 Eddie Gilbert
(Thomas Edward Gilbert Jr.)
NWA, WCW, UWF, WWF, USWA, ECW August 14, 1961February 18, 1995Heart attack [37]
33 Paul E. Normous
(Paul Fauchs)
OVW, ECWA, independent circuit April 15, 1975January 16, 2009Drug overdose
33 Michel Martel
(Michel Vigneault)
Stampede Wrestling, WWC, IWE, NWA October 4, 1944June 30, 1978Heart attack after match
33 Moondog Mayne
(Ronald Mayne)
NWA, WWWF, PNW September 12, 1944August 13, 1978Car accident
33 Gran Naniwa
(Yoshikuni Kimura)
Michinoku Pro, AJPW, ECW, WAR, NJPW February 15, 1977October 6, 2010Heart attack
33 José Aarón Alvarado Nieves CMLL, UWA May 9, 1966October 27, 1999Infection
33 D.J. Peterson (David Peterson) AWA, WWF, UWF, NWA, NJPW, CSW July 17, 1959May 25, 1993Motorcycle accident
33 The Renegade
(Rick Wilson)
WCW, WAR October 16, 1965February 23, 1999Suicide by gunshot [38]
33 Neil Superior
(Neil Caricofe)
NWL, IWCCW; SAPW, WCW April 6, 1963August 23, 1996Confrontation with police
33 Test
(Andrew Martin)
WWF/E, FC !Bang!, WWA, TNA March 17, 1975March 13, 2009Drug overdose [39]
33 Kerry Von Erich
(Kerry Adkisson)
WCCW, NWA, UWF, USWA, WWF February 3, 1960February 18, 1993Suicide by gunshot [20]
33–34 Damian Steele
(Damien Dothard)
GCW, NWA Wildside, TCW, DSW 1975July 22, 2009 Brain aneurysm
34 Adrian Adonis
(Keith Franke)
AWA, WWF, NJPW, CWF, GCW, ASW September 15, 1953July 4, 1988 Car accident [40]
34 Brain Damage
(Marvin Lambert)
IWA MS, CZW December 14, 1977October 18, 2012Suicide
34 Big Dick Dudley
(Alex Rizzo)
ECW, WWC, WWA, XPW January 12, 1968May 16, 2002 Kidney failure [41]
34 Bobby Duncum Jr. WCW, ECW, GWF, AJPW August 26, 1965January 24, 2000Accidental prescription drug overdose [42]
34 Espectrito II
(Alejandro Pérez Jiménez)
AAA, WWF May 15, 1975June 30, 2009Murder by poisoning
34 Owen Hart WWF, Stampede Wrestling, NJPW, CWA May 7, 1965May 23, 1999Fell from ceiling during botched stunt at Over the Edge pay-per-view event. [43]
34 Danny Havoc
(Grant Berkland)
CZW, GCW, WXW, ICW, BJPW, IWA Mid-South May 19, 1986May 31, 2020Heart failure
34 El Hijo de Cien Caras
(Eustacio "Tacho" Jiménez Ibarra)
AAA, CMLL March 21, 1976November 29, 2010Murder
34 Wayne Munn NWA February 9, 1896January 9, 1931 Bright's disease
34 John Olin N/AMarch 15, 1886October 8, 1920Heart attack
34 La Parkita
(Alberto Pérez Jiménez)
AAA, WWF May 15, 1975June 30, 2009Murder by poisoning
34 Chase Tatum
(William Tatum)
WCW, UPW, Innovate Wrestling November 3, 1973March 23, 2008Drug overdose
34 Elias Theodorou Superkick'DMay 31, 1988September 11, 2022Colon cancer and liver failure
34 Thunder
(Luke Fordward)
CMLL, Okinawa Pro Wrestling and various promotions in AustraliaOctober 7, 1981June 30, 2016 Stomach cancer
34 Yokozuna
(Rodney Anoa'i)
WWF, AWA, NJPW, UWA October 2, 1966October 23, 2000Heart attack [44]
34-35 Sean Patrick O'Brien OVW, independent circuit 1988March 17, 2023Unknown
35 Perro Aguayo Jr.
(Perro Aguayo Ramírez)
AAA, CMLL, Perros del Mal July 23, 1979March 21, 2015 Cervical spine trauma during match
35 Harold Angus BWA November 10, 1904October 30, 1940Shooting accident
35 Chris Duffy WWF, IWF, independent circuit July 7, 1965August 25, 2000Brain aneurysm
35 Dino Casanova
(David DiMeglio)
WCW, ECW, independent circuit, MEWF February 8, 1967March 1, 2002Heart attack [21]
35 Miguel Ángel Delgado
(Miguel Ángel Delgado Reyes)
EMLL August 28, 1947February 7, 1983 Leukemia
35 Scott Irwin WWWF, UWF, CWF, AWA, Lutte Internationale May 14, 1952September 5, 1987 Brain tumor, also reported as brain aneurysm [19]
35 Andy Kaufman CWA January 17, 1949May 16, 1984Kidney failure from lung cancer
35 Marianna Komlos WWF September 3, 1969September 26, 2004 Breast cancer [45]
35 Mike Lozansky (Michael Lozanski) ECW, USWA, WWC, Stampede Wrestling, various Mexican and Japanese promotionsNovember 13, 1968December 19, 2003Heart attack
35 Brian Pillman Stampede, WCW, ECW, WWF May 22, 1962October 5, 1997 Arteriosclerotic heart disease [46]
36 Gary Albright Stampede, UWFi, AJPW, ECW May 18, 1963January 7, 2000 Heart attack in match [47]
36 Shoichi Arai FMW promoterDecember 19, 1965May 16, 2002 Suicide by hanging
36 Harry Boatswain ECW June 26, 1969August 8, 2005Heart attack
36 Lloyd Burdick UnknownAugust 8, 1909August 9, 1945 Train wreck
36 Sean Evans PWX, NWA Wildside, GCW, WWE, NWA, independent circuit January 28, 1971October 2, 2007 Lung cancer
36 Emory Hale
(Emory Hail)
WCW, XWF December 13, 1969January 28, 2006Kidney failure
36 Dean Hart Stampede, NWA Hawaii, WSS January 3, 1954November 21, 1990Bright's disease
36 Katsuya Kitamura NJPW December 14, 1985October 13, 2022Unknown
36 Lionheart
(Adrian McCallum)
ICW, PCW December 17, 1982June 19, 2019Suicide [48]
36 Pitbull #2
(Anthony Durante)
ECW, CWA, NJPW, JAPW July 26, 1967September 25, 2003 Drug overdose [49]
36 Buford Pusser UWF Mid-South December 12, 1937August 21, 1974Car accident
36 Ray
(Name unknown)
Smash, WNC, Shimmer, Ice Ribbon, JWP February 14, 1982August 30, 2018Brain tumor [50]
36 Freddie Sweetan
(Fred Prossner)
NWA, Stampede Wrestling, CSW, MACW July 25, 1938July 26, 1974 House fire
36 Jerry Tuite
(Michael Jerome Tuite)
WCW, ECW, TNA, PCW, AJPW December 27, 1966December 6, 2003Heart attack [51]
36 Umaga
(Edward Fatu)
WWE, TNA, HWA, WXW, AJPW March 28, 1973December 4, 2009Heart attack caused by combined drug intoxication [52]
36 Bray Wyatt
(Windham Rotunda)
WWE, FCW May 23, 1987August 24, 2023Heart attack in his sleep resulting from COVID-19 complications [53]
37 Abismo Negro
(Andrés Alejandro Palomeque González)
AAA, CMLL, WWF, TNA July 1, 1971March 22, 2009 Drowning
37 Mike Bell WWF, ECW, UPW March 18, 1971December 14, 2008Heart attack from drug overdose
37 Leroy Brown
(Roland C. Daniels)
NWA, CWF, NJPW, UWF November 30, 1950September 6, 1988Heart attack [54]
37 Whitey Caldwell NWA Mid-America, NWA Gulf Coast July 2, 1935October 7, 1972Car accident
37 Brian Hildebrand SMW, ECW, referee for WCW January 5, 1962September 8, 1999Stomach and bowel cancer
37 Sam McVey Wrestled in AustraliaMay 17, 1884December 23, 1921 Pneumonia
37 Jaysin Strife
(Nathan Blodgett)
NWA, IWA Mid-South, independent circuit August 14, 1985December 29, 2022Illness
37 Randolph Turpin N/AJune 7, 1928May 17, 1966Shot; unknown if murder or suicide
37–38 Espanto I
(José Eusebio Vázquez Bernal)
EMLL 1930May 30, 1968Beaten
38 Aleksander Aberg N/AAugust 11, 1881February 20, 1920Pneumonia
38 Tim Arson
(Timothy Calkins)
WWE, WWC, independent circuit December 27, 1976January 7, 2015Unknown
38 Jay Briscoe
(Jamin Pugh)
ROH, CZW, NJPW, Impact Wrestling January 25, 1984January 17, 2023Car accident
38 Matt Cappotelli OVW, WWE November 12, 1979June 29, 2018 Brain cancer [55]
38 Brian Danovich Contestant for WWE Tough Enough, DSW, independent circuit July 8, 1980August 9, 2018Suicide
38 Chip Fairway
(Brett Keen)
HWA, IWA Mid-South November 7, 1972April 9, 2011Unknown
38 Eddie Guerrero
(Eduardo Gory Guerrero Llanes)
CMLL, AAA, NJPW, ECW, WCW, WWF/E October 9, 1967November 13, 2005 Arteriosclerotic heart disease [56]
38 Jim Hady
(John Hady)
NWA Hawaii, NWA, AWA, WWWF, MLW May 30, 1930January 13, 1969Heart attack (during match)
38 John Kronus
(George Caiazzo)
ECW, USWA, IWF, CZW, WAR, XPW January 13, 1969July 18, 2007 Heart failure [57]
38 Danno O'Mahony
(Daniel O'Mahony)
NWA September 29, 1912November 5, 1950Car accident
38 Chabela Romero
(Isabela Romero Rangel)
AJW, CMLL, UWA November 11, 1946April 19, 1985Unknown
38 Bison Smith
(Mark Smith)
IWA, ROH, WWC, APW, Pro Wrestling Noah September 24, 1973November 22, 2011Heart complications
38 Wolf
(Daniel Wolfe)
NWA, ECW, JAPW, independent circuit June 30, 1972February 2, 2011Unknown
39 BellaDonna
(Roxanne "Rocksan" Biggerstaff)
TNA April 25, 1979January 21, 2019Unknown
39 Hercules Cortez
(Alfonso Chicharro)
AWA, WCW Australia, NWA July 7, 1932July 23, 1971Car accident
39 Fabián el Gitano
(Emilio Fabián Fernández de León)
CMLL January 24, 1972March 17, 2011Pancreatic hemorrhage
39 Shad Gaspard WWE, OVW, FCW, JAPW, IGF, NWA Wildside January 13, 1981May 17, 2020Drowning
39 Johnny Grunge
(Michael Durham)
ECW, WCW, WWF, 3PW, TCW July 10, 1966February 16, 2006 Sleep apnea complications [58]
39 George Kennedy
(George Kendall)
Promoter for wrestling in Montreal December 29, 1881October 19, 1921Complications from Spanish flu
39 Joey Maggs
(Joseph Magliano)
WCW, WWF, SMW, USWA September 29, 1967October 15, 2006Cardiac arrest [59]
39 Ashley Massaro WWE May 26, 1979May 16, 2019 Suicide by hanging [60]
39 Médico Asesino
(Cesáreo Anselmo Manríquez González )
EMLL, NWA August 27, 1920June 16, 1960Cancer [61]
39 Skull Murphy
(John Murphy)
GCW, WWWF, WCW Australia, Studio Wrestling December 7, 1930March 23, 1970Suicide by drug overdose
39 Jimmy Rave
(James Michael Guffey)
ROH, TNA, FIP, NWA Wildside, NWA, CZW, PWG December 8, 1982December 12, 2021 MRSA infection
39 Rikidōzan
(Kim Sin-rak)
NWA, JWA November 14, 1924December 15, 1963 Peritonitis (as result of stabbing) [62]
39 Davey Boy Smith
(David Smith)
Stampede Wrestling, WWF, AJPW, ECW, WCW November 27, 1962May 18, 2002 Heart attack [63]
39 El Solitario
(Roberto González)
UWA, EMLL May 22, 1946April 6, 1986 Cardiac arrest during operation [19]
39 Pak Song
(Pak Song Nam)
NWA, JWA, WSS, AJPW, CWF, WCCW April 11, 1943October 24, 1982 [64] Marfan syndrome [64]
39 Villano II
(José Alfredo Díaz Mendoza)
UWA, EMLL September 25, 1949April 17, 1989Suicide by hanging [65]
39 Ed Virag NWA, various European promotionsAugust 12, 1912October 20, 1951Car accident

Under 50

Chris Benoit Chris Benoit in the Ring.jpg
Chris Benoit
Frank Gotch Frank-gotch.jpg
Frank Gotch
Shinya Hashimoto Shinya Hashimoto.jpg
Shinya Hashimoto
Brodie Lee Luke Harper April 2015.jpg
Brodie Lee
Mike Awesome MikeAwesome1999cropped.png
Mike Awesome
Miss Elizabeth Miss Elizabeth.jpg
Miss Elizabeth
Viscera VisceraWrestler2005Cropped.png
Viscera
Hector Garza Hector-Garza-vs-Mistico.jpg
Héctor Garza
Balls Mahoney Balls Mahoney at Hardcore Roadtrip 2013.jpg
Balls Mahoney
Axl Rotten AxlRottenApril2009.png
Axl Rotten
Junkyard Dog Sylvester "Junkyard Dog" Ritter in the mid-80s.jpg
Junkyard Dog
Chyna Chyna.jpg
Chyna
Andre the Giant Andre in the late '80s.jpg
André the Giant
Mitsuharu Misawa Mitsuharu Misawa, 2007.jpg
Mitsuharu Misawa
Hayabusa Hayabusa FMW.jpg
Hayabusa
Gorgeous George Stanley Kubrick - Gorgeous George cph.3d02373.jpg
Gorgeous George
Daffney Daffney entrance.jpg
Daffney
AgeRing name
(Birth name)
Promotion(s) worked forDate of birthDate of deathCause of death
40 Absolute Andy
(Andreas Ullmann)
WXW September 22, 1983November 23, 2023Illness
40 Sambo Asako
(Fumiharu Asako)
FMW, various Japanese promotionsAugust 27, 1963May 18, 2004 Diabetes
40 Chris Benoit Stampede Wrestling, NJPW, ECW, WCW, WWF/E May 21, 1967June 24, 2007Suicide by hanging [66]
40 Brady Boone
(Dean Peters)
PNW, MACW, WCW, WWF August 22, 1958December 15, 1998 Car accident
40 Larry Chene
(Arthur Lawrence Beauchene)
NWA Detroit, NWA, NWA Texas, AWA June 22, 1924October 2, 1964Car accident
40 Cincinnati Red
(Gregory Scott Daves)
NWC, EWF, independent circuit October 17, 1974March 20, 2015Heart attack
40 Don Eagle
(Carl Donald Bell)
AWA, NWA Chicago, NWA August 25, 1925March 17, 1966Suicide by gunshot
40 Terry Gordy WCCW, NWA, WCW, ECW, WWF, AJPW April 23, 1961July 16, 2001 Blood clot
40 Frank Gotch N/AApril 27, 1877December 16, 1917 Uremic poisoning
40 Shinya Hashimoto NJPW, Zero1, Stampede Wrestling, Hustle, NWA, USWA July 3, 1965July 11, 2005 Brain aneurysm
40 Chris Kanyon (Christopher Klucsarits) WCW, WWF/E, ECW, SMW, NWA Shockwave January 4, 1970April 2, 2010Suicide by drug overdose [67]
40 George Kotsonaros N/AOctober 16, 1892July 13, 1933Car accident
40 Rick Rude
(Richard Rood)
CWF, WCCW, WWF, ECW, WCW December 7, 1958April 20, 1999 Heart failure [25]
40 Rhonda Sing WWF, WCW, Stampede Wrestling, AJW, WWC, AAA February 21, 1961July 27, 2001 Heart attack
40 Robert Swenson WCCW, GWF, WCW January 5, 1957August 18, 1997Heart failure
40 Vivian Vachon AWA, WWWF, CWF, International Wrestling, NWA February 14, 1951August 25, 1991Car accident
40–41 Gulam Wrestled in Europe and India18601901 Cholera
41 Atsushi Aoki AJPW, Noah, AAA September 25, 1977June 3, 2019Motorcycle accident
41 Big Boss Man
(Ray Traylor)
WCW, MACW, WWF, AJPW, UWF, IWA Japan May 2, 1963September 22, 2004Heart attack
41 Larry Cameron Stampede Wrestling, NWA, AWA, CWA November 4, 1952December 13, 1993Heart attack in match [19]
41 Alan Carnill IWF Promotions, independent circuit March 12, 1962January 25, 2004Car accident
41 John Foti
(John Fotie)
Stampede Wrestling, NWA, AWA, WWWF March 13, 1928April 29, 1969Suicide
41 Yusuf İsmail N/A1857July 4, 1898Drowned aboard the SS La Bourgogne
41 Brodie Lee
aka Luke Harper (Jonathan Huber)
WWE, AEW, FCW, ROH, Dragon Gate, Chikara, Dragon Gate USA December 16, 1979December 26, 2020Pulmonary fibrosis [68]
41 Jerry London
(Jerry Linden)
NWA, CWC, Stampede Wrestling, MLW 1929September 20, 1970Suicide; overdose of sleeping pills
41 Hack Meyers
(Donald Havilland)
ECW, FOW, IPW, FC !Bang! December 7, 1973December 5, 2015Complications from brain surgery
41 Justice Pain (Christopher Wilson) CZW, XPW, IPW, JAPW, BJW May 16, 1978January 24, 2020Suicide by jumping off bridge
41 Jackie Sato
(Naoko Sato)
AJW, JWPW October 30, 1957August 9, 1999Stomach cancer
41 Billy Travis
(Gary Mize)
CWA, USWA, WWF, PPW April 29, 1961November 23, 2002Heart attack [21]
41 Adam Windsor
(Adam Bryniarski)
Funking Conservatory, NWA Wildside, WXW, independent circuit, various promotions in EnglandJanuary 17, 1981April 21, 2022Heart issues
41-42 Manjiro "Matty" Matsuda N/A18871929Injuries during match
42 Randy Anderson referee for WCW, NWA July 17, 1959May 5, 2002Testicular cancer
42 Mike Awesome
(Michael Alfonso)
AJPW, FMW, ECW, WCW, WWF, MLW January 24, 1965February 17, 2007Suicide by hanging
42 John Ayers UWF April 14, 1953October 2, 1995Liver cancer
42 Bruiser Brody
(Frank Goodish)
NWA, AJPW, WWWF, WCCW June 18, 1946July 17, 1988Murdered [25]
42 Ray Candy
(Ray Canty)
NWA, AJPW, WWC, NJPW, WCW December 3, 1951May 23, 1994Heart attack
42 Miss Elizabeth
(Elizabeth Hulette)
WWF, WCW, ICW November 19, 1960May 1, 2003 Drug overdose [25]
42 Hiromichi Fuyuki AJPW, NJPW, FMW, IWE, NWA, CWA May 11, 1960March 19, 2003Intestinal cancer
42 John Tenta WWF, WCW, ASW, AJPW June 22, 1963June 7, 2006 Bladder cancer [69]
42 Biff Wellington
(Shayne Bower)
Stampede Wrestling, WCW, NJPW, ECW April 18, 1965June 24, 2007Heart attack
42 Xavier
(John Bedoya)
ROH, WWE, ECWA, JAPW, NEW, CW December 28, 1977August 16, 2020Unknown
42–43 George Gardiner Wrestled only in Australia and New Zealand1898May 18, 1941Peritonitis
42-43 Marie Lograsso
(Dina DeStefano)
World Championship Wrestling 1963March 14, 2006Drug overdose
43 Brian Adams PNW, NJPW, WWF, WCW, AJPW April 14, 1964August 13, 2007Drug overdose [70]
43 Ángel Azteca
(Juan Manuel Zúñiga)
AAA, CMLL, UWA June 24, 1963March 18, 2007Heart attack after match
43 Nancy Benoit CWF, ECW, WCW May 17, 1964June 22, 2007 Murder [66]
43 Doctor X
(Clemente Nájera)
CMLL July 17, 1968October 11, 2011Murder [71]
43 Héctor Garza CMLL, Perros del Mal, WCW, WWF June 12, 1969May 26, 2013 Lung cancer [25]
43 Franky Gee
(Francisco Gutierrez)
FMW February 19, 1962October 22, 2005 Cerebral hemorrhage
43 Rocky Hata
(Mitsuo Hata)
AJPW, CSW, GCW, NWA Tri-State, CWF September 12, 1948October 27, 1991Complications from diabetes [72]
43 Georg Lurich N/A22 April [ O.S. 10 April] 187620 January 1920 Typhus
43 Corey Maclin Announcer for USWA, PPW, Memphis Wrestling May 6, 1970July 31, 2013Car accident
43 Sean O'Haire
(Sean Haire)
WCW, OVW, WWF/E, NJPW, UPW February 25, 1971September 8, 2014 Suicide by hanging
43 Goga Pehlwan
(Goga Moazzam)
Wrestled only in India1937February 6, 1981Died in the ring
43 Tony Rumble
(Anthony Magliaro)
NWA New England, ECW, ICW, AWA, IWCCW, WCW November 6, 1956November 13, 1999Heart attack
43 Peter Smit RINGS December 24, 1961August 15, 2005Murder
43 Viscera
(Nelson Frazier, Jr.)
WWF/E, AJPW, USWA, TNA, Memphis Wrestling February 14, 1971February 18, 2014Heart attack
44 Carl Abs N/ASeptember 12, 1851February 18, 1895Liver and kidney failure
44 Dino Bravo
(Adolfo Bresciano)
NWA, AWA, Lutte Internationale, WWF August 6, 1948March 11, 1993Murder [25]
44 The Bruiser
(RJ Meyer)
MCW, Independent Circuit August 15, 1976November 16, 2020 Leukemia
44 Dustin Diamond NWA-TNA, MCW, Hulk Hogan's Celebrity Championship Wrestling, independent circuit January 7, 1977February 1, 2021Cancer (small-cell carcinoma)
44 Eric The Red
(Ib Solvang Hansen)
WWWF, NWF, IWA, AWA, NJPW, CWF August 1, 1934November 16, 1978Car accident
44 Danny Fargo
(Audie Hager)
WWC, CWA, NWA, SWCW June 13, 1959December 26, 2003Cancer
44 Mark Frear WWF, USWA, MEWF, independent circuit February 1, 1970May 11, 2014Unknown
44 Jorge González WCW, WWF, NJPW January 31, 1966September 22, 2010Diabetes and severe heart issues
44 Curt Hennig AWA, PNW, WWF/E, WCW, TNA March 28, 1958February 10, 2003 Combined drug intoxication [25]
44 Koichiro Kimura AJPW, DDT Pro-Wrestling, RINGS, W*ING, WJ November 18, 1969October 28, 2014 Pneumonia
44 Balls Mahoney
(Jonathan Rechner)
ECW, SMW, WWF/E April 11, 1972April 12, 2016Heart attack [73]
44 Emil Naucke N/AMay 2, 1855January 25, 1900Heart attack
44 Kevin Randleman AJPW, Zero1, Hustle August 10, 1971February 11, 2016Heart attack and pneumonia
44 Axl Rotten
(Brian Knighton)
ECW, MEWF, IWA Mid-South, WCW, WWE April 21, 1971February 4, 2016Drug overdose
44–45 Nurullah Hasan N/A18671912Unknown
45 Toni Adams
(Toni Collins)
UWF, WCCW, USWA August 19, 1964June 24, 2010Heart attack
45 Bam Bam Bigelow
(Scott Bigelow)
CWA, WWF/E, ECW, WCW, NJPW September 1, 1961January 19, 2007 Drug overdose [74]
45 Jerry Blackwell AWA, WWWF, NWA, MACW, AJPW April 26, 1949January 22, 1995Complications from car accident [19]
45 Stephan Bonnar Impact Wrestling, House Of Glory, independent circuit April 4, 1977December 22, 2022Heart attack caused by accidental fentanyl overdose
45 Mike Davis CWA, MACW, WCCW, GWF, WCW November 2, 1956December 26, 2001Heart attack
45 Iron Mike DiBiase AWA, NWA, WCCW, CSW December 24, 1923July 2, 1969 Heart attack
45 Junkyard Dog
(Sylvester Ritter)
Stampede Wrestling, IWE, NWA, UWF, WWF, WCW December 13, 1952June 2, 1998 Car accident
45 Aya Koyama AJW, BJW, JWPW, JDStar, Gaea Japan March 8, 1973August 27, 2018Cancer
45 Pasión Kristal
(José Gabriel Zentella Damián)
AAA, IWRG, various Mexican promotionsJanuary 9, 1976June 2, 2021Drowning
45 Peter Maivia
(Pita Fanene Anderson)
NWA, AWA, NJPW, NWA Hawaii, WWWF April 6, 1937June 13, 1982Cancer
45 Johan Olin N/AJune 30, 1883December 3, 1928Unknown
45 Val Puccio
(Valentino Puccio)
AJPW, WWF, ECW June 9, 1965January 7, 2011Believed to be obesity
45 Jean Pusie wrestled various promotions in QuebecOctober 15, 1910April 21, 1956Heart attack
46 Chris Adams WCCW, UWF, SCW, WCW, Joint Promotions, AWF February 10, 1955October 7, 2001Shot
46 André the Giant
(André René Roussimoff)
NWA, Lutte Internationale, NJPW, IWE, AWA, WWF, AJPW May 19, 1946January 28, 1993 Congestive heart failure [75]
46 Argentina Apollo

(Vincente Denigris)

WWWF, NWA, CWF, MACW, AJPW, IWA April 28, 1938August 2, 1984Heart attack
46 Brian Christopher
(Brian Lawler)
WWF/E, USWA, TNA, WWA, Memphis Wrestling January 10, 1972July 29, 2018Suicide by hanging
46 Chyna
(Joanie Laurer)
WWF, NJPW, TNA December 27, 1969April 20, 2016Medication overdose
46 Floyd Creatchman Lutte Internationale, NWA Detroit June 25, 1957October 26, 2003 Crohn's disease
46 Daffney
(Shannon Spruill)
WCW, TNA, OVW, Wrestlicious, SHIMMER, ACWJuly 17, 1975September 1, 2021Suicide by gunshot [76]
46 Herman Hickman NWA October 1, 1911April 25, 1958Unknown
46 Magnificent Maurice (Eugene Dubuque) WWWF, NWA, AWA, NWA San Francisco, NWA Hawaii December 11, 1927March 13, 1974Plane crash
46 Maximum Capacity (Michael Stanco) NWA, FOW, Zero1, Hustle, wrestled in various promotions in EuropeAugust 2, 1968August 21, 2014Colorectal cancer
46 Mitsuharu Misawa AJPW, Pro Wrestling Noah, NJPW, JPW, NWA, ROH June 18, 1962June 13, 2009Heart attack after cervical spinal cord injury in match [77] [78]
46 Mr. Niebla
(Efrén Tiburcio Márquez)
CMLL, AAA February 22, 1973December 23, 2019 Blood infection
46 Víctor Quiñones IWA, FMW, IWA Japan, WWC, W*ING June 30, 1959April 1, 2006Mix of alcohol and drug overdose
46 Road Warrior Hawk
(Michael Hegstrand)
AWA, Lutte Internationale, NWA, AJPW, WWF, WCW, NJPW January 12, 1957October 19, 2003Heart attack [79]
46 Bestia Salvaje
(Juan Rodriguez)
CMLL February 11, 1962March 20, 2008 Liver disease
46 Sam Sheppard NWA Los Angeles December 29, 1923April 6, 1970 Wernicke encephalopathy
46 Gus Sonnenberg NWA, DWU March 6, 1898September 9, 1944Leukemia
47 Ángel Blanco
(José Ángel Vargas Sánchez)
EMLL, UWA, NJPW August 2, 1938April 26, 1986Car accident
47 Tiger Jack Fox N/AApril 2, 1907April 6, 1954Heart attack
47 Tony Halme NJPW, WWF, CWA January 6, 1963January 8, 2010Suicide by gunshot
47 Hayabusa
(Eiji Ezaki)
FMW, ECW, CMLL, AJPW November 29, 1968March 3, 2016 Subarachnoid hemorrhage
47 Hercules
(Ray Fernandez)
NWA, WWF, NJPW, WCW, CWF, NWA St. Louis May 7, 1956March 6, 2004 Heart disease
47 Dan Kolov
(Doncho Danev)
N/ADecember 27, 1892March 26, 1940 Tuberculosis
47 Bob Konovsky NWA, NWA Chicago August 19, 1934March 6, 1982Unknown
47 Luther Lindsay
(Luther Goodall)
NWA, Stampede Wrestling, PNW, MACW December 30, 1924February 21, 1972Heart attack in match
47 Man Mountain Mike
(Gary Fletcher)
NWA, AWA, WWWF September 15, 1940April 30, 1988Heart attack
47 Rosey
(Matthew Anoa'i)
WWE, HWA, WXW, ECW, AJPW April 7, 1970April 17, 2017Congestive heart failure [80]
47 Starman
(Name unknown)
CMLL, NJPW November 16, 1974September 23, 2022Unknown
47 Big John Studd
(John Minton)
NWA, AWA, WWF, NAWA February 19, 1948March 20, 1995 Liver cancer [19]
47 El Texano
(Juan Aguilar Jauregui)
UWA, WCW, CMLL, AAA November 26, 1958January 15, 2006Pneumonia
48 Tom Burton WWF, USWA, GWF, UWFi, WCW, IWA Mid-South October 14, 1961March 29, 2010Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
48 Francisco Ciatso
(Frank Caizzo)
Independent Circuit, USWA, NWA, TNA, DSW November 5, 1975January 20, 2024Unknown
48 Chris Colt
(Charles Harris)
NWA, NWA Detroit, PNW, NWA Vancouver June 22, 1946May 23, 1995Unknwon (AIDS, a drug overdose or suicide)
48 Cousin Junior
(Lanny Kean)
WWF, CWA, NWA, USWA March 19, 1960January 13, 2009Heart attack
48 Dennis Coralluzzo NWA New Jersey promoterMarch 5, 1953July 21, 2001Brain bleed due to a stroke
48 Doc Dean
(Ian Dean)
ASW, WCW, NJPW, European Wrestling Federation (France)July 3, 1970August 14, 2018Heart attack
48 Steve Doll WWF, PNW, WCW, AJPW, IWA Mid-South, USWA December 9, 1960March 22, 2009 Blood clot
48 Gorgeous George
(George Wagner)
NWA March 24, 1915December 26, 1963Heart attack
48 Ray Gunkel NWA, GCW February 15, 1924August 1, 1972Heart attack after match
48 Don Ross NWAHW, NWA October 6, 1946June 2, 1995Heart attack [19]
48 Harley Saito
(Sayori Saito)
Ladies Legend Pro-Wrestling, Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling December 21, 1967December 15, 2016Esophageal cancer
48 Ryan Sakoda WWE, UPW, Zero1, EWF, XWF, Wrestling Society X December 31, 1972September 2, 2021Unknown
48 Luna Vachon
(Gertrude Vachon)
CWF, WWF, WCW, ECW, POWW January 12, 1962August 27, 2010 Drug overdose
48 Clarence Weber Wrestled only in Australia March 27, 1882November 20, 1930 Coronary occlusion
48 Mark Young
(Joe Scarpa Jr.)
WWF, WCW, PNW, AJPW April 23, 1967February 25, 2016Unknown
48 Yukon Eric
(Eric Holmback)
NWA, MLW, AWA April 16, 1916January 16, 1965Suicide by gunshot
49 Sheik Ali
(Wadi Ayoub)
WCW Australia, Joint Promotions, and various international promotionsApril 20, 1927September 29, 1976Cancer
49 Big Titan
(Rick Bognar)
FMW, WWF, WAR, USWA, CWA, NJPW January 16, 1970September 20, 2019Heart attack
49 Louis Cyr
(Cyprien-Noé Cyr)
N/AOctober 10, 1863November 10, 1912Chronic nephritis
49 Jack Claybourne
(Elmer Claybourne)
NWA, NWA Hawaii, MLW March 8, 1910January 7, 1960Suicide by gunshot
49 Dean Detton NWA June 27, 1908February 23, 1958Suicide by hanging
49 Espectrito
(Mario Jiminez)
EMLL, AAA, WWF, IWA Puerto Rico December 18, 1966January 23, 2016Unknown
49 La Fiera
(Arturo Casco Hernández)
EMLL, AAA, AJPW, NJPW March 17, 1961September 12, 2010Murder
49 Kung Fu
(Raymundo Cuesta Veloz)
EMLL, UWA January 20, 1951January 3, 2001Arterial hypertension
49 Hideki Hosaka FMW, AJPW, Pro Wrestling Zero1, BJPW, various Japanese PromotionsAugust 5, 1971August 2, 2021Liver and colon cancer
49 David Khakhaleishvili RINGS February 28, 1971January 11, 2021Complications from heart surgery
49 Sherri Martel AWA, WWF, WCW, ECW February 8, 1958June 15, 2007 Drug overdose
49 Piratita Morgan
(Raymundo Rodríguez)
EMLL, WWC, AAA, WWF, WWA, TNA March 15, 1969July 8, 2018Health issues
49 Dick Murdoch
(Hoyt Murdoch)
CWF, NWA, WWF, AJPW, NJPW, WCW,August 16, 1946June 15, 1996 Heart attack
49 Lynn Nelson Only wrestled in North DakotaFebruary 24, 1905February 19, 1955Unknown
49 Raizel
(Name unknown)
CMLL, AAA, IWRG, NJPW, various Mexican promotionsFebruary 8, 1973April 4, 2022Unknown
49 Rocco Rock
(Ted Petty)
ECW, NWA, WCW, WWF September 1, 1953September 21, 2002Heart attack [21]
49 Ray Steele
(Peter Sauer)
NWA February 2, 1900September 11, 1949Heart attack
49 Jumbo Tsuruta
(Tomomi Tsuruta)
AJPW, NWA, AWA March 25, 1951May 13, 2000Complications of a liver transplant
49 Grigory Verichev FMW April 4, 1957May 25, 2006Unknown
49 "Dr. Death" Steve Williams Mid-South/UWF, NWA, WWF, WCW, AJPW, ECW May 14, 1960December 29, 2009 Throat cancer

Under 60

The French Angel Maurice The Angel Tillet - WRESTLING NEWS PICTORIAL PULSE - 9 January 1947 - Page 2.jpg
The French Angel
Silver King Silver King luchador en 2015.jpg
Silver King
Arkangel de la Muerte ArkangelDeLaMuerte.jpg
Arkangel de la Muerte
The Ultimate Warrior The Ultimate Warrior entrance April 7th 2014 (cropped).jpg
The Ultimate Warrior
Universo 2000 Universo2000.jpg
Universo 2000
Paul Bearer PaulBearerCage.jpg
Paul Bearer
Randy Savage Randy Savage 1986.jpg
Randy Savage
New Jack New Jack in the ECW, 1998.jpg
New Jack
Melissa Coates Melissa Coates.jpg
Melissa Coates
AgeRing name
(Birth name)
Promotion(s) worked forDate of birthDate of deathCause of death
50 Brad Armstrong
(Robert Bradley James)
WCW, NWA, SMW, NJPW, USWA, WWE June 15, 1962November 1, 2012Heart attack
50 Max Baer unknownFebruary 11, 1909November 21, 1959Heart attack
50 Melissa Coates OVW, UPW, WSU, Independent Circuit June 18, 1971June 23, 2021Complications from COVID-19 [81]
50 The French Angel
(Maurice Tillet)
AWA, NWA, NWA Tri-State October 23, 1903September 4, 1954Cardiovascular disease
50 Fuzzy Cupid
(Leon Stap)
WWWF, NWA September 24, 1928April 26, 1979Unknown
50 Ivan Gomes NJPW December 25, 1939March 2, 1990Renal illness
50 King Kong Kirk
(Malcolm Kirk)
Joint Promotions, CWA, ASW, NWA December 18, 1936August 24, 1987Heart attack in match
50 Yakov Kozalchik Wrestled only in IsraelJuly 13, 1902June 13, 1953 Starvation from depression
50 Dave Legeno
(David Steven Murray)
British Wrestling FederationOctober 12, 1963July 6, 2014 Heat illness
50 Lucifer
(Tim Burke)
MEWF, IPWA, ECWA, MCW October 1, 1960June 21, 2011 Cancer
50 Kızılcıklı Mahmut N/A1880February 3, 1931Unknown
50 Billy Papke N/ASeptember 17, 1886November 26, 1936 Murder-suicide
50 Paul Pons N/AJune 23, 1864April 13, 1915 Drowning
50 Mark Starr
(Mark Ashford-Smith)
WCW, CWF, CWA, WWF, PWFG, FMW December 26, 1962June 7, 2013Heart attack
50 Villano I
(José de Jesús Díaz Mendoza)
UWA, CMLL June 28, 1950January 4, 2001 Cerebral hemorrhage
50 Buddy Wayne
(Steve Finley)
NWA Vancouver, PNW, WWF, WCW, ECCW May 27, 1967June 15, 2017Heart attack
50 Bearcat Wright
(Edward Wright)
NWA, CWC, Stampede Wrestling, CWF, NJPW January 13, 1932August 28, 1982 Sickle cell anemia
50 Yar
(Raymond Gajtkowski)
NWA, JAPW, ECW, independent circuit March 5, 1971September 1, 2021Unknown
50 Yutaka Yoshie NJPW, AJPW, Zero1, Toryumon, Noah, various Japanese promotionsJanuary 5, 1974March 10, 2024 Arteriosclerosis [82]
51 Arkangel de la Muerte
(Alfredo Pasillas)
CMLL July 16, 1966June 13, 2018Cardiac arrest [83]
51 Verlon Biggs CWA, UWF Mid-South March 16, 1943June 7, 1994 Leukemia
51 Black Cat
(Victor Manuel)
UWA, NJPW, AAA, WCW October 17, 1954January 28, 2006Heart attack
51 Kerry Brown Stampede Wrestling, GPW, Lutte Internationale, WWC, NWA, NJPW February 3, 1958September 10, 2009 Liver failure
51 Renato Gardini N/AMarch 20, 1889September 29, 1940Unknown
51 Hido
(Hideo Takayama)
BJW, IWA-MS, FMW, W*ING October 19, 1969October 17, 2021Unknown
51 Jimmy Jackson UWF Mid-South, WWF, MACW July 28, 1956June 17, 2008Unknown
51 Jun Izumida AJPW, NOAH October 28, 1965January 25, 2017Heart attack
51 Azumafuji Kin'ichi
(Kinichi Inoue)
JWA, NWA Hawaii October 28, 1921July 31, 1973 Colon cancer
51 Harvey Martin WWF, WCCW, GWF November 16, 1950December 24, 2001 Pancreatic cancer
51 Moondog Spot
(Larry Latham)
WWF, CWA, NWA, USWA June 6, 1952November 29, 2003Heart attack in match
51 Nikola Petroff
(Nikola Petrov)
N/ADecember 19, 1873January 2, 1925Unknown
51 Picudo
(Arturo Hernández Herrada)
AAA, IWRG August 3, 1967August 3, 2018Diabetes
51 Silver King
(César Cuauhtémoc González Barrón)
UWA, WCW, CMLL, AJPW, NJPW, AAA January 9, 1968May 11, 2019Stroke in ring, followed by heart attack
51 Paul Varelans ECW, Kingdom September 17, 1969January 16, 2021COVID-19
51 Maurice Webb created the Admiral-Lord Mountevans rules in the United KingdomSeptember 26, 1904June 10, 1956Unknown
51 Frankie Williams
(Armando Pumarejo)
WWWF/WWF February 20, 1940April 23, 1991 Lung cancer
51 Emmanuel Yarbrough CWA September 5, 1964December 21, 2015Heart attack
52 Gene Anderson AWA, GCW, MACW October 4, 1939October 31, 1991Heart attack
52 Buddy Austin
(Austin Wesley Rapes)
WWWF, NWA, JWA February 27, 1929August 12, 1981Heart attack
52 Nicole Bass WWF, ECW, XPW, NEO August 10, 1964February 17, 2017 Heart attack
52 Ady Berber wrestled only in Austria and GermanyFebruary 4, 1913January 3, 1966Unknown
52 Trevor Berbick UWFi August 1, 1954October 28, 2006 Murder
52 El Brazo
(Juan Alvarado Nieves)
WWA, AAA, UWA, CMLL July 30, 1961October 15, 2013 Diabetes
52 John Cozman Stampede Wrestling, HIW, various independent circuit promotions in CanadaAugust 28, 1964November 28, 2016Unknown
52 Jimmy Del Ray
(David Ferrier)
SMW, WWF, PWF, USWA, ECW, WCW November 30, 1962December 6, 2014Heart attack
52 Espantito
(Martín Rodríguez)
AAA, NWA, various promotions in Mexico and United StatesApril 24, 1968October 12, 2020 Pneumonia
52 Doug Furnas
(Dwight Furnas)
AJPW, CCW, WCW, WWF, ECW December 11, 1959March 2, 2012Heart attack
52 George Gadaski
(George Kosti)
AWA, NWA, Stampede Wrestling April 30, 1930December 12, 2010 Brain Tumor
52 Giant Haystacks
(Martin Ruane)
Stampede Wrestling, Joint Promotions CWA, AJPW, WCW October 10, 1946November 29, 1998 Lymphoma
52 Troy 'The Hippie' Graham
(Troy Rolland Thompson Jr.)
AWA, CWA, NWA, USWA October 26, 1949March 7, 2002 Heart attack
52 Tonina Jackson
(Héctor Garza Lozano Vela)
EMLL, NWA, NWA Mid-America, WCCW, WWWF January 9, 1917November 3, 1969Possibly complications from health issues
52 Jim Jefferson MACW, CWA, CSW, CWF 1960–1961February 8, 2013Unknown
52 Karol Kalmikoff NWA, AWA, NWA Tri-State, MLW August 12, 1912September 11, 1964Heart attack
52 Ivan Linow
(Jānis Linaus)
N/ANovember 21, 1888November 21, 1940Heart attack
52 Paul Luty Joint Promotions May 4, 1932January 12, 1985Unknown
52 Rockin' Rebel
(Charles Williams)
ECW, WCW, WWF, CZW, independent circuit January 13, 1966June 1, 2018 Suicide by gunshot [84]
52 Silo Sam
(John Elmo Harris)
WCCW, AWA September 12, 1952April 19, 2005Unknown; possibly related to gigantism
52 Iron Mike Steele
(John Meek)
CWF, Independent circuit July 18, 1955August 29, 2007 Vehicular homicide
52 Frank Wycheck TNA October 14, 1971December 9, 2023Head injuries from a fall
53 Aníbal
(Carlos Contreras)
EMLL/CMLL, UWA November 5, 1940March 4, 1994 Brain tumor
53 Johnny Attitude
(John Greene)
Founder of Micro Championship Wrestling, WCW, independent circuit June 9, 1965June 12, 2018Unknown
53 George Bollas NWA, NWA Hawaii, CWC, Joint Promotions, various European promotionsSeptember 19, 1923January 28, 1977Heart failure
53 Johnny K-9
(Ion Kroitoru) [85]
WWF, NJPW, SMW, BCW December 7, 1963February 21, 2017 Acute pulmonary edema [85]
53 Ricky Gibson
(Richard Cain)
GCCW, CWA, NWA Mid-America, NWA, UWF, MACW November 19, 1952September 15, 2006 Heart attack
53 Ryuma Go
(Hiroshi Yagi)
NJPW, AJPW, IWE, NWA, AWA, WAR March 23, 1956October 18, 2009 Blood poisoning
53 Tony Jones APW, BattlARTS, WWE, XPW April 6, 1971April 11, 2024Unknown
53 Anton Koolmann N/ASeptember 11, 1899June 29, 1953Unknown
53 Henry Kulky NWA, Various International PromotionsAugust 11, 1911February 12, 1965Heart attack
53 Buddy Landel
(William Ensor)
NWA, WCW, MACW, SMW, USWA, WWF August 14, 1961June 22, 2015Injuries from a car accident
53 Danny Little Bear NWA, Stampede Wrestling, CSW, GCCW September 13, 1937May 12, 1991 Liver cancer
53 Curly Moe
(Donald Zalesky)
IWCCW April 3, 1962July 1, 2015Unknown
53 Larry O'Dea
(Larry Davies)
WCW Australia, CWF, AJPW 1944June 30, 1997Liver cancer
53 Johnny Rougeau IWA Montreal, BTW, NWA, ASW June 9, 1929May 25, 1983Cancer
53 Mike Shaw Stampede Wrestling, WCW, WWF May 9, 1957September 11, 2010Heart attack
53 Ski Hi Lee
(Robert Leedy)
Stampede Wrestling, NWA, Joint Promotions February 9, 1921May 31, 1974Believed to be acromegaly
53 Ken Timbs MACW, GCW, EMLL, CSW, CWF January 27, 1951August 1, 2004 Cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure
53–54 Taro Miyake N/A18811935Unknown
54 Akebono
(Chadwick Haheo Rowan)
WWE, AJPW, NJPW, Hustle, Zero 1, various Japanese promotionsMay 8, 1969circa April 11, 2024heart failure
54 Ted Allen
(Ted Allen Lipscomb)
GCW, Mid-South Wrestling, CWA, SMW, Independent Circuit November 17, 1955August 19, 2010Heart attack
54 Angel of Death
(David Sheldon)
Stampede Wrestling, UWF, GWF, WCW July 20, 1953November 25, 2007Unknown
54 Awesome Kong
(Dwayne McCullough)
WCW, GWF, USWA, Independent Circuit January 5, 1958November 17, 2012Heart attack
54 Black Warrior
(Jesus Toral López)
CMLL, UWA, AAA January 7, 1969January 10, 2023Unknown
54 Josephine Blatt N/A1869September 1, 1923Unknown
54 Jonathan Boyd
(Jonathan Barry Boyle)
WCW Australia, NWA, PNW, CWA October 21, 1944August 7, 1999Heart attack
54 Lionel Conacher wrestled only in CanadaMay 24, 1900May 26, 1954Heart attack
54 Droz
(Darren Drozdov)
WWF, ECW April 7, 1969June 30, 2023Natural causes
54 Bob Fitzsimmons N/AMay 26, 1863October 22, 1917 Pneumonia
54 Dory Funk, Sr. WSS, NWA, AWA, NWA St. Louis, WWWF May 4, 1919June 3, 1973Heart attack
54 Jos LeDuc
(Michel Pigeon)
NWA, Lutte Internationale, AWA, WWF, CWA, CWF, GCW August 30, 1944May 1, 1999 Lung infection
54 Arvo Lindén N/AFebruary 27, 1887March 18, 1941Unknown
54 Benny McCrary NWA, NJPW December 7, 1946March 26, 2001Heart attack [33] [34]
54 Yoshihiro Momota AJPW March 15, 1946November 22, 2000 Liver failure
54 Väinö Myllyrinne wrestled in EuropeFebruary 27, 1909April 13, 1963 Acromegaly
54 La Parka II
(Jesús Alfonso Huerta Escoboza)
AAA, IWRG, DDT Pro-Wrestling, wrestled in various promotions in MexicoJanuary 4, 1966January 11, 2020 Lung and kidney failure; died in ring
54 Puppet the Psycho Dwarf
(Stevie Lee)
TNA, WWA, Independent Circuit 1966September 9, 2020Unknown [86] [87]
54 Tommy Rogers
(Thomas Couch)
UWF, NWA, AJPW, WCW, WWF, ECW May 14, 1961June 1, 2015Unknown (believed to be suicide)
54 The Ultimate Warrior
(James Hellwig)
WWF, CWA, WCWA, WCW June 16, 1959April 8, 2014Heart attack
54 Uncle Elmer
(Stan Fraizer)
CWA, NWA, GCCW, WWF, USWA August 16, 1937July 1, 1992 Diabetes
54 Pez Whatley CWF, NWA, WWF, WCW January 10, 1951January 18, 2005Heart attack
54–55 Bull Ortega
(Jesus Ortega)
Stampede Wrestling, NWA, WWWF, MLW, NWA Detroit 1922July 28, 1977Heart attack
54–55 Chief Little Eagle
(Richard Thomas Bryant)
NWA, GCW, NWA Gulf Coast, CWC 1935July 7, 1990Murder
54–55 Hergeleci İbrahim
(Ibrahim Mahmut)
wrestled only in Turkey18621917Unknown
54–55 George de Relwyskow Joint Promotions June 18, 18871942Unknown
55 Matt Borne
(Matthew Osborne)
PNW, WCCW, UWF, WWF, WCW, ECW July 27, 1957June 28, 2013Drug overdose (possible heart failure)
55 Danie Brits WWP, various promotions in South AfricaMarch 3, 1965September 3, 2020Heart attack
55 Haystacks Calhoun
(William Dee Calhoun)
WWWF, NWA August 3, 1934December 7, 1989Diabetes
55 Johnny Lee Clary NWF June 18, 1959October 21, 2014Heart attack
55 Eddie Graham
(Edward Gossett)
WWWF, CWF, NWA January 15, 1930January 21, 1985 Multiple gunshot suicide
55 Rumi Kazama AJW, JWP, LLPW, DDT, WAR November 28, 1965September 21, 2021 Endometriosis
55 Koji Kitao SWS, NJPW, WWF, WAR August 12, 1963February 10, 2019 Kidney disease
55 MS-1
(Pablo Fuentes Reyna)
CMLL, AAA, UWA December 31, 1956January 12, 2012Car accident
55 Mantaur
(Mike Halac)
WWF, ECW, CWA, USWA May 14, 1968July 11, 2023 Diabetes
55 Tony Matisi N/AAugust 23, 1914August 26, 1969Illness
55 Hans Nijman
(Johannes Nijman)
Fighting Network Rings September 23, 1959November 5, 2014Murder
55 Antonio Peña
(Antonio Herrada)
founder of AAA, CMLL June 13, 1951October 5, 2006Heart attack
55 Antonino Rocca
(Antonino Biasetton)
WWWF, NWA April 13, 1921March 15, 1977 Urinary tract infection
55 Universo 2000
(Andrés Reyes González)
CMLL, AAA, IWRG April 18, 1963May 1, 2018Heart problems
55 Diane Von Hoffman
(Phyllis Burch)
USWA, CWA, LPWA, LMLW April 13, 1962July 6, 2017Complications from knee surgery
55 Timothy Well
(Timothy Smith)
AJPW, USWA, WWF, WCW, ECW September 8, 1961January 9, 2017 Kidney failure
55 Chris Youngblood
(Christopher Romero)
WCCW, WWC, WCW, AJPW, USWA, FMW February 10, 1966July 7, 2021Believed to be liver and kidney failure
56 Brad Batten NWA, CSW, ACCW, SMW, WWC, SSW September 8, 1958November 18, 2014Heart attack
56 Edwin Bibby N/ANovember 15, 1848May 5, 1905 Rheumatism
56 Paul Bunyan
(Max Palmer)
NWA Mid-America, NWF November 27, 1927May 17, 1984 Heart disease
56 Emilio Charles Jr.
(Sergio Garduño)
CMLL October 12, 1956December 28, 2012Kidney failure [88]
56 Espanto III
(Miguel Vázquez Bernal)
EMLL February 11, 1940December 8, 1996 Heart attack
56 Bill Fralic WWF October 31, 1962December 13, 2018Cancer
56 Steve Gillespie WFWA, Stampede Wrestling, FMW, WWF, CNWA, Onita ProJuly 22, 1963January 18, 2020Heart attack
56 Babe the Farmer's Daughter
(Ursula Hayden)
GLOW March 8, 1966December 3, 2022Cancer
56 Ice Train
(Harold Hogue)
WCW, CWA November 13, 1942January 23, 2024Unknown
56 Walter Johnson NWA, BTW, WCCW November 13, 1942June 29, 1999Heart attack
56 Cowboy Lang
(Harry Lang)
NWA, WWF, AWA August 28, 1950January 4, 2007Heart disease
56 Steve Lawler
(Steve Gower)
SCW, DSW, TCW, Independent Circuit January 24, 1965September 2, 2021 COVID-19
56 Maurice Letchford wrestled in the US, Canada, UK and South AfricaAugust 27, 1908August 15, 1965Unknown
56 Dave McKigney MLW, WWWF, NWA, NJPW, NWA Detroit, Big Bear PromotionsJune 9, 1932July 4, 1988Car accident
56 Moondog King
(Edward White)
WWF, Lutte Internationale May 18, 1949August 26, 2005Injuries from a car accident and health issues
56 Max Muscle
(John Czawlytko)
WCW, USWA, GWF, MCW, XPW February 22, 1963June 27, 2019Unknown
56 Yvon Robert NWA, Montreal, MLW October 8, 1914July 12, 1971Heart attack
56 Garry Robbins CNWA, GWF, NJPW, WWC, Indo-Asian WrestlingSeptember 9, 1957December 11, 2013Heart attack
56 Ben Roller N/AJuly 1, 1876April 19, 1933Pneumonia
56 Buddy Rose
(Paul Perschmann)
AWA, PNW, WWF November 27, 1952April 28, 2009Natural causes from obesity; diabetes complications
56 Kurt Von Hess
(William Terry)
NWA, Lutte Internationale, All-Star, Maple Leaf Wrestling, NJPW, WWF April 10, 1942March 13, 1999Heart attack
56–57 Black Guzmán
(Miguel Guzman Huerta)
CMLL, NWA 1916December 1, 1973Unknown
57 Jerry Balisok GCW, CWF September 8, 1955April 18, 2013Heart attack
57 Fred Beell N/AJanuary 17, 1876August 5, 1933Shot
57 Brazo de Oro
(Jesús Alvarado Nieves)
CMLL, WWA, UWA, NWA Los Angeles October 7, 1959April 28, 2017Heart attack
57 Brick Bronsky
(Jeffrey Beltzner)
Stampede Wrestling, Independent circuit April 18, 1964August 23, 2021COVID-19
57 Brickhouse Brown
(Frederick Seawright)
UWF Mid-South, NWA, WWF, CWA, USWA August 11, 1960July 29, 2018 Prostate cancer
57 Chris Champion
(Christopher Ashford-Smith)
WCW, MACW, CWA, CWF, USWA February 17, 1961August 22, 2018Presumed to be a stroke
57 Al Green
(Alfred Dobalo)
WCW, WCPW, CWF, AJPW, CWA October 15, 1955June 14, 2013 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
57 The Grand Wizard
(Ernie Roth)
NWA, WWWF/WWF August 30, 1926October 12, 1983Heart attack
57 Betty Jo Hawkins
(Elizabeth Floyd)
NWA, CWF, Stampede Wrestling October 22, 1930December 4, 1987Heart attack
57 Samson Kutsuwada JWA, AJPW May 1, 1947October 12, 2004Leukemia
57 Masakre
(Aristóteles Radamés Coccó Flores)
CMLL, AAA May 13, 1954April 12, 2012 Spinal cancer
57 Akram Pahalwan Joint Promotions. wrestled in India, Pakistan, and various international promotions1930April 12, 1987Unknown
57 Zoogz Rift
(Robert Pawlikowski)
UWF July 10, 1953March 22, 2011Complications from diabetes
57 Bert Ruby
(Bertalan Rubinstein)
NWA, promoter for NWA Detroit November 29, 1910March 9, 1968Heart attack
57 Paddy Ryan
(Earl Patrick Freeman)
Stampede Wrestling, PNW, NWA All-Star Wrestling August 23, 1932December 28, 1989Heart attack
57 Bart Sawyer
(Steven Stewart)
PNW, NWA, WCW, USWA, ECCW, W*ING November 30, 1965September 12, 2023Unknown
57 Shag Thomas
(James Thomas)
Stampede Wrestling, NWA, PNW August 11, 1924July 25, 1982Heart attack
57 Don Vines Joint Promotions February 6, 1932September 17, 1989Unknown
57 Fez Whatley
(Todd Hillier)
World Championship Wrestling March 31, 1964August 14, 2021Heart failure
57–58 Blimp Levy
(Martin Levy)
NWA 1903November 8, 1961Believed to be complications from obesity
58 Gran Apache
(Mario Balbuena González)
CMLL, AAA, IWA Japan April 16, 1959May 7, 2017 Intestinal cancer
58 Paul Bearer
(William Moody)
WWF, CWF, WCCW, USWA, TNA April 10, 1954March 5, 2013Heart attack
58 Brazo de Plata
(José Luis Alvarado Nieves)
CMLL, AAA, WWE, WWA, UWA, IWRG March 19, 1963July 26, 2021Heart attack
58 Bulldog Bob Brown NWA, Stampede Wrestling, AWA, All-Star, NWA St. Louis, CSW October 16, 1938February 5, 1997Heart attack
58 Ripper Collins
(Roy Lee Albern)
NWA Hawaii, AWA, GCCW, Stampede Wrestling October 10, 1933November 12, 1991 Melanoma
58 Adam Forepaugh N/AFebruary 28, 1831January 22, 1890Complications from 1889–1890 pandemic
58 Giant Gustav NWA, NJPW, IWCCW April 13, 1961October 6, 2019Heart Attack
58 Tarzan Goto
(Seijo Goto)
AJPW, FMW, NWA, CWA, ECW, IWA Japan August 16, 1963May 29, 2022 Liver cancer
58 Kevin Greene WCW July 31, 1962December 21, 2020Heart attack
58 Helen Hild
(Gladys Helen Nevins)
NWA, WWWF February 26, 1926March 4, 1984Lung infection
58 Tank Morgan
(Paul McManus)
WWWF, NWA, IWE, NWA Hawaii, UWF April 18, 1933August 15, 1991Murder
58 New Jack
(Jerome Young)
ECW, SMW, USWA, TNA, XPW January 3, 1963May 14, 2021 Heart attack
58 Don Nakaya Nielsen NJPW, PWFG July 8, 1959August 16, 2017 Heart attack complications from surgery
58 Randy Savage
(Randall Poffo)
WWF, NWA, ICW, CWA, WCW November 15, 1952May 20, 2011 Cardiovascular disease
58 Tracy Smothers CWA, WCW, SMW, WWF, ECW, IWA Mid-South September 2, 1962October 28, 2020 Lymphoma
58 George Tragos NWA March 14, 1897September 5, 1955Unknown
58 Tarzan Tyler
(Camille Tourville)
NWA, Lutte Internationale, WWWF, CWF December 4, 1927December 24, 1985Car wreck
58 Larry Winters ECW, TWA, AWA, NWA, Pro Wrestling USA, NWF April 14, 1956January 27, 2015Heart attack
58-59 Tokugoro Ito N/A18791938Unknown
59 Evgeny Artyukhin Sr. NJPW June 17, 1949July 12, 2008Heart attack during training
59 Shota Chochishvili NJPW July 10, 1950August 27, 2009 Leukemia
59 John Condrone CCW, NWA, WCW, independent circuit November 16, 1960October 20, 2020 COVID-19
59 Douglas Clark Joint Promotions May 2, 1891February 1, 1951Unknown
59 Espectro I
(Antonio Arriaga)
EMLL February 9, 1934October 13, 1993Unknown
59 Angel Gabriele WWA, PPWMarch 21, 1956February 23, 2016Unknown
59 René Guajardo
(Manuel Guajardo Mejorado)
EMLL, UWA, WCCW, CWA January 4, 1933May 11, 1992 Liver cancer
59 Ralph Hammonds NWA July 9, 1906May 5, 1966Unknown
59 Mickie Henson referee for WWE, WCW, CWF January 2, 1963February 14, 2022COVID-19
59 Ernie Holmes GCW, WWF July 11, 1948January 17, 2008Car accident
59 Don Kent
(Leo Smith Jr.)
NWA, WWWF, NWA Mid-America, CWF June 24, 1933June 7, 1993Leukemia
59 Evan "Strangler" Lewis N/AMay 24, 1860November 9, 1919Cancer [89]
59 Dutch Mantell
(Alfred Albert Joe de Re la Gardiur)
N/AJuly 25, 1881January 31, 1941Cancer
59 Mike Marino Joint Promotions October 8, 1921August 24, 1981 Leukemia
59 Drew McDonald
(Charles Shaw)
All Star Wrestling, Stampede Wrestling, CWA June 16, 1955February 9, 2015Cancer
59 Matthew Saad Muhammad UWFi August 5, 1954May 25, 2014 Lou Gehrig's disease
59 Charlie Norris WCW, PWA, independent circuit October 21, 1963February 6, 2023Unknown
59 Tony Parisi
(Antonio Pugliese)
WWWF, NWA, Lutte Internationale, MLW January 22, 1941August 19, 2000Heart attack
59 The Patriot
(Del Wilkes)
AWA, WCW, WWF, GWF, AJPW December 21, 1961July 1, 2021Heart attack
59 Eddie Quinn promoter for wrestling in Montreal, NWA St. Louis May 22, 1906December 14, 1965Cerebral hemorrhage
59 Mangla Rai
(Mahamalla Rai)
Wrestled only in IndiaOctober 1916June 24, 1976Multiple organ failure
59 Tex Rickard
(George Rickard)
promoter for wrestling in New York City January 2, 1870January 6, 1929 Appendicitis
59 John L. Sullivan N/AOctober 15, 1858February 2, 1918Heart disease
59 Skip Young
(Galton Young)
WCCW, NWA, CWF, USWA, WWC July 24, 1951December 3, 2010Unknown
59 Super Muñeco
(Hebert Palafox)
AAA, WWA, CMLL/EMLL, various promotions in MexicoApril 10, 1962February 9, 2022Unknown
59 Don West TNA June 20, 1963December 30, 2022 Lymphoma
59 Tom Zenk AWA, WWF, Lutte Internationale, WCW, AJPW November 30, 1958December 9, 2017Heart attack from atherosclerosis and cardiomegaly

Under 65

Dynamite Kid Dynamite Kid British Bulldogs.jpg
Dynamite Kid
Giant Baba Giant Baba, 1982.png
Giant Baba
Roddy Piper Roddy Piper (2014-04-04 19-10-01 NEX-6 7421 DxO (13933727033)).jpg
Roddy Piper
Scott Hall Scott Hall with Paul.jpg
Scott Hall
Big Van Vader Vader One Night Only.jpg
Big Van Vader
Road Warrior Animal Road Warrior Animal 2017 (cropped).jpg
Road Warrior Animal
AgeRing name
(Birth name)
Promotion(s) worked forDate of birthDate of deathCause of death
60 Lionel Baillargeon NWA, Stampede Wrestling, MLW, various Canadian promotionsJuly 4, 1921June 19, 1982Unknown
60 Dieusel Berto PWFG, RINGS, Battlarts March 24, 1958December 29, 2018Illness
60 Primo Carnera NWA, various promotions in EuropeOctober 26, 1906June 29, 1967Liver disease and complications from diabetes
60 Emile Czaja
(Emile George Zeimes)
JWA, wrestled in various promotions in Europe, Australia, Asia and IndiaJuly 15, 1909May 16, 1970Car accident
60 Dynamite Kid
(Thomas Billington)
WWF, Stampede Wrestling, Joint Promotions, ASW, NJPW, AJPW December 5, 1958December 5, 2018Unconfirmed, but had long-term health issues including stroke [90]
60 Rufus R. Jones
(Carey Lloyd)
CSW, NWA St. Louis, NWA, MACW, AWA, AJPW July 4, 1933November 13, 1993 Heart attack
60 Mountain Fiji
(Emily Dole)
GLOW September 28, 1957January 2, 2018Natural causes from years of health issues
60 Princess Jasmine
(Cynthia Peretti)
GLOW, AWA, POWW June 2, 1948May 8, 2009 Cancer
60 Road Warrior Animal
(Joseph Laurinaitis)
NWA, Lutte Internationale, AWA, MACW, WWF/E, WCW, AJPW, TNA September 12, 1960September 22, 2020Heart attack
60 Firpo Segura
(Francisco Segura García)
EMLL November 10, 1907January 15, 1968Unknown
60 Art Shires
(Charles Shires)
UnknownAugust 13, 1906July 13, 1967Unknown
60 Stan Stasiak
(George Stipich)
PNW, Stampede Wrestling, WWWF, NWA April 13, 1937June 19, 1997Heart failure
60 Sammy Stein N/AApril 1, 1905March 30, 1966Heart attack
60 Ray Stevens
(Carl Stevens)
BTW SF, AWA, NWA, WWWF/WWF, CWF September 5, 1935May 3, 1996Heart attack
60 Sándor Szabó NWA, NWA San Francisco January 4, 1906October 16, 1966Heart attack
60 Yamaguchi-san
(Yusuke Yamaguchi)
AJPW, FMW, WWF, Michinoku Pro Wrestling, ULL May 5, 1958March 9, 2019 Stroke
61 Paul Anderson CWF, NWA, GCW, MACW October 17, 1932August 15, 1994 Kidney failure
61 Giant Baba
(Shohei Baba)
JWA, AJPW, NWA, WWWF January 23, 1938January 31, 1999 Colon cancer
61 Butcher Brannigan
(Joseph Novo)
WCW Australia, CWF, WWWF, Stampede Wrestling, NWA September 3, 1948September 7, 2009Kidney failure and heart disease
61 Cocoa Samoa
(Ulualoaiga Emelio)
ASW, CWF, PNW, CWA March 9, 1945January 9, 2007Unknown
61 Terry Garvin
(Terry Joyal)
GCCW, IWA Montreal, CSW, NWA, MACW, WWF March 1, 1937August 17, 1998Cancer
61 Mike Graham
(Michael Gossett)
CWF, NWA, AWA, WCW September 22, 1951October 19, 2012Suicide by gunshot while intoxicated
61 Killer Karl Krupp
(George Momberg)
ESA, GPW, WCCW, MLW, NJPW, CWA May 13, 1934August 24, 1995 Hepatitis
61 Little Beaver
(Lionel Giroux)
Lutte Internationale, WWWF/WWF, MLW, AWA, NWA April 18, 1934December 4, 1995 Emphysema
61 Boris Malenko
(Larry Simon)
CWF, WWWF, CWC, MACW, NWA, NJPW June 28, 1933September 1, 1994 Leukemia
61 Man Mountain Dean
(Frank Leavitt)
N/AJune 30, 1891May 29, 1953Heart attack
61 James McLaughlin N/AJune 8, 1844September 11, 1905Unknown
61 Bubba Monroe
(Quentin Bell)
CWA, TASW, GWF, independent circuit October 23, 1960September 10, 2022Unknown
61 Aslam Pahalwan
(Aslam Khan)
Wrestled mainly in Pakistan and India, Joint Promotions January 14, 1927January 7, 1988Unknown
61 Roddy Piper
(Roderick Toombs)
AWA, PNW, GCW, MLW, WWF, WCW April 17, 1954July 31, 2015Heart attack from pulmonary embolism
61 Karl Pojello
(Karolis Požėla)
wrestled in Europe, China, Japan and the United StatesFebruary 13, 1893September 4, 1954 Lung cancer
61 Goldie Rogers
(David Sherwin)
ASW, MLW, Stampede Wrestling, WWF August 5, 1950July 20, 2012Heart attack
61 Sapphire
(Juanita Wright)
WWF, USWA October 24, 1934September 11, 1996Heart attack
61 Cy Williams
(Burton Williams)
NWA, NWA San Francisco October 12, 1903September 28, 1965Unknown
62 Frank Andersson NJPW, WCW May 9, 1956September 9, 2018Heart failure
62 Le Petit Prince
(Daniel Dubail)
FFCP September 25, 1943December 17, 2005Unknown
62 Lofty Blomfield
(Meynell Blomfield)
DWU, NWA July 18, 1908June 29, 1971Unknown
62 Luke Brown
(Carl Campbell)
AWA, WWWF, NWA, CSW July 28, 1935November 12, 1997Stroke
62 Earl Caddock N/AFebruary 27, 1888August 25, 1950Heart attack during surgery
62 Crybaby Cannon
(George McCarther)
NWA, Lutte Internationale, AWA, WWWF, MLW, BTW March 28, 1932July 1, 1994Cancer
62 Mocho Cota
(Manuel Cota Soto)
EMLL/CMLL June 5, 1954December 22, 2016Brain aneurysm
62 Dick the Bruiser
(William Afflis)
WWA, AWA, NWA St. Louis, CSW June 27, 1929November 10, 1991 Internal bleeding
62 Bobby Eaton CWA, NWA Mid-America, UWF Mid-South, WCCW, MACW, WCW August 14, 1958August 4, 2021Unknown (found dead in sleep) [91]
62 Gorilla Monsoon
(Robert Marella)
WWWF/WWF, NWA, WCW Australia June 4, 1937October 6, 1999 Heart failure
62 Oliver Humperdink
(John Sutton)
MACW, CWF, WWF, WCW January 16, 1949March 20, 2011Complications from pneumonia and cancer
62 Happy Humphrey
(William Cobb)
NWA July 16, 1926March 14, 1989 Heart attack
62 Jaan Jaago N/AJuly 6, 1887August 28, 1949Unknown
62 Dr. Karonte
(Miguel Urive)
EMLL/CMLL February 14, 1957August 26, 2019Unknown
62 Lord Athol Layton
(Allan Layton)
NWA, MLW, NWA St. Louis August 20, 1921January 18, 1984 Heart attack
62 Scott LeDoux
(Alan LeDoux)
AWA January 7, 1949August 11, 2011 Lou Gehrig's disease
62 Tommy Lister Jr. WWF, WWC, WCW June 24, 1958December 10, 2020Hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease [92]
62 Hiro Matsuda
(Yasuhiro Kojima)
JWA, CWF, WCW, NWA July 22, 1937November 27, 1999 Prostate cancer
62 Century Milstead N/AJanuary 1, 1901June 2, 1963Unknown
62 Bull Montana
(Luigi Montagna)
N/AMay 16, 1887January 24, 1950Unknown
62 Barry Orton
(Randal Berry Orton)
WWF, NWA, ICW, MACW, Stampede Wrestling May 28, 1958March 20, 2021Unknown
62 Ari Romero
(Jose Luis Arias Romero)
CMLL, MPW, BJPW December 20, 1951December 29, 2013 Liver cancer
62 Harold Sakata
(Toshiyuki Sakata)
NWA, AWA, NWA Hawaii July 1, 1920July 29, 1982Liver cancer
62 Ron Slinker
(David Slinker)
CWF, NWA, IWCCW, UWF October 30, 1945March 28, 2008 Liver failure from years of alcoholism
62 Wilbur Snyder AWA, WWA, NWA St. Louis, NWA September 15, 1929December 25, 1991Heart failure
62 Moondog Spike
(William Smithson)
CWA, USWA, AJPW, W*ING May 31, 1950March 21, 2013Unknown
62 Thunder Sugiyama JWA, AJPW, NJPW, IWE, NWA July 23, 1940November 22, 2002Unknown
62 Great Togo
(Kazuo Okamura)
NWA, NWA Hawaii, JWA October 11, 1911December 19, 1973 Stomach cancer
62 Murciélago Velázquez
(Jesús Velázquez Quintero)
EMLL February 22, 1910May 26, 1972Heart attack from cirrhosis of the liver
62 George Wilson N/ASeptember 1, 1901December 27, 1963Unknown
63 Lou Bastien
(Louis John Klein)
NWA, CWC, MLW, AWA, NWA Detroit, CSW July 10, 1916October 11, 1979Heart attack
63 Brute Bernard
(James Prudhomme)
WCW Australia, WWWF, MACW June 6, 1921July 14, 1984Accidental gunshot wound
63 Mamdouh Farag CWA (Germany), promotions in Egypt August 16, 1951August 16, 2014Illness
63 Big Van Vader
(Leon White)
WCW, WWF, AWA, NJPW, AJPW, Pro Wrestling NOAH May 14, 1955June 18, 2018Heart problems
63 Rusty Brooks
(Kurt Koski)
WWF, UWF, FOW, various promotions in FloridaFebruary 8, 1958February 11, 2021Health issues
63 Bulldog Brower
(Richard Gland)
MLW, NWA, WWWF/WWF, NWF September 17, 1933September 15, 1997Complications from hip surgery
63 Bad News Brown
(Allen James Coage)
WWF, NJPW, Stampede Wrestling October 22, 1943March 6, 2007Heart attack
63 King Kong Bundy
(Christopher Pallies)
WWF, WCCW, NWA, GCW, NJPW, UWF November 7, 1955March 4, 2019Complications from diabetes
63 Big Bully Busick
(Nick Busick)
WWF, SCW, GWF June 1, 1954May 8, 2018 Cancer in the cerebrospinal fluid
63 Jack Carkeek N/AJanuary 22, 1861March 12, 1924Unknown
63 Mike Clancy
(Christopher Clancy)
NWA, NWA Mid-America, MACW, NWA Tri-State September 9, 1924June 11, 1988Unknown
63 Candi Devine
(Candace Rummel)
AWA, NWA, CWA, LPWA, USWA, UWF January 1, 1959February 9, 2022Collapsed lung and other health issues
63 George Dinnie wrestled only in AustraliaJuly 18, 1875June 13, 1939Unknown
63 Ken Fenelon
(Patrick Fenelon)
NWA February 26, 1909August 8, 1972Unknown
63 Brian Glover Joint Promotions April 2, 1934July 24, 1997Brain tumor
63 Scott Hall WWF/WWE, WCW, TNA, NWA, AWA, NJPW October 20, 1958March 14, 2022Multiple heart attacks as a result of complications from hip surgery
63 Wilhelm von Homburg
(Norbert Grupe)
N/AAugust 25, 1940March 10, 2004 Prostate cancer
63 S. D. Jones
(Conrad Efraim)
WWF, MACW, NWA, NJPW March 30, 1945October 26, 2008Stroke
63 Tarzán López
(Carlos López Tovar)
EMLL August 28, 1912August 28, 1975Unknown
63 Wahoo McDaniel
(Edward McDaniel)
NWA, MACW, WWWF, WCCW, AWA June 19, 1938April 18, 2002Complications from diabetes and kidney failure
63 Freddie Miller commenator for GCW, MACW, WWF, WCW February 19, 1929November 25, 1992Heart attack
63 Alex Munro N/ANovember 30, 1870January 3, 1934Unknown
63 Jim Neidhart WWF, Stampede, WCW, ECW, CWF, NJPW February 8, 1955August 13, 2018Head injury from a fall
63 Bholu Pahalwan
(Haji Manzoor Hussain)
wrestled only in India and PakistanJanuary 24, 1922June 4, 1985Unknown
63 James Polkinghorne N/A1788September 15, 1851Unknown
63 Benny Ramírez NWA, NWA Texas, CSW, IWE, Stampede Wrestling January 2, 1932December 20, 1995Plane crash (American Airlines Flight 965)
63 Duncan C. Ross N/AMarch 12, 1856September 8, 1919Unknown
63 Savannah Jack
(Theodore Russell)
AWA, UWF Mid-South October 15, 1948January 17, 2012Years of cardiomyopathy problems
63 Brett Sawyer
(Brett Eugene Woyan)
NWA, PNW, GCW, MACW, WCW August 10, 1960September 9, 2023Unknown
63 Vivian St. John
(Suzanne Miller)
WWWF/WWF, CWF September 10, 1950December 20, 2013Long illness
64 Cousin Luke
(Gene Petit)
WWF, AWA, CWF, MACW May 19, 1949September 29, 2013 Multiple sclerosis and diabetes
64 Jeff Gaylord USWA, UWF Mid-South, WCCW, GWF, WWF October 15, 1958March 15, 2023Unknown
64 Bobby Jaggers
(Robert Jeaudoin)
MACW, NWA, NWA St. Louis, PNW, CWF January 8, 1948September 30, 2012 Kidney failure from hepatitis C
64 Teijo Khan
(Thomas Kasat)
AWA, CWF, NWA, MACW, PWA March 24, 1956April 10, 2020Unknown
64 Rocky King
(William Boulware Jr.)
NWA, MACW, WCW January 30, 1958March 27, 2022Years of health issues
64 Corporal Kirchner
(Michael Penzel)
WWF, NJPW, Stampede Wrestling, IWA Japan, W*ING, FMW September 7, 1957December 22, 2021Heart attack
64 Emil Klank N/AJune 19, 1876June 27, 1940Heart attack
64 Peggy Lee Leather
(Peggy Lee Fowler)
WWF, NWA, POWW, AWA, WCW, LPWA, WOW January 19, 1959May 22, 2023Unknown
64 Dale Lewis AWA, CWF, NWA August 29, 1933August 30, 1997Leukemia
64 Winona Littleheart
(Winifred Childree)
CWF, WWWF/WWF, NWA, POWW, WCW (Women's Championship Wrestling)September 9, 1955May 9, 2020Unknown
64 Lizmark
(Juan Baños)
EMLL, AAA, CMLL December 18, 1950December 16, 2015 Respiratory failure
64 Ibrahim Moustafa N/ASeptember 23, 1904October 9, 1968Unknown
64 Michael Okpala promoter in Nigeria, Joint Promotions, and various international promotionsAugust 8, 1939March 11, 2004Illness
64 Iron Mike Sharpe CWA, ASW, MSWA, WWWA, WWF October 28, 1951January 17, 2016Years of health issues
64 Herb Trawick wrestled only in CanadaFebruary 22, 1921September 16, 1985Unknown
64 Clem Turner AWA, WWA, NWA Detroit, NWA St. Louis May 28, 1945December 20, 2009Car accident
64 Lee Wang-pyo NJPW, AJPW June 11, 1954September 4, 2018 Gallbladder cancer
64 Nikolai Zouev RINGS May 20, 1958May 21, 2022Heart disease

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ezekiel Jackson</span> Guyanese-American wrestler and bodybuilder

Rycklon Edward Stephens is a Guyanese-American professional wrestler, professional wrestling coach, personal trainer, preacher, bodybuilder and actor. He is best known for his tenure in WWE from 2007 to 2014, under the ring name Ezekiel Jackson, where he was the final ECW Champion under WWE's ECW brand, as well as a former WWE Intercontinental Champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">P. J. Black</span> South African professional wrestler

Phillip Paul Lloyd is a South African-American professional wrestler. He is best known for his time in WWE, under the ring name Justin Gabriel. He is currently wrestling under the ring name P. J. Black.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Riley</span> American professional wrestler

Kevin Robert Kiley Jr. is an American professional wrestler and commentator best known for his time with WWE under the ring name Alex Riley. He was a participant in the second season of NXT.

Randy Baer, better known by his ring and pen name RDReynolds, is a former American professional wrestling manager and is also the co-creator of the professional wrestling website WrestleCrap, with Merle Vincent. He has also authored three books, WrestleCrap, The Death of WCW, co-authored with Bryan Alvarez, and The WrestleCrap Book of Lists!, co-authored with Blade Braxton. He has been called "the foremost authority on the worst of professional wrestling" by the Canadian Online Explorer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brie Bella</span> Retired American professional wrestler

Brianna Monique Danielson, known professionally as Brie Garcia, is an American former professional wrestler and television personality. She is best known for her tenure in WWE from 2007 to 2023, in which she performed under the ring name Brie Bella alongside her twin sister, Nikki, as The Bella Twins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nikki Bella</span> Retired American professional wrestler

Stephanie Nicole Chigvintsev, known professionally as Nikki Garcia, is an American television personality and retired professional wrestler. She is best known for her tenure in WWE from 2007 to 2023, in which she performed under the ring name Nikki Bella alongside her twin sister, Brie, as The Bella Twins. She is currently the host of the game show, Barmageddon.

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Further reading