5 times real-life death and tragedy rocked WWE

World Wrestling Entertainment is precisely that - entertainment. For decades, the company has provided world-class entertainment to millions of fans all around the globe.

It is a truly unique blend of theatre and athleticism that stands apart from any other sport, as the vast majority of what we see on screen is either rehearsed or scripted to some degree - though there are, of course, exceptions.

Like any good soap opera, there are writers and creative thinkers, who all combine their skills to produce compelling storylines and feuds that keep wrestlers locked together on-screen every single week.

There have been times, however, where the illusion of sports entertainment and the scripted world of WWE has been obliterated by real-life events mainly outside of the control of the company or anyone else. Sadly, as with any walk of life, tragedy strikes in WWE, loved and cherished performers are lost and mourned, and some suffer injuries that change their lives forever.

Thankfully, these instances are relatively rare, but today we'll be highlighting the five occasions when WWE was rocked by real-life death and tragedy.

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#5 Droz suffers a career-ending injury in the ring

Darren Drozdov made his WWE debut during the Attitude Era in 1998. The former professional football player aligned himself with the Legion of Doom before they split during a UK pay-per-view late in that year.

Afterwards, 'Droz' had a short run as a heel in WWE before his career was tragically ended by an injury sustained during a match against D-Lo Brown at a taping of SmackDown in October 2009. The pair had been attempting to execute Brown's trademark running powerbomb, but an awkward landing broke two vertebrae in his neck. Despite emergency surgery and intensive care afterward, Droz was left initially without any movement below his neck, ending his wrestling career before it had begun to blossom.

He has since been able to regain some movement in his upper body, but continues to use a wheelchair and requires constant care. Given SmackDown was taped as opposed to airing live that night, footage of Droz's accident has never been broadcast.

#4 Eddie Guerrero dies

Eddie Guerrero was undoubtedly one of the most popular wrestlers of his generation, a former multi-time champion in WWE, WCW, and ECW.

Dubbed Latino Heat, owing to his trademark cheek and charisma, he enjoyed a storied career that spanned the course of almost 20 years that took him all around the world, including each of the industry's major promotions as well as independents.

He tragically died in 2005, aged just 38, after suffering from heart failure while in the midst of a WWE live event tour. Eddie was largely considered to be enjoying a second 'prime' of his career, a recent run as WWE Champion, providing one of the highlights of the year for fans.

His sudden and untimely passing left his family and friends devastated, and fans around the globe in mourning, such was the impact he'd made during his time in the ring. WWE dedicated an entire episode of both RAW and SmackDown to Guerrero that week, with wrestlers and executives giving teary tributes to a hero taken too soon.

Guerrero was laid to rest at Green Acres Memorial Park in Scottsdale, Arizona, days after his death. His career still inspires wrestlers and fans some 15 years later.

#3 9/11 terrorist attacks

Arguably no global terrorist attack has dominated the headlines more than the horrific events of September 11, 2001.

That morning, a series of hijacked passenger planes were intentionally crashed into significant landmarks across the United States of America, including the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Virginia. Another was said to have been crash-landed by passengers on board. The attacks caused some 25,000 injuries and, sadly, almost 3,000 deaths.

Just two nights later, WWE was due to televise its major weekly program, SmackDown. Rather than cancel or postpone the event due to the tragedy, the company pressed ahead and amassed the first significant gathering of people at an event since the disaster.

WWE stars like Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock joined officials, and stood for a tribute at the start of the show and aired their own personal thoughts throughout. Vince McMahon said: "Our nation's leaders have encouraged us to return to living our lives the way we normally do...the American way. Make no mistake about the message this public assembly is sending to terrorism tonight...we will not live our lives in fear!"

#2 Chris Benoit murder-suicide

Back in 2007 in Houston, Texas, WWE held its Vengeance: Night of Champions pay-per-view with John Cena, Edge, and Ric Flair all appearing.

One bout slated for the card was the ECW Championship match, which was due to feature CM Punk against Chris Benoit. Uncharacteristically though, the usually-punctual Benoit did not show up to work that night and as such, WWE put Johnny Nitro in his place, who went on to win.

On the night, WWE claimed Benoit had missed the event due to a family emergency, but it quickly became apparent that something serious was amiss. It was later confirmed that Chris Benoit, his wife Nancy, and son Daniel, had all been found dead at their home.

The news that WWE and its fans had lost one of its most decorated and experienced performers was a truly tragic blow, leaving wrestlers and officials devastated. WWE dedicated the following night's episode of Monday Night RAW to Benoit, featuring tributes from many who knew him.

Their sense of shock was compounded soon after, however, when it was confirmed that Benoit had taken the lives of his two family members before committing suicide. WWE would remove all mention of the Canadian from all of their future broadcasts and have since edited him out of many versions of pay-per-views in which he was involved.

#1 Owen Hart dies after fall at WWE event

Owen Hart was the youngest of the 12 Hart children and one of the most gifted performers in the WWE during the 1990s.

After treading water in the company in tag team action and sporadic singles action during his formative years, Owen was thrust into the limelight thanks to a feud with his brother, Bret. After turning on Bret Hart at the 1994 WWE Royal Rumble, Owen defeated Bret at WrestleMania X a couple of months later. It is still regarded as one of the best opening matches in Mania history.

Owen went on to have a solid career of his own as a tag team, Intercontinental and European Champion before his life was tragically cut short. Having revived the Blue Blazer gimmick he'd used earlier in his career, Hart was due to make a superhero-like entrance from the ceiling at WWE's Over The Edge pay-per-view in May 1999.

What happened next has never fully been explained beyond any doubt, but Hart fell from almost 80 feet before landing on the turnbuckle of the ring at the arena in Kansas City. Despite receiving emergency medical attention, the fall proved fatal and Hart died within a couple of hours.

WWE continued with the show and the next night, aired a tribute to Owen Hart during Monday Night RAW with his fellow wrestlers and company officials clearly heartbroken, delivering moving tributes to the father of two who'd died at just 34 years of age.