Tag: wrestler deaths

Former sumo wrestler and AJPW star Akebono passes away at 54 years old

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Akebono, known for his accomplishments both in sumo wrestling and later professional wrestling, has passed away.

Japanese media announced on Wednesday that Akebono had died of heart failure at 54 years old. He had been ill since 2017 when he was hospitalized following a DDT tour. After his release, he was confined to a wheelchair while continuing to suffer from heart complications.

Akebono was born Chadwick Haheo Rowan and was of Hawaiian descent. He joined sumo wrestling in 1988 and became the first non-Japanese sumo to reach the rank of yokozuna, which is the highest rank of sumo possible. He retired from sumo in 2001 and started pro wrestling in 2005 when he defeated The Big Show in a sumo match at WrestleMania 21.

Following his WrestleMania match, Akebono joined All Japan Pro Wrestling, where he would remain off and on through 2015. He would become a two-time Triple Crown Champion and won the Champion Carnival tournament in 2015. After becoming a freelancer, he founded the Odo promotion, where he served as president until his hospitalization.

Judo Gene LeBell passes away at 89 years old

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Judo Gene LeBell, best known for his catch wrestling technique that later became an influence in both pro wrestling and mixed martial arts, has passed away at 89 years old.

Bas Rutten wrote on Facebook that LeBell had passed away.

“My deepest condolences to his lovely wife Midge, his kids and all his other family members and friends,” he wrote. “You will be greatly missed Gene, I love you my friend, till we meet again!”

LeBell started catch wrestling at the age of 7, training under Ed “Strangler” Lewis and later trained in judo. He was also trained by the likes of Karl Gotch and Lou Thesz. In 1963, he accepted a challenge to fight boxer Milo Savage in an early mixed martial arts bout that saw LeBell score the win with a rear naked choke.

In pro wrestling, he was part of NWA’s Los Angeles territory, NWA Hollywood Wrestling, from 1968 through 1982. He worked as a TV announcer and sometimes wrestled. The territory was owned by Mike LeBell, Gene’s brother. He also served as the referee for the Muhammad Ali/Antonio Inoki match that took place in 1976. He wrestled his final pro wrestling match in 1981, against Peter Maivia in NWA Hollywood Wrestling.

In recent years, he had accompanied Ronda Rousey to the ring during mixed martial arts matches. He also judged MMA fights through 2018.

May 9, 2005 Observer Newsletter: Death of Chris Candido

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Because wrestlers die so frequently, there are a lot of ways you come to expect them. You expect years of heavy steroid and cocaine use to lead to heart attacks of guys in their 40s. You expect overdoses. In the 70s, you’d have the auto accidents. There’s even cancer and internal organ problems that could happen to anyone. And there are the occasional drug and other forms of depression induced suicides.

“It’s so baffling,” Mick Foley said. “The last thing you expect to hear is someone dying from complications of a broken ankle.”

The strange part is with Chris Candito (real spelling, changed to Candido for pro wrestling), had it been two years ago, for several of the above reasons, his death would not have really shocked anyone. Like Eddie Gilbert, Brian Pillman and Kerry Von Erich, Candido and Tammy Sytch–you can’t bring up one without the other because their lives were so entangled–for years, seemed to be a tragedy waiting to happen. For years, both were like drug addicts in denial. They would give lip service to recovery and talk publicly about their issues as if they were in the past. After so many relapses, they were thought like Scott Hall and Jake Roberts, where you actually become surprised their bodies continue to survive all the abuse, even if their internal organs are decades older than their chronological age. So when, over the past year, Candido said he was clean, most were skeptical. But he was showing up at indies for months, with no stories about relapses, incoherency, or the classic signs most wrestling veterans see when someone is on the pills. He had a hard reputation to live down, but he largely had.

Subscribers can read this issue in full here.

Former AAA announcer Arturo Rivera passes away at 67 years old

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Arturo Rivera, longtime announcer for Lucha Libre AAA, has passed away at the age of 67.

Marisela Pena and Lucha Libre AAA confirmed the news on social media Wednesday evening. Rivera had recently been hospitalized due to multiple health problems, and his family had recently requested blood donors.

Rivera first entered sports journalism in 1983, covering events such as the 1986 World Cup in Mexico and the 1990 World Cup in Italy, as well as boxing and Olympic events. When AAA started to air on Televisa following the promotion’s founding in 1992, he joined their commentary team, where he was paired with Dr. Alfonso Morales. The two would often argue, with Rivera supporting the rudos (heels) over the technicos (babyfaces) to the point that his nickname was “ El Rudo”. Morales passed away in 2020 at the age of 71.

Rivera’s run with AAA ended when the promotion left Televisa. Rivera continued to remain in professional wrestling, most recently working for Robles Promotions.

December 27, 2021 Observer Newsletter: COVID hits pro wrestling again, Corporal Kirchner passes away

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

The latest COVID spread through the Delta and Omicron variant leading to new cases that caused delays and changes to the NFL, NHL (which paused its season this past week until after Christmas), and NBA schedule this past week have also involved pro wrestling.

The most notable news is that with the province of Quebec ordering a shutdown due to rising numbers, and all entertainment events not being allowed to have spectators, the WWE canceled its 12/30 house show in Laval, Quebec at the Place Bell Arena. WWE rescheduled the date for 3/6 and tickets for 12/30, which had upwards of 6,000 tickets out, would be moved to that date.

The 12/29 show in Toronto is still on, although they have to somehow cut back on the 7,178 tickets that were out down to a maximum of 5,000 in the building. All entertainment events in Ontario in indoor buildings larger than 1,000 capacity have to be cut down to 50 percent capacity.

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Corporal Kirchner passes away at 64 years old

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Michael James Penzel, best known as Corporal Kirchner in the WWF and later in Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling as Leatherface, has passed away at the age of 64.

It was reported by FMW archivist BahuFMW that Kirchner had passed away. The Loflin Funeral Home in Liberty, North Carolina has posted an obituary.

Kirchner started his career in 1980 training under Verne Gagne and first started working in the World Wrestling Federation as a preliminary wrestler. Kirchner soon adopted the name Corporal Kirchner, highlighting his experience as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division of the United States Army. He feuded with Nikolai Volkoff in 1986, leading to a match at WrestleMania 2 where he defeated Volkoff in a flag match. Kirchner left the company in 1987.

After a tour in New Japan Pro Wrestling, Kirchner adopted a new gimmick, Leatherface (and later Super Leather), based on the character from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre film franchise. He would wrestle under the gimmick in Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling through 2002, when FMW closed down.

WWE.com had reported in 2006 that Kirchner had died. The story was taken down after Kirchner contacted WWE saying that he was still alive.

December 13, 2021 Observer Newsletter: Jeff Hardy released by WWE, death of Blackjack Lanza

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Jeff Hardy was released by the WWE on 12/9, due to turning down being ordered to go to rehab after an incident at the 12/4 house show in Edinburg, TX.

According to WWE sources, Hardy was asked to go to rehab after the incident at the show and then refused. They said that Hardy was fully aware that if he did refuse, WWE would have to take action.

The decision was made to let him go rather than suspend him, and he was given a similar 90-day non-compete period where he would be paid through 3/9 when he would become a free agent.

Given his track record, there was really no other decision WWE could make. They had to request he go to rehab because of his track record and his being impaired in a main event match. When he refused the request, there was no choice but to let him go. WWE did this with full knowledge there was at least a chance Hardy would be signed by AEW and would likely be a major star there. But once Hardy refused to go to rehab, WWE’s hands were tied. Whether AEW hires him is a different issue. This type of situation is nothing new for Hardy, and both TNA and WWE had, over and over, hired him after the other had let him go for these same reasons. And in most cases, the end of the story ended up the same. Essentially the story is that if it’s not on our watch, it doesn’t count when a major star is available. And if it was under your watch and let him go, if it’s another place where he’s let go from, it’s like whatever happened previously under your watch doesn’t count. But that’s just WWE and TNA’s past history. Current decisions are different and AEW has never had a situation like this where fans and talent would want him and he would help the product at least at first and create new opportunities, but at the same time, there is a long track record right there.

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November 15, 2021 Observer Newsletter: Death of Angelo Mosca, Full Gear & Survivor Series previews

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

It was November 30, 1963, nearly 58 years ago, but in Canadian Football lore, it was a moment that has more than stood the test of time.

It was the 51st Grey Cup game, Canadian Football’s version of the Super Bowl, although years before there was a such thing as the Super Bowl. It was held at Empire Field in Vancouver, the first time the city ever hosted the game. The local Western Conference champion British Columbia Lions were facing the Eastern Conference champions, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

The Lions were led by quarterback Joe Kapp, who in college at the University of California was the roommate of future wrestling Hall of Famer King Curtis Iaukea, and years later would become a major NFL star, leading the Minnesota Vikings to the Super Bowl. But the star of the team, the player Lions fans of that era remember above all others, was running back Willie “The Wisp” Fleming.

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Angelo Mosca passes away at 84 years old

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Former WWF star and CFL Hall of Famer Angelo Mosca has passed away.

Mosca’s wife, Helen, announced his passing via a statement on her Facebook page.

“It is with great sadness that the family of Angelo Mosca announce his passing on November 6, 2021, after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s,” the statement reads. “Angelo was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather as well as friend to so many. Angelo was 84 years old. We ask that you respect the family’s privacy at this time. More details will be shared when arrangements have been made.”

Before entering professional wrestling, Mosca was a football player. Despite being drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1959, Mosca instead chose to play for the Canadian Football League, playing for the Hamilton Tiger Cats and later the Ottawa Rough Riders.  He would win five Grey Cup games through 1972, when he retired from football. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1987.

Mosca began wrestling in Montreal, wrestling during the football off-season, and would later wrestle across Toronto and all of North America, including Stampede Wrestling. In the World Wrestling Federation, he was known as a heel that would be one of the top challengers to Bob Backlund during Backlund’s first reign as WWF Champion, and also feuded with Pat Patterson. He would eventually become a commentator for the WWF, doing color commentary for tapings in Ontario in 1984 and 1985. He left the WWF and later retired from wrestling in 1986.

August 16, 2021 Observer Newsletter: More NXT cuts, Dominic DeNucci passes away

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Dominic DeNucci, one of pro wrestling’s major stars of the 1960s and the biggest long-term drawing card in the history of Jim Barnett’s World Championship Wrestling promotion in Australia, passed away on 8/11 at the age of 89.

Born Dominic DeNucciaroni on January 23, 1932, he had gotten his first big break in a tag team with Ronnie Etchison in Stampede Wrestling in 1963 and made his name by drawing big crowds pushed as an Italian superstar in 1964 opposite Ray Stevens at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, including a run as United States champion.

When Barnett opened up World Championship Wrestling, with national television in Australia in 1964, he used DeNucci as his top babyface, feuding with the likes of Killer Kowalski and Stevens. The territory opened on fire, as over the first year, they averaged 9,000 paid weekly at Sydney Stadium and the top stars like DeNucci were the highest paid wrestlers in the world of that era.

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‘Beautiful’ Bobby Eaton passes away at 62 years old

Posted on by Bryan Rose

‘Beautiful’ Bobby Eaton, one half of the best-known incarnation of The Midnight Express, has passed away at the age of 62.

Deborah Eaton, his sister, confirmed his passing on Facebook.

“I never wanted to have to post this, but my Little Brother Beautiful Bobby Eaton passed away last night,” she wrote. “When I find out all the details I will post them. Bobby was the kindest, loving person you would ever meet. I loved him so much and am going to miss him, please say a prayer for my [niece] Taryn. She found him. And she just lost her Mom a little over a Month ago.”

Bodyslam.net reported back on July 25 that Eaton was hospitalized after suffering a fall that left him with some broken fingers and a banged up hip.

Eaton started wrestling in 1976 for NWA Mid-America and later wrestled in the Memphis territory in the early 1980s. In 1983, he went to Mid South Wrestling, where he joined The Midnight Express with Lover Boy Dennis Condrey and Jim Cornette. Condrey and Eaton were best known in Mid South for their feud with the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson), which would later be reignited in Jim Crockett Promotions.

The Midnight Express joined Jim Crockett Promotions, later known as World Championship Wrestling, in 1985. After Condrey left JCP in 1987, he was replaced by Stan Lane. Lane and Eaton continued to wrestle as a team through 1990, when Lane and Cornette left WCW. Eaton remained with the company on and off through 2000, winning the WCW Television title once and also teamed with Steve (William) Regal, where they were known as The Blue Bloods.

After WCW folded, Eaton continued to wrestle on the independent scene through 2015.

Memphis manager Bert Prentice passes away

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Bert Prentice, best known for his run in the Memphis wrestling territory as a manager, has passed away.

Prentice had been battling cancer. USA Championship Wrestling, which was owned by Prentice, announced his passing on Facebook. 

“It is with a heavy heart that USA Championship Wrestling announces the passing of our leader, our family, & our friend Bert Prentice,” the promotion wrote. “He will be greatly missed by all that knew him, as well as the lives he [touched] over the years [through] wrestling and his philanthropic endeavors for the children. Rest in Peace our dear friend.”

Prentice debuted in the USWA in the early 90s and would eventually come to manage the WWE talent that would come into the territory that would feud with Jerry Lawler. Names like Bret Hart, Owen Hart, and Giant Gonzalez came into the territory and were managed by Prentice during their appearances. He also went on to feud with Jacqueline Moore, who was known as Miss Texas in the USWA.

Prentice also did announcing work as one of the early announcers for NWA-TNA Xplosion. 

“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Bert Prentice – who was involved in the very early days of TNA and was the host of Xplosion alongside Jeremy Borash,” Impact wrote on Twitter. “We offer our sincere condolences to his friends and family.”

July 19, 2021 Observer Newsletter: Paul Orndorff passes away, Conor breaks leg at UFC 264

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Paul Orndorff, whose 1986 feud with Hulk Hogan was the most successful house show feud in pro wrestling history, passed away on 7/12 at the age of 71.

The death is sad because friends of Orndorff remember him as someone who always trained hard and was meticulous about eating, which led to one of the great physiques in wrestling’s body era in the 80s. But his body and mind betrayed him starting in the 80s with his body, and both getting progressively worse over the last decade.

Unlike many of his muscular counterparts, Orndorff was an elite worker in the ring until injuries during his landmark feud nearly ended his career, even though he came back and wrestled into his early 50s on a national basis.

But post wrestling was not good. He had a cancer diagnosis in 2011, but eight months after going public with it, announced he beat it. By 2016, he gave a moving speech about his life when honored by the Cauliflower Alley Club, who donated money to him to allow him to keep from losing his home. While the speech was good, he admitted having significant memory problems. One person who went out with him for drinks for two nights that week, noted to us that on the second night, he had no recollection they had gone out the previous night. His condition worsened, to full blown worst case dementia, to the point he didn’t even remember Gerald Brisco, who he had watched on television as a child and had been around for years, nor almost anyone but his family and longtime friend Brian Blair.

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‘Mr. Wonderful’ Paul Orndorff passes away at 71 years old

Posted on by Bryan Rose

‘Mr. Wonderful’ Paul Orndorff, best known for his rivalry with Hulk Hogan in the 1980s, has passed away.

Travis Orndorff, Paul’s son, confirmed his passing on Instagram this morning. Orndorff had been suffering from the late stages of dementia.

“It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my father, Paul Parlette Orndorff Jr.,” Travis wrote. “He is better known as “Mr. #1derful” Paul Orndorff. Most of you will remember him for his physique. Many will remember his intensity. But if I could only get you to understand and see his heart. He will always be Pop, Paw Paw, and Daddy at home. And as much as many of you hated him as a wrestler, he absolutely loved you for it. He was an amazing father that showed me more love than I ever deserved. I love you Daddy.”

Orndorff started his pro wrestling career in 1976 in Memphis and wrestled for the NWA until 1983, when he joined the World Wrestling Federation. The following year, Orndorff would be among the first challengers for Hogan’s title, taking Roddy Piper as his manager. He teamed with Piper in a losing effort against Mr. T and Hogan at the first WrestleMania in 1985. After a babyface run teaming with Hogan, Orndorff turned on him, feuding with Hogan for most of 1986, including a match at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto, Canada that drew 61,470.

After leaving the WWF in 1988, he had brief runs with WCW and Smoky Mountain Wrestling until he returned to WCW in 1992, where he would remain in the company as a wrestler and later a trainer for the WCW Power Plant through 2001. After WCW was sold to the WWE, He would make sporadic appearances for WWE through 2014, most recently taking part in a birthday celebration for Hogan.

Chris Youngblood passes away at 55 years old

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Chris Romero, best known as Chris Youngblood in professional wrestling, has passed away at the age of 55.

His brother, Ricky Youngblood, confirmed the news this morning on Facebook. 

Chris is the son of Ricky Romero, a well-known wrestler in the Amarillo, Texas area who ended up having three sons in professional wrestling: Ricky, Chris, and Jay Youngblood. Jay would go on to team with Ricky Steamboat and had a very successful feud with the team of Sgt. Slaughter and Don Kernodle. Jay passed away from a heart attack at the age of 30 in 1985. 

That same year, Chris entered professional wrestling and teamed with his brother Mark. In 1987, they competed in All Japan Pro Wrestling’s Real World Tag League. They would continue touring with the promotion on and off through 1996. They would also compete in Puerto Rico, where they won the World Wrestling Council Tag Team titles on six different occasions.

The brothers would later join WCW for a brief period between 1990 and 1991, where they were known as The Renegade Warriors. Chris later wrestled as a singles in Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling.

Chris wound down his wrestling career by 2007 and opened the Romero Academy of Wrestling school in Texas.