DEATH IN BOXING, MMA & PRO WRESTLING
August 12th, 2009 By Matthew Grizzle
THOSE RESIDUAL EFFECTS FROM TAKING A SHOT
Oklahoma City, OK- Boxing has always had a knack for bringing us unusual and untimely deaths; some directly from in ring combat, some indirectly. I would call the recent, untimely deaths of Alexis ArgĂĽello and Arturo Gatti indirect ring deaths. The lives of fighters who die prematurely is often surrounded by over indulgence in drugs, alcohol and women. They are also prone to severe depression, suicidal tendencies and the ever present long term effects of concussive blows to the head which results in any number of diseases, disorders and physical anomalies.
DEATH: BOXING VS. MMA
Mixed Martial Arts on the other hand, has not yet reached that kind of level of disarray in its short lifetime. With only one direct in ring death recorded in its history, Texan Sam Vasquez in late 2007, it is no wonder that studies show MMA is actually a safer discipline than boxing. I can only recall two indirect deaths in its history; that of troubled Oklahoma native and former UFC middleweight champ, Evan Tanner, and that of former heavyweight contender Justin Eilers. While Tanner was found dead of apparent dehydration and fatigue on a solo camping trip, Eilers was murdered during a domestic dispute by his step father.
MANY MORE GUYS DIE IN WWE-LIKE WORLD
The really shocking numbers come about when we move into the world of “Sports Entertainment” or Professional Wrestling. The numbers of pro wrestling deaths are simply staggering. Make no mistake about it; the live theater of wrestling is physically demanding and also can be extremely physically damaging. While I wouldn’t call wrestling fake as much I would call it pre determined; these men and women put their body on the line, and they often do it on very demanding schedules; such a 300 days a year on the road and performing. This kind of stress can also lead to the severe depression and suicidal tendencies found in combat sports.
BENOIT MURDER-SUICIDE OPENED LOTS OF EYES
Everybody recalls the recent tragedy of Chris Benoit and his suicide along with the murder of his wife and young son. I recall reading the autopsy report on Chris Benoit were Dr. Julie Bailes, who examined Benoit’s brain after death stated “Benoit’s brain was so severely damaged it resembled the brain of an 85-year-old Alzheimer’s patient.” This is the kind of damage that can be acquired from years of pro wrestling. Not to mention, while much of the attraction of the business relies on physical appearance, many die of heart failure, organ failure and other ailments as the result of years of steroid abuse. The results of the deaths in pro wrestling are shocking, and at the bottom of this article is a list of just some of the deaths in pro wrestling—many of them occurring at a very young age.
Chris Von Erich – 21
Mike Von Erich – 23
Louie Spiccoli – 27
Art Barr – 28
Gino Hernandez – 29
Jay Youngblood – 30
Rick McGraw – 30
Joey Marella – 30
Ed Gatner – 31
Buzz Sawyer – 32
Crash Holly – 32
Kerry Von Erich – 33
D.J. Peterson – 33
Eddie Gilbert – 33
The Renegade – 33
Chris Candido – 33
Test – 33
Adrian Adonis – 34
Gary Albright – 34
Bobby Duncum Jr. – 34
Owen Hart – 34
Yokozuna – 34
Big Dick Dudley – 34
Brian Pillman – 35
Marianna Komlos – 35
Pitbull #2 – 36
The Wall/Malice – 36
Emory Hale – 36
Leroy Brown – 38
Mark Curtis – 38
Eddie Guerrero – 38
John Kronus – 38
Davey Boy Smith – 39
Johnny Grunge – 39
Vivian Vachon – 40
Jeep Swenson – 40
Brady Boone – 40
Terry Gordy – 40
Bertha Faye – 40
Billy Joe Travis – 40
Chris Benoit – 40
Larry Cameron – 41
Rick Rude – 41
Randy Anderson – 41
Bruiser Brody – 42
Miss Elizabeth – 42
Big Boss Man – 42
Earthquake – 42
Mike Awesome – 42
Biff Wellington – 42
Brian Adams (Crush) – 43
Ray Candy – 43
Nancy Benoit (Woman) – 43
Dino Bravo – 44
Curt Hennig – 44
Bam Bam Bigelow – 45
Jerry Blackwell – 45
Junkyard Dog – 45
Hercules – 45
Andre the Giant – 46
Big John Studd – 46
Chris Adams – 46
Mike Davis – 46
Hawk – 46
Mitsuharu Misawa – 46
Steve Dunn – 48
Cousin Junior – 48
Dick Murdoch – 49
Jumbo Tsuruta – 49
Rocco Rock – 49
Sherri Martel – 49
Moondog Spot – 51
Ken Timbs – 53
Uncle Elmer – 54
Pez Whatley – 54
The Angel of Death – 54
Eddie Graham – 55
Tarzan Tyler – 55
Haystacks Calhoun- 55
Giant Haystacks – 55
Buddy Rose – 56
The Spoiler – 56
Kurt Von Hess – 56
Moondog King – 56
Gene Anderson – 58
Dr. Jerry Graham – 58
Bulldog Brown – 58
Tony Parisi – 58
Rufus R. Jones – 60
Ray Stevens – 60
Stan Stasiak – 60
Terry Garvin – 60
Boris Malenko – 61
Little Beaver – 61
Sapphire – 61
Shohei Baba – 61
Dick the Bruiser – 62
Wilbur Snyder – 62
George Cannon – 62
Karl Krupp – 62
Dale Lewis – 62
Gorilla Monsoon – 62
Hiro Matsuda – 62
Bad News Brown – 63
Bulldog Brower – 63
SD Jones – 63
Wahoo McDaniel – 63
Matthew Grizzle
Depressing list, but a fascinating problem. The constellation of forces leading sometime to take his or her own life may be quite varied–it’s hard to generalize about the profession/despair connection. Why do so many DENTISTS commit suicide? (From what I’ve read, it’s a surprisingly high number.) Still, it’s something to ponder.
this is just amazing WOW. so many deaths
Nice article. And you didn’t even use the S-T-E-R-O-I-D-S word once, which has to be another contributing factor, especially in the “Sports Entertainment” list.
While the number of wrestling deaths is shocking, to be fair it should be said that some of them were caused by non wrestling factors such as cancer (Earthquake, Gorilla Monsoon), automobile accidents (Adrian Adonis, Junkyard Dog), and obesity (Yokozuna, Haystacks Calhoun).
Is King Kong Bundy still alive?
Yes!
Were all those Von Erich’s related ? Years ago there was a top rassler named Fritz Von Erich
The Von Erich’s were brothers. All three died via suicide. Their father Fritz, he was a piece of work!
Why wasn’t Vernon’s name mentioned in the article along with Gatti and Alexis?
The ultimate warrior who is a von erich is still alive…look it up
Jim Helwig is the Warrior. He is NOT a Von Erich!
I remember tough guy Fritz Von Erich quite well. Pedro makes him sound like the tyrannical Jackson or Quarry patriarch (”there’s no quit in a Quarry”). I always thought Karl Von Hess (an Irish Canadian?) was more amusing. His bout on YouTube with Ricki Starr is good for a few laughs.
Joaquin-
I had written and submitted the article before Forrest’s death. Otherwise I would have included him. Good observation and condolences to Vernon’s family and friends.
If you bang your head on a brick wall everynight for a year, I promise you, your brains will be scrambled as well. Wrestling is pre-determined but injuries are not included in that picture. Try waking up day after day, not being able to function as a normal person, with pain so bad, you are addicted to pain killers. Then you must continue to work out (daily) or take performance enhancing stuff, just to maintain that physical LOOK (nothing to do with ability). It is sad how so many good ones (male and female) have passed, without living a full quality life. I believe that there comes a point (as I live with severe pain, due to sports and aurther) so I can only amagine how they feel, every single day. I pray for a pain free day but I have yet to receive it (although our Lord always pulls me through one day at a time).. God Bless all the ones who are gone and all the mones who still participate.
I, too, possess a pit-bull who stands out as the most trusting animal I’ve ever owned. Quickly, a brand new dog breed will come along for the media to blast, because they have accomplished rotties and dobies in previous years. Unfortunate that media sensationalism breeds so much inaccurate facts.