While a lot of people seem to dismiss professional wrestling as fake, there is one thing in the world of sports entertainment which is as serious and real as it gets: Death. There is no getting away from the fact that death in the world of wrestling happens much too often for an industry where everything is supposed to be controlled.
The major reason for this is the lifestyles that professional wrestlers lead away from the squared circle. With the constant travelling, partying, alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs, the likelihood that men and women are taken away from this world much before their time is an all too common occurrence.
While the deaths of people like Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit are widely documented, there are others whose passing has flown below the radar. Today, we take a look at those wrestlers. So, without any further ado, here is our list of 7 professional wrestlers you didn’t know were dead:
#7 Crash Holly
Crash Holly is one of those wrestlers who made much more of an impact than he was supposed to when he entered the WWE as Hardcore Holly’s sidekick.
The diminutive man made quite the name for himself in the WWE’s hardcore division, where he put on some exciting segments as part of the 24/7 rule of the Hardcore Title. This led to him being a 22-time Hardcore Champion. Seriously, 22-time!
Unfortunately, he would pass away in 2003 in gruesome fashion. Crash choked on his own vomit after overdosing in fellow wrestler, Stevie Richards’ house. The death was later ruled as a suicide.
#6 Test
Test was a wrestler who never fulfilled the massive expectations placed on his shoulders when he entered the WWE. He always had the look but never the technical ability or mic skills to become an elite level performer in Vince McMahon’s promotion.
The other reason for his fading star was his numerous run-ins with the WWE’s Wellness Policy. This eventual led to Test being fired from the company in 2007 after his drug problems earned him one strike too many.
This kickstarted the downward spiral which led to his death in 2009 due to an overdose of oxycodone.
#5 Umaga
Umaga - a member of the famed Fatu wrestling family - was pushed to the moon facing off against the likes of Triple H, John Cena, and Bobby Lashley. Despite this, his push was abruptly cut off with a major loss against Cena and the monster soon found himself on the wrong side of the WWE’s Wellness Policy.
While the WWE tried multiple times to get Umaga into rehab, he was steadfast in his refusal and the company was forced into releasing from his contract. Shortly after that - in 2009 - he passed away from a heart attack that is believed to have been induced by drug usage.
#4 Big Boss Man
The Big Boss Man was one of the larger than life figures who populated the WWE and WCW rosters in the 1980s and 1990s. He was highly respected backstage and was always over with the crowd during his tenure with both companies.
Unfortunately, he was never in the greatest shape and didn’t boast a clean lifestyle to help better his failing his health. It was a blow to the wrestling world when he passed away at the age of 41 from a heart attack. This was back in 2004.
#3 Viscera
Viscera, Big Daddy V, Mabel or King Mabel. Whichever gimmick he was undertaking, the man had a long career in the WWE where his size was always his selling point.
After all, he was 6 feet 9 inches and weighed nearly 500 pounds. Unfortunately, this massive size came at a major cost to his health and welfare. He was never in the greatest health and ended up paying the price with his life.
Three years ago, in February of 2014, Viscera suffered a heart attack and passed away.
#2 Yokozuna
Yokozuna was one of the most well-known wrestlers of the 1990s. Despite being a Samoan, he was cast in the gimmick of a Japanese monster and paired up with Mr Fuji to great success, as he went up against the likes of Hulk Hogan and Bret The Hitman Hart for the then-WWF Championship.
His incredible - Sumo Wrestler-like size - meant that he was always going to be a huge draw in the company. Unfortunately, he was never able to keep control over his weight as he ballooned up to nearly 600 pounds - something which cost him both his job with the WWE and his life.
It was in 2001 that he passed away on a European indy wrestling tour due to a pulmonary oedema.
#1 British Bulldog
Possibly the greatest wrestler to never have won a World Championship, The British Bulldog was one of the most popular Superstars to ever grace a WWE ring. He was widely respected throughout the industry and was beloved by wrestling fans around the world. He was even married to Bret Hart’s sister.
Unfortunately, all of this couldn’t help him overcome his problems with substance abuse and in 2002, he passed away due to heart failure. It remains one of the saddest losses to hit the world of professional wrestling.
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