Adrian Adonis
Keith Franke, 34, died in a car accident
in Lewisporte, Newfoundland on July 4, 1988.
Adonis was traveling with other wrestlers when a moose on the road forced the car
to veer into a river bed.
Bruiser Brody
Frank Goodish, was allegedly stabbed to death on July 16, 1988
by fellow wrestler Jose Gonzales in the showers of the Bayoman Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Brody bled to death on the locker room floor, surrounded by wrestlers and waiting for medical attention that arrived too late.
While Gonzales was charged with the murder, he was later acquitted and actually made a professional comeback.
Andre the Giant
Andre Renae Rousimoff, 46, suffered from acromegaly,
a condition which affected the production and release of growth hormones within the body.
He died due to health complications related to this illness
on January 29th, 1993.
Kerry "the Texas Tornado, the Modern Day Warrior" Von Erich
Kerry Gene Adkisson, 33, committed suicide on February 18, 1993 via a gunshot wound to the chest, the day after being indicted on a cocaine possession charge. On June 4, 1986, Kerry was involved in a serious motorcycle accident, where he suffered a dislocated hip and a severely damaged right ankle, and lost his foot as a result of the accident. For the rest of his career, he wrestled with a prosthetic foot (including his stint in the WWF). Partially as a result of this accident, he became addicted to pain killers, which lead to his recreational drug (cocaine) use.
Dino Bravo
Adolpho Bresciano, 44, was shot to death,
gangland style, in his living room on March 10, 1993 in Quebec.
It is believed that the murder is tied in with organized crime and the illegal cigarette trade in Canada,
which Bravo was allegedly a part of.
"Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert
Thomas Gilbert III, 33,
died of a heart attack
after using cocaine
on February 18, 1995.
Big John Studd
John Minton, 46,
passed away on March 20, 1995.
He died of liver cancer
following a 18 month battle with Hodgkins Disease.
Brian Pillman
35, died on October 5th, 1997
of heart failure,
with cocaine being listed
as a contributing cause.
Junkyard Dog
Sylvester Ritter, 45,
was killed in a car accident on June 2, 1998
while driving from North Carolina to Mississippi.
He apparently fell asleep behind the wheel of his car and rolled off the road.
Owen Hart
33, died at the WWF's "Over The Edge" Pay-per-view on March 23, 1999 in Kansas City, MO at the Kemper Arena.
Owen was scheduled to wrestle the Godfather in his "Blue Blazer" persona.
He was to make a "superhero-like" entrance by being lowered into the ring on a cable.
Owen fell over 50 feet from the ceiling after a harness lowering him to the ring snapped.
"Ravishing" Rick Rude
Rick Rood, 40, died on April 20, 1999 in his home outside of Atlanta.
The official cause of death was a heart attack.
Allegedly, Rude was working towards making a possible in-ring return,
and was taking pain killers for back problems.
Gorilla Monsoon
62,
passed away due to complications
from a heart attack
on October 6, 1999.
Yokozuna
Rodney Anoia, 34,
died on October 23, 2000
in Liverpool, England
of heart failure.
The British Bulldog
Davey Boy Smith, 39,
one half of the tag team "The British Bulldogs",
died on Saturday, May 18, 2002
of heart failure.
Rocco Rock
Teddy Petty, 39,
one half of the tag team "Public Enemy",
died on Saturday, September 21, 2002 due to a massive heart attack.
He was scheduled to get married less than a month later.
Mr. Perfect
Curt Hennig, 44,
was found dead in a hotel room in Florida on February 10, 2003.
The cause of death, reportedly a heart attack, was not released but officials said foul play wasn't suspected.
Miss Elizabeth
Elizabeth Hulette, 42,
was pronounced dead at the Kennestone Hospital in Cobb County, Georgia at 5:45 a.m. on May 1st, 2003.
Preliminary reports point to her suffering a drug overdose while at the residence of her current boyfriend, Lawrence Pfohl (Lex Luger),who was subsequently arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance.
Classy Freddie Blassie
Fred Blassman, 85,
passed away on Monday June 2, 2003 of kidney and heart failure,
at the Westchester County Hospital in New York.
Stu Hart
Stewart Edward Hart, 87,
passed away at Calgary's Rockyview General Hospital on Thursday October 16, 2003
from complications due to diabetes and pneumonia
Road Warrior Hawk
Michael Hegstrand, 46,
passed away in his sleep on October 19, 2003
at his home in Florida.
Crash Holly
Michael Lockwood, 34,
passed away on November 6, 2003
at the home of fellow wrestler Steven Richards.
After a long festive night of drinking, Crash passed out and subsequently choked on his own vomit.