Deceased wrestlers
Wrestling does not need an introduction. It's one of the most lucrative forms of entertainment in the United States. But being a wrestler is very demanding. Wrestlers have to be at the top of their form all the time. Therefore, some of them use drugs and steroids to keep performing at their very best. They push their bodies to their limit. Don't get me wrong though. Some wrestlers manage to get out of the tornado and they have a change of heart and start a career as actors (The Rock, John Cena, Hulk Hogan, only to name a few).
There have been tragic events in the past years where great deceased wrestlers who have fallen from abuse of drugs. The following wrestlers are the ones that come the most to our minds when we speak of it. Some of them died from drugs but others died from natural causes and they still deserve to be remembered.
Chris Benoit (May 21 1967 - June 24 2007)
Benoit was a prolific wrestler in the WWE. He started working for WWF in the early 2000s and did a great job teaming up with Cris Jericho. He then had an impressive career until 2007, the year where he put an end to his life.
On June 25 2007, Chris Benoit was found dead at his home along with his wife and their son. Everybody surely remembers this making the news in 2007. He killed his wife, then his son and he puts an end to his life by committing suicide with a weight machine.
Autopsy of the body revealed that Chris had a high rate of testosterone, which the doctors claim it was due to abuse of steroids in the past years.
Eddie Guerrero (October 9, 1967 - November 13, 2005)
'' I Lie! I cheat! I Steal!'' was his famous phrase whenever he stepped on the ring. Guerrero teamed up with fellow Rey Mysterio and Chyna, as well as Chris Benoit during his wrestling career. He became the WWE champion in 2004.
On November 13 2005, Eddie Guerrero was found unconscious by Chavo, his nephew, in Minneapolis. He tried cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on him but he was declared dead moments later by the paramedics. Autopsy revealed that he had died from heart failure due to painkillers abuse during his career.
Owen Hart (May 7, 1965 – May 23, 1999)
You can call him ''King of Harts'', ''The Rocket'' or ''The Blue Blazer'' but there is no denying that Owen put a lot of heart in what he did and really enjoyed being a wrestler. Along with his older brother, Bret, he managed to charm a lot of Canadian fans and a lot of wrestling fans too.
However, Owen does not belong in the same class as these other wrestlers on my hub because he did not die from drugs or a cardiac arrest. On May 23, 1999, during his entrance at ''Over The Edge'' event, he was above of the ring and fell down from over 70 feet to his death while he was being lowered down.
Bam Bam Bigelow (September 1, 1961 – January 19, 2007)
Bam Bam was not the casual wrestler due primarily to his weight (400lbs). While most of people remember him from wrestling on the ring, some might have seen him in some movies, the most popular being Major Payne, as he fights with Payne during a scene.
He never really won anything big during his years in the WWF but has won some titles in the ECW and WCW. But one of the most memorable events was during the 1995 ''Royal Rumble'' when he got in a highly publicised feud with former NFL player Lawrence Taylor.
He later was on the news but for a good case. In July 20, 2000 Bam Bam saved three children from a burning house near his house and suffered second degree burns in almost half of his body.
Bruce Bigalow was found dead in January 2007 in his home. Autopsy later revealed a big amount of drugs in his blood and high levels of cocaine.
Randy Savage (November 15, 1952 – May 20, 2011)
Randy Savage, who is also called Macho Man, was quite a successful wrestler. He had several titles during his career in the WWE and the WCW. Randy Savage was quite an entertainer. From his entrance theme to his ''OHH Yeah'' shouts, no one could spark the ring like he could. He also appeared in some movies, the most popular being Spider-Man in 2002 where he fights Peter Parker in a ring fight.
Randy Savage died of a sudden heart attack while driving with his wife. Later, autopsy revealed that Macho Man had suffered from a major heart disease (atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease).
Mr. Perfect (March 28, 1958 – February 10, 2003)
Mr. Perfect is considered to be one of the greatest wrestlers of his time, as it was stated by the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). He had a short career in the ring because he had several back problems but it did not prevent him from staying in the world of wrestling. He was a sports commentator on the side of the ring for many years.
''The Perfect One'' was found dead in Florida, at age 44. Autopsy of the body revealed later on that he died due to a cocaine overdose.
Rest assured that his legacy will live on. Joseph Hennig, his son, is now a professional wrestler and is in the World Wrestling Entertainment since 2008.