The efforts, skills, and training undergone by the wrestlers are real. They form tight bonds between themselves and their fans. They have been entertaining us for a long time. The list shows how no wrestler got overnight success. Thus, the death of a WWE wrestler affects the industry and the fans.
All wrestlers have wrestled for various Wrestling organizations before stepping into WWE and have faced ups and downs. They lost various matches but came up harder the next time. It is why every deceased wrestler could establish his/her identity.
2023 saw a loss of nine WWE wrestlers till July. Everyone had a different reason for dying, though the ring was also a life-threatening place. Wrestlers who died this year are Mantaur, The Iron Sheik, Superstar Billy Graham, Robert “Butch” Miller, Jerry Jarrett, Lanny Poffo, Jay Briscoe, Darren Drozdov, and Peggy Lee Leather.
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1. Mantaur
Fifty-five years old Mike Halac initially worked for Catch Wrestling Association under the wrestling name ‘Bruiser Mastino,’ in 1991. He joined WWF under the same name in 1994. However, he left it and came back in 1996 as Goldust Bodyguard.
Halac got his other ring names, such as Mantaur and Terminator Mastino, in Extreme Championship Wrestling and Catch Wrestling Association, respectively, before returning to WWF. He played as ‘Madd Mustafa’ in American Heritage Wrestling in May 2015.
A lawsuit was filed against WWE alleging that wrestlers got traumatic brain injuries in 2016, and Halac’s name was present in the list of the people who filed the lawsuit. However, the US District Judge dismissed the case in September 2018.
Halac died peacefully in his sleep, going away from all pains, according to the saddening news shared by his daughter on Facebook. He had type 2 diabetes and an injured back as he fell on his head that unfortunate day. He had a short-lived success, but his fans cannot forget him.
- Born On: 14 May 1968
- Died On: 11 July 2023
- Cause of Death: Unknown
2. Darren Drozdov
Darren Adrian Drozdov was a professional wrestler and former footballer who had a promising career before getting paralyzed. Born in Mays Landing, New Jersey, he went with the ring names such as Droz and Puke.
Droz got the ring name ‘Puke’ when he vomited on TV while playing for NFL. Then, he kept doing so in every game of the particular season and had to see a psychiatrist.
Droz played his last wrestling match in 1999. He was competing with D’Lo Brown in the Friday Night SmackDown when Brown held him in the powerbomb position, and he could not jump as decided. As a result, Droz fell hard on his head instead of his back, and his two vertebrae fractured in the neck.
It is how Droz got an early retirement from WWE twenty-four years ago. After retiring, he worked as a writer and columnist for WWE’s website. He also appeared as a guest for an internet show, DVD, and TV show.
Droz’s wife, Julie Youngberg, used to sew and design costumes for WWE wrestlers. The two married in 1999, just a few days after the accident, and divorced in 2005. His friend, Kevin Plank, designed and sponsored a tank-like wheelchair allowing him to move through the woods.
After suffering from a severe physical injury and trauma for over two decades, Droz died of natural causes at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center when he was fifty-four, according to WWE’s official Twitter account.
- Born On: 07 April 1969
- Died On: 30 June 2023
- Cause of Death: Natural Causes
3. The Iron Sheik
81-year-old Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri was an Iranian-American actor and wrestler known by his ring name, The Iron Shrek. He died in his sleep at his residence in Fayetteville, Georgia, and the death got confirmed by his two managers, who claimed to have not known the reason for his death.
The Iron Sheik used to work for Mohammad Reza Pahlavi as a bodyguard. He got his iconic look after getting into wrestling. His shoes and long mustache used to point to the top, and he shaved his head.
The Iron Sheik got arrested for being high on Cocaine on his road to a WWF event. Thus, he left WWF in 1987 and returned in 1988, where he defeated his opponent in the house show.
The Iron Sheik disappeared from WWE in 1988 and reappeared in 1991. He played in WCW in between. He again appeared in WWE in 1997 and actively played for the last time at WrestleMania X-Seven. His family announced a new tribute shirt in the second week of July to remember the late legend.
- Born On: 15 March 1942
- Died On: 07 June 2023
- Cause of Death: Unknown
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4. Peggy Lee Leather
Former WWE star, Peggy Lee Fowler went by the ring names such as Thug, Peggy Lee Leather, Peggy Lee Pringle, and Lady X. She made her ring debut in 1980 by competing in the World Wrestling Federation and got out in 1985. She got trained by The Fabulous Moolah, the WWE Hall of Famer.
Leather joined Wendi Richter, forming a tag team in 1984, and challenged Princess Victoria and Velvet McIntyre. However, the duo got separated the following year. Once, Leather challenged Richter for WWF Women’s Championship and lost.
Leather won for the first time in 1990 and became the LMLW international champion. Her last victory was in 1998 in the NDW (New Dimension Wrestling) Women’s Championship. She retired in 2013 after losing to Jade. She died at sixty-four of an unknown reason.
- Born On: 19 January 1959
- Died On: 22 May 2023
- Cause of Death: Unknown
5. Superstar Billy Graham
A close friend of Arnold Schwarzenegger and an award-winning bodybuilder, Eldridge Wayne Coleman Jr., was known more as WWF Heavyweight Champion than WWE, though he worked for both. The 79-year-old wrestler was known by his ring name “Superstar” Billy Graham.
Before beginning his career, he worked as a debt collector, a football player, and a bouncer. He joined wrestling and bodybuilding and increased his weight as a wrestler through continual weight training.
Many wrestlers like Steve Austin, Ric Flair, Triple H, and Hulk Hogan got inspired by Graham’s looks. He used to address his fellow wrestlers and referees as his brothers, which inspired some other wrestlers to do so.
In 2004, Graham got introduced to the WWE Hall of Famer by Triple H. Graham kept struggling with his health issues for years. He lived on a life support system until his death after having a liver transplant in 2002. Finally, his diabetes, organ failure, and other problems took his life.
- Born On: 07 June 1943
- Died On: 17 May 2023
- Cause of Death: Health issues over the years
6. Robert “Butch” Miller
The 74-year-old New Zealand professional wrestler, Robert Miller, had several ring names. Among them, Butch Miller and Bushwhacker Butch got used more. He got successful regionally in 1964 when he played for NWA New Zealand. He and his friend, Luke, came to America in 1965 and began playing matches there.
Robert Miller often teamed up with his friend, Luke Williams, and the duo got known as The Sheepherders and The Kiwis. Later, Miller went to New Zealand as he felt at home there. Luke stayed in America for the sake of ‘The Sheepherders.’
Miller and Luke got together for WWF and got international exposure for the first time. They changed their team name to ‘The Bushwhackers.’
Miller retired from wrestling in September 2001 after suffering from a severe neck injury. However, he kept appearing in WWE as a commissioner and a guest. They reunited in February 2018 for their last tour in New Zealand. However, only Luke got into the ring.
Robert went to ICU in 2002 and 2010 for unknown health issues. He died in Los Angeles, and the cause of death did not get revealed by Luke.
Born On: 21 October 1944
Died On: 02 April 2023
Cause of Death: Unknown
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7. Jerry Jarrett
Jerry Winston Jarrett was considered a ‘Wrestling Genius.’ The 80-year-old American professional wrestler, wrestling promoter, and actor was also known by his ring name, Hawaiian Flash.
Jarrett used to sell tickets, promote professional wrestling events, and work as a purchasing agent and office assistant before getting into the ring. He became a professional wrestler while working as a referee.
Jarrett made his ring debut in 1965 and retired formally in 1988 because he informally kept playing till 1990. He got trained by Sailor Moran and his friend Tojo Yamamoto. He founded the Continental Wrestling Association in 1977.
Jarrett’s son, Jeff Jarrett, is in his mid-50s and performs in All Elite Wrestling. Jerry Jarrett launched the first national promotion of World Championship Wrestling. He owned a construction company and an international television distribution company after he officially quit wrestling.
Jerry Jarrett had esophageal cancer, according to Conrad Thompson, who hosted a podcast for Jarrett’s son. Jerry died of a heart attack while getting treated at home in Franklin, Tennessee.
- Born On: 04 September 1942
- Died On: 14 February 2023
- Cause of Death: Heart attack
8. Lanny Poffo
Lanny Mark Poffo was a Canadian-American motivational speaker, poet, actor, and professional wrestler. His father and brother were professional wrestlers too. Lanny made his ring debut in 1974, losing to Wayne Cowan, and got retired in 2020. He returned to WWE to induct his late brother at the 2015 Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
Lanny used to be a powerful competitor in WWF. He got defeated for the first time on 27 July in the Championship wrestling. Similarly, he only used to be the enhancement talent in the beginning and became highly competitive in 1986. He got stitches on his nose while playing against Andre on Andre’s first televised match as a heel.
Lanny drew heat from the crowd and made his opponents furious through his poetry. It is how he got considered ‘The Genius.’ He has published two books, released a biographical comic, portrayed a police officer on a series on Investigation Discovery, and launched a podcast.
During his career, Lanny wrestled for International Championship Wrestling, Mid-South Wrestling, Continental Wrestling Association, and World Wrestling Federation. WWE considered him ‘The Genius.’ He went to live in Ecuador in 2020 and died in the New York City of Heart Failure.
- Born On: 28 December 1954
- Died On: 02 February 2023
- Cause of Death: Heart Failure
9. Jay Briscoe
One of the professional wrestlers who died early was Jamin Dale Pugh. He went with the ring name ‘Jay Briscoe’ and was only thirty-eight. He got trained by Jim Kettner, Glen Osbourne, and Eddie Valentine. His brother, Mark Briscoe, is an active American professional wrestler.
Jay and Mark went by the ring name ‘The Briscoe Brothers’ in the Ring of Honor. Jay wrestled in Ring of Honor’s first show in 2002 and lost to Amazing Red. However, the Briscoe brothers made a re-debut in February 2006 in ROH and won.
Jay became the ROH World Champion in April 2013 after defeating Kevin Steen. The Briscoe brothers wrestled for the first time for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) in January 2016.
Jay Briscoe made a controversy through his homophobic remarks on Twitter. He was married to Ashley and was a father of three. He died in a car crash when another car from the opposite direction crossed the center line and hit his car on 17 January. His funeral was held on 29 January.
Representatives from the Ring of Honor, WWE, NJPW, All Elite Wrestling, and Jay’s rivals came further to give tribute to the deceased wrestler on various occasions.
- Born On: 25 January 1984
- Died On: 17 January 2023
- Cause of Death: A Car Crash
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