List of deceased people from the wrestling world

[Manute Bol]

Any notable omissions?

"Adorable" Adrian Adonis
"Classy" Freddie Blassie
"Crusher" Jerry Blackwell
"Dr. Death" Steve Williams
"Flyboy" Rocco Rock
"Iron" Mike DiBiase
"Mad Dog" Buzz Sawyer
"Mr. Wrestling" Tim Woods
"Nature Boy" Buddy Landel
"Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers
"Pistol" Pez Whatley
"Playboy" Buddy Rose
"Quickdraw" Rick McGraw
"The Big Cat" Ernie Ladd
"The Texas Tornado" Kerry Von Erich
Andre the Giant
Andy Kaufman
Angelo Poffo
Antonino Rocca
Arnold Skaaland
Art Barr
Bad News Brown
Bam Bam Bigelow
Baron Mikel Scicluna
Bastion Booger
Bertha Faye
Big Boss Man
Big Dick Dudley
Big John Studd
Billy Robinson
Billy Wolfe
Black Cat
Blue Demon
Bob Orton
Bobby Duncum Jr.
Bobo Brazil
Boris Malenko
Brad Armstrong
Brian Hildebrand/Mark Curtis
Brian Pillman
Bruiser Brody
Buddy "Jack" Roberts
Captain Lou Albano
Chief Jay Strongbow
Chris Adams
Chris Benoit
Chris Candido
Chris Kanyon
Chris Von Erich
Cousin Junior
Cousin Luke
Crash Holly
Crush
David Von Erich
Dick Murdoch
Dick the Bruiser
Dino Bravo
Doink the Clown
Dory Funk
Doug Furnas
Dr. Jerry Graham
Dusty Rhodes
Earthquake
Ed "The Strangler" Lewis
Ed Whalen
Eddie Gilbert
Eddie Graham
Eddie Guerrero
Edouard Carpentier
El Santo
Frank Gotch
Fritz Von Erich
Garrison Cade
Gary Albright
Gary Hart
Gene Anderson
Gene Kiniski
George Hackenschmidt
George Scott
Giant Baba
Giant Gonzalez
Gino Hernandez
Gordon Solie
Gorgeous George
Gorilla Monsoon
Gory Guerrero
Grizzly Smith
Haystacks Calhoun
Hector Garza
Hercules
Hiro Matsuda
Jack Brisco
Jack Fargo
Jack Tunney
James Dudley
Jim Crockett
Jimmy Del Ray
Joey Marella
John Kronus
Johnny Grunge
Johnny Valentine
Jumbo Tsuruta
Junkyard Dog
Karl Gotch
Killer Kowalski
King Curtis Iaukea
Larry Cameron
Larry Sweeney
Little Beaver
Little Tokyo
Lord Alfred Hayes
Lou Thesz
Louie Spicolli
Ludvig Borga
Lumberjack Eric/Super Destroyer
Luna Vachon
Macho Man Randy Savage
Mae Young
Mass Transit
Maurice "Mad Dog" Vachon
Mike Awesome
Mike Bell
Mike Graham
Mike Von Erich
Mildred Burke
Miss Elizabeth
Mitsuharu Misawa
Moondog King
Moondog Spot
Mr. Perfect
Mrs. Cleavage
Oliver Humperdink
Owen Hart
Ox Baker
Pat O'Connor
Paul Bearer
Perro Aguayo Jr.
Peter Maivia
Pitbull #2
Professor Tanaka
Randy "Pee Wee" Anderson
Ravishing Rick Rude
Ray Stevens
Rikidozan
Road Warrior Hawk
Rowdy Roddy Piper
Russ Haas
S.D. Jones
Sam Muchnick
Sapphire
Sean O'Haire
Sensational Sherri
Skandor Akbar
Sky Low Low
Stan "The Man" Stasiak
Steven Dunn
Stu Hart
Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy
Test
The British Bulldog Davey Boy Smith
The Crusher
The Fabulous Moolah
The Grand Wizard
The Missing Link
The Renegade
The Sheik
The Ultimate Warrior
The Wall
Tommy Rogers
Tony Parisi
Toots Mondt
Trent Acid
The Ultimate Solution
Umaga
Uncle Elmer
Verne Gagne
Vince McMahon Sr.
Viscera
Vivian Vachon
Wahoo McDaniel
Woman
Yokozuna
The Zombie

[4TheGlory]

Charlie's brother Russ Haas
CZW's JC Bailey
CZW's Brain Damage
Daniel Quirk, who died after hitting his head on the floor doing a dive out of the ring
Larry Cameron who died of a heart attack mid match for CWA in Germany

[I'm Team Bayley and Indi]

Chris Kreski, head writer for WWF in 1999/2000

Tim Roberts - played the Zombie on the debut episode of the ECW relaunch.

[El Pollo Guerrera]

Oro, an EMLL/CMLL wrestler who died during a match in '93.

Plum Mariko, first wrestler in Japan to die from injuries sustained during a match (head injury, 1997).

Angel Azteca, 1997, heart attack.

Mike DiBiase, father of Ted, died in the ring in '69.

Masakazu Fukuda, injured during a NJPW show in 2000.

Ray Gunkel, victim of the Heart Punch.

Emiko Kado, 1999.

UK wrestler King Kong Kirk, 1987.

Luther Lindsay, 1972. Heart attack while pinning opponent during match.

FMW wrestler Sambo Asako.

Hiromitsu Gompei, died while training with NJPW (one of the main reasons Hase left New Japan).

[Gremlin]

Mark Curtis

Probably a few referees but he was my personal favorite.

[mcmahonfan85]

Aug 29, 2015 13:55:00 GMT -5 4TheGlory said:

CZW's JC Bailey
CZW's Brain Damage

CZW's Chris Cash

[somsta]

Aug 29, 2015 18:42:57 GMT -5 Gremlin said:

Mark Curtis

Probably a few referees but he was my personal favorite.

He had him listed under his real name - Brian Hildebrandt.

[The Heenan Family]

Jim Londos
Dr Jerry Graham
Crazy Luke Graham
Edouard Carpentier
Gene Kiniski
Pat O'Connor
Al Costello
Roy Heffernan
Bill Miller
Waldo Von Erich
Wild Red Berry
Big Daddy
Giant Haystacks
Paul Boesch
Jackie Fargo
Whipper Billy Watson
Crusher Jerry Blackwell
Wilbur Snyder
John Tolos
Mick McManus
Yvon Robert
Wild Bill Longson
Leroy McGuirk
Shinya Hashimoto
Roy Shire
Hans Schmidt
Don Owen
Jim Barnett
Joe Stecher
Ed Don George
Ray Steele
Bulldog Brower
Danny McShain
Steve Casey
Yukon Eric
Bronko Nagurski
Miguel Perez
Angelo Savoldi
Moondog Mayne
Red Bastien
Billy Red Lyons
Ricki Starr
Stanislaus Zbsyzko
John Pesek
Everett Marshall
Dick Shikat
Danno O'Mahony
Gus Sonnenberg
Orville Brown
Sandor Szabo
Killer Karl Kox
Dara Singh
The Spoiler Don Jardine
Pepper Gomez
Hans Mortier
Tony Parisi
Bull Curry
Tarzan Tyler
Angelo Poffo
Tony Altomare
Ray Morgan
Willie Gilzenberg
Dick Hutton
George Crybaby Canon
Jos LeDuc
Sputnik Monroe
El Solitario
Salvador Lutteroth
The Haiti Kid
June Byers
Tor Johnson
The Final Solution
Rip Hawk
Swede Hanson
Quickdraw Rick McGraw

and so on...

[Manute Bol]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys!

I edited the OP to add:

“Crusher” Jerry Blackwell
“Quickdraw” Rick McGraw
Angelo Poffo
Dr. Jerry Graham
Edouard Carpentier
Gene Kiniski
Jackie Fargo
Larry Cameron
Mike Graham
Pat O’Connor
Russ Haas
Tony Parisi
The Ultimate Solution
The Zombie

I'm really going for the most mainstream/recognizable names for this particular list.

I actually had already included "Iron" Mike DiBiase and Mark Curtis (listed as Brian Hildrebrand as was pointed out).

Also:

Aug 29, 2015 20:27:04 GMT -5 The Heenan Family said:

The Haiti Kid

Is he dead??

[Professor Chaos]

Never knew Playboy Buddy Rose was dead. Always wondered why they didn't pull him out as a comedy act sometime. That explains it

[Dragonfly]

Pittsburgh based wrestler and booker Devil Bhudakahn, who committed suicide in July 2007. His death garnered brief (and unwanted) mainstream attention, as he was the first wrestler to die after Benoit. The media tried to spin it that he was a inconsolable Benoit fan that couldn't come to grips with his hero's actions.

[The Heenan Family]

Aug 30, 2015 0:41:20 GMT -5 Manute Bol said:

Thanks for all the suggestions guys!

I edited the OP to add:

“Crusher” Jerry Blackwell
“Quickdraw” Rick McGraw
Angelo Poffo
Dr. Jerry Graham
Edouard Carpentier
Gene Kiniski
Jackie Fargo
Larry Cameron
Mike Graham
Pat O’Connor
Russ Haas
The Zombie

I'm really going for the most mainstream/recognizable names for this particular list.

I actually had already included "Iron" Mike DiBiase and Mark Curtis (listed as Brian Hildrebrand as was pointed out).

Also:

Aug 29, 2015 20:27:04 GMT -5 The Heenan Family said:

The Haiti Kid

Is he dead??

The Haiti Kid died in 2001.




Also, you don't think Jim Londos is worthy of this list? You have George Hackenschmidt and Mrs Cleavage but Jim Londos doesn't fit the standard?

What is this list for exactly?

[Manute Bol]

Aug 30, 2015 12:04:03 GMT -5 The Heenan Family said:

Aug 30, 2015 0:41:20 GMT -5 Manute Bol said:

Thanks for all the suggestions guys!

I edited the OP to add:

“Crusher” Jerry Blackwell
“Quickdraw” Rick McGraw
Angelo Poffo
Dr. Jerry Graham
Edouard Carpentier
Gene Kiniski
Jackie Fargo
Larry Cameron
Mike Graham
Pat O’Connor
Russ Haas
The Zombie

I'm really going for the most mainstream/recognizable names for this particular list.

I actually had already included "Iron" Mike DiBiase and Mark Curtis (listed as Brian Hildrebrand as was pointed out).

Also:

Is he dead??

The Haiti Kid died in 2001.




Also, you don't think Jim Londos is worthy of this list? You have George Hackenschmidt and Mrs Cleavage but Jim Londos doesn't fit the standard?

What is this list for exactly?

That Mrs. Cleavage line literally made me laugh. But what's wrong with Hackenschmidt?

To be perfectly honest, I'm not familiar with Jim Londos. I hope I'm not revealing my ignorance here, but beyond a slight familiarity with his name, I don't know anything about him.

It's tough to explain exactly what this list is for...I'll definitely share when it's completed though!

I never heard about The Haiti Kid dying. I did a quick search just now and:

Although various websites have reported his death in 2001, he is alive and living in a homeless shelter in Greenpoint, Brooklyn as of February 2009. He was unaware that the internet had mistakenly reported his death, and said he was hopeful to make a return to wrestling.

[El Pollo Guerrera]

I would venture to say the ones I listed were major events since the majority were deaths in the ring or due to injuries sustained in the ring. Also, Sambo Asako was a big part of FMW, and the death of Gompei caused a huge rift between Hase and NJPW.

[The Heenan Family]

Aug 30, 2015 12:41:31 GMT -5 Manute Bol said:

Aug 30, 2015 12:04:03 GMT -5 The Heenan Family said:

The Haiti Kid died in 2001.




Also, you don't think Jim Londos is worthy of this list? You have George Hackenschmidt and Mrs Cleavage but Jim Londos doesn't fit the standard?

What is this list for exactly?

That Mrs. Cleavage line literally made me laugh. But what's wrong with Hackenschmidt?

To be perfectly honest, I'm not familiar with Jim Londos. I hope I'm not revealing my ignorance here, but beyond a slight familiarity with his name, I don't know anything about him.

It's tough to explain exactly what this list is for...I'll definitely share when it's completed though!

I never heard about The Haiti Kid dying. I did a quick search just now and:

Although various websites have reported his death in 2001, he is alive and living in a homeless shelter in Greenpoint, Brooklyn as of February 2009. He was unaware that the internet had mistakenly reported his death, and said he was hopeful to make a return to wrestling.

Good for Haiti Kid...I guess?


There's nothing wrong with Hackenschmidt. It was just weird that you listed guys like Hackenschmidt, Strangler Lewis, and Gotch but didn't think Londos, who might have been the biggest draw in wrestling history was worthy of being mentioned.

Guys like Jim Londos, Wild Bill Longson, Whipper Billy Watson, and Yvon Robert aren't entirely small potatoes in the world of professional wrestling. Old and dead sure, but they certainly fit the range that your list covers.

I added a few smaller guys like Quickdraw Rick McGraw, Tony Parisi, and the Final Solution, but the majority of guys I listed were either big draws, influenced future wrestlers, or promoted big territories.

[Crappler El 0 M]

Jim Londos too obscure for the list? One of the all-time top drawing wrestlers?

[Manute Bol]

Aug 30, 2015 14:53:24 GMT -5 The Heenan Family said:

Good for Haiti Kid...I guess?

There's nothing wrong with Hackenschmidt. It was just weird that you listed guys like Hackenschmidt, Strangler Lewis, and Gotch but didn't think Londos, who might have been the biggest draw in wrestling history was worthy of being mentioned.

Aug 30, 2015 15:06:30 GMT -5 Crappler El 0 M said:

Jim Londos too obscure for the list? One of the all-time top drawing wrestlers?

Like I said, forgive my ignorance here, but outside of recognizing his name, I’m not familiar with Londos’ career/accomplishments. Biggest draw in wrestling history? I like to think I’m pretty knowledgeable about wrestling history, but apparently not. I’m very aware of what Hackenschmidt, Lewis, Gotch, and everyone else I listed have done in their careers, but I can’t say the same for Londos. I’m not saying he’s an obscure name at all, just that I don’t know about him and apparently have some homework to do.

Aug 30, 2015 13:11:12 GMT -5 El Pollo Guerrera said:

I would venture to say the ones I listed were major events since the majority were deaths in the ring or due to injuries sustained in the ring.

This is true, but I was looking for names of people who had more on their resumes than just “died in the ring.”

I listed “Iron” Mike DiBiase, Gary Albright, Larry Cameron, Mitsuharu Misawa, Moondog Spot, Owen Hart, and Perro Aguayo Jr. who all died in the ring, but accomplished a great deal during their lives and careers. I’m not super familiar with some of the guys you listed, aside from being aware that they died during matches/as a result of matches. There are actually many others you didn’t list as well. I just didn’t want to list people solely for that reason.

[Crappler El 0 M]

Understandable, brother. I'm not going to be a snob and expect fans of today to be familiar with ALL of the big names of the past, nor can I claim to be an expert. I would wager the overwhelming majority of modern fans either never heard of Jim Londos or only have come across the name.

[The Heenan Family]

Yeah I didn't know who Leroy McGuirk or Mick McManus were ten years ago. Through the internet, interviews, and bunch of books I've fortunately been able to get a decent grasp on wrestling history and there's still plenty left to discover.

People won't know who Jim Londos, Big Bill Miller, or Joe Stecher were but they are names to be remembered.

Guys like Hans Mortier and Tony Altomare maybe not so much. Though I'm sure Bruno Sammartino would kick my ass for saying that.

[Manute Bol]

Aug 31, 2015 12:56:42 GMT -5 Crappler El 0 M said:

Understandable, brother. I'm not going to be a snob and expect fans of today to be familiar with ALL of the big names of the past, nor can I claim to be an expert. I would wager the overwhelming majority of modern fans either never heard of Jim Londos or only have come across the name.

Aug 31, 2015 14:34:18 GMT -5 The Heenan Family said:

Yeah I didn't know who Leroy McGuirk or Mick McManus were ten years ago. Through the internet, interviews, and bunch of books I've fortunately been able to get a decent grasp on wrestling history and there's still plenty left to discover.

People won't know who Jim Londos, Big Bill Miller, or Joe Stecher were but they are names to be remembered.

Guys like Hans Mortier and Tony Altomare maybe not so much. Though I'm sure Bruno Sammartino would kick my ass for saying that.

Thanks guys! I was starting to get a complex over this Landos thing haha!

I promise to do some homework on him. For every argumentative wise-ass I encounter on this board, there's a knowledgeable, cool person like you guys who have put me on to some good stuff I've overlooked.

I just picked up Tim Hornbaker's Capitol Revolution. Hopefully I'll be more well-versed on the good ol' days once I finish!