Curtis Michael “Curt” Hennig, also known by the ring pseudonym “Mr. Perfect”, was a professional wrestler, manager, and “color” commentator of American birth who, during the course of a long and storied kayfabe career worked for many professional wrestling promotions including, but not limited to, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), the American Wrestling Association (AWA), World Championship Wrestling (WCW), and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). Hennig was the son of wrestler Larry Hennig, and father to a wrestling superstar of current WWE affiliation, Michael McGillicutty. 

     Hennig became a four-time world champion, having at various (non-consecutive) times held the AWA World Heavyweight Championship (over a year), the WWC Universal Heavy Weight Championship (once), and the i-Generation World Heavy Weight Championship (twice). Hennig also became the WWF Intercontinental Champion on two occasions.

     Long since considered one of the “greatest” Intercontinental Champions of all time, Hennig was the longest-running server in that capacity during the 1990s. Indeed, Hennig was soon credited with helping to bring the importance of the Intercontinental Championship closer in status to that of the WWF Championship during the decade. 

Despite being repeatedly hampered in his efforts by recurring back problems which prevented Hennig from being considered as a WWF Championship contender, he nonetheless challenged for said title and managed to enjoy some success in managerial and “color” commentary roles during sporadic leaves of absence from active competition. In addition to circa-1990s WCW championship success, Hennig also managed to become a member of the infamous New World Order and later the West Texas Rednecks, a combination wrestling stable/country music group who recorded the infamous West Texas anthem, “Rap Is Crap”. Afterwards, Hennig returned to the WWF for a brief period in 2002, ultimately managing to become one of the last three men “standing” at the Royal Rumble. He then wrestled sporadically for TNA, challenging for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. 

During the course of the buildup for Hennig’s final Royal Rumble, it was announced that he would be one of the 30 combatants. Billing himself as Kurt “Mr. Perfect” Hennig, he managed to enter the event at #25, ultimately being eliminated by “Triple H”. “Mr. Perfect” made a stronger than expected showing at the Rumble, hitting the “Perfect-Plex” on Kurt Angle, as well as holding his own with the WWF’s best at the time. However, he was released by the WWF, following an alleged physical confrontation with Brock Lesnar. 

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     Hennig’s dead wrestler cred was sealed on February 10, 2003, when he was found deceased in a Florida hotel room at the premature age of 44. The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office declared acute cocaine intoxication to be the direct cause of his death, although others, among them Hennig’s own father, declared that steroids and painkillers also contributed to Hennig’s untimely demise. However, Hennig was indeed survived by his parents, Larry and Irene, two brothers, Randolph “Randy” and Jesse, and two sisters, Sandra and Susan, as well as his wife Leonice and four children, Joe, Amy, Kate, and “Hank”. 

Dead Wrestlers #12 Umaga

Edward Smith “Eki” Fatu, a wrestler of Samoan-American parentage, was born on March 28, 1973 in San Francisco, California. “Eki” received professional wrestling training at the “Wild” Samoan Pro Wrestling Training Center, and soon began wrestling professionally for Afa’s World Xtreme Wrestling (WXW). 

In 1996, both “Eki” and his cousin “Matt” were drafted into the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) to take part in a kayfabe angle with Solafa Fatu, Jr. This angle being swiftly dropped, both were instead sent to the WWF’s preliminary “farm territory” Heartland Wrestling Association, where the two soon formed a tag team which remained in effect despite transfers of brand loyalty to various competing promotions including, but not limited to, Memphis Championship Wrestling and Frontiet Martial-Arts Wrestling. “Eki” and “Matt” in fact held championship titles in these latter promotions under the pseudonyms Samoan Gangstaz and Island “Boyz”. In 2002, the long running partnership was back-ordered to the (strategically remonikered) World Wrestling Entertainment franchise as 3-Minute Warning, comprising a scenario in which the duo were storyboarded as a pair of silent, deadly enforcers for Raw brand General Manager Eric Bischoff. This latest strategic configuration lasted barely a year, ending in an amicable release from their WWE contracts following “involvement” in a bar fight. 

“Eki” (also known on occasion as “Jamal” and, ultimately, “Umaga”) was the son of Vera, who herself had been billed as the sister of Afa and Sika of the Wild Samoans. “Eki’ relied on classic “ethnic” wrestling gimmicks, comprising such time honoured “Samoan voodoo” cliches as the diving headbutt, Samoan “splash” (a Polynesian variation of the famous Bronx Opera House maneuver), the giant swing, two handed choke slam, running jumping headbutt drop, and turnbuckle powerbomb. 

During the late summer weekend of August 30, 2007, articles posted by knowledgeable sources such as New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated, Washington Post, and Weekly World News named Fatu as one of a number of sports superstars known or alleged to have purchased or otherwise received pharmaceuticals from an online pharmacy, which act constituted a clear violation of the WWE “Talent Wellness” program. “Eki” (by this time trading under the ring pseudonym of “Umaga”) was specifically and repeatedly alleged to have to received somatropin, a human growth hormone (HGH), between July and December 2006, some time after the ban on drugs from online sources had been regionally (later institutionally) implemented. “Eki”/”Umaga” again violated this corporate precept sometime in 2009, at which juncture, due to his refusal to seek rehabilitation, he was released from his WWE contract. 

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      Some months after his premature termination, “Eki” was found, unconscious and unresponsive, with blood pouring out of his nose, and was swiftly (if belatedly) rushed to the hospital, where it was discovered that he had suffered a heart attack. Tragically, he died later that day at or about 7:00 pm, at the premature age of 36, after suffering an additional heart infarction. The official cause of death was “listed” as acute toxicity due to combined effects of hydrocodone, diazepam, and carisoprodol.

 Traylor, who had once served as a prison guard in Cobb County, Georgia, made his professional debut in 1985, beginning his storied career at Jim Crockett’s World Championship Wrestling promotion, serving as an enhancement talent. 

Upon completing this initial apprenticeship, WCW head booker Dusty Rhodes then selected Traylor (now billed as “heel” wrestler Big Bubba Rogers) to portray the role of a ringside bodyguard who later began a legendary feud with top babyface Rhodes, engaging in a series of no holds barred “battle royals” referred to as “Bunkhouse Stampedes” in 1986. At series’ end, Traylor and Rhodes were tied in wins, which led inevitably to a tiebreaking cage match in which Rhodes emerged victorious.

Traylor, still known as Big Bubba Rogers, then went on to win the Universal Wrestling Federation title from One Man Gang, who had surrendered all claim to the belt upon signing with Vince McMahon, owner of the World Wrestling Federation. In 1988, Traylor himself threw in his lot with WWF, joining its ranks under the name Big Bossman, basing his character upon his previous profession. Bossman’s still-famous post-match gimmicks included such antics as handcuffing defeated babyfaced jobbers to the ring ropes and beating them senseless with his nightstick. 

Traylor, in his later guise as Bossman, feuded with former tag team partner Akeem, defeating him in a then-record time of less than two minutes at WrestleMania VI, afterward joining forces with Hulk Hogan at the 1990 Survivor Series, alongside such luminaries as Tugboat and Hacksaw “Jim” Duggan. Later, Bossman feuded with Bobby Heenan and his ad hoc Heenan Family after Heenan began insulting Bossman’s aged mother. Incensed by Heenan’s repeated insults, Bossman defeated Heenan confederates Barbarian at the Royal Rumble and Mr. Perfect (via fan-disputed disqualification) at WrestleMania VII, this latter victory netting him the Intercontinental Championship. Later that same year, Bossman subjected long time fans to a short lived feud with Irwin R. Schyster, then went on to defeat the Mountie in a Jail House match, thus ensuring that the Mountie “spent a night in jail”. 

In 1992, Bossman became embroiled in a feud with Nailz, whose persona was that of an ex-convict who claimed to have been heinously abused by Bossman during his incarceration, and who subsequently warned of his intention of gaining revenge for said violation of his person. During one such television taping, Nailz, who was clad in a stereotypical prison jumpsuit attacked Bossman, handcuffing him to the top rope, choking and beating him with the nightstick.

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Some years later, following his departure from WWE, Traylor suffered a fatal heart attack at his home in Acworth, Georgia, during a “visit” from his sister. 

Dead Wrestlers #10 Rick Rude

Beginning in the early 1980s and extending well into the next decade, dead wrestler and celebrated personality Richard Erwin Rood, known to connoisseurs of televised grappling as Rick (sometimes “Ravishing Rick”) Rude, performed during his brief life for many major and independent promotions, including World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). Rude’s many professional attainments included (but were not limited to) becoming four time WCW International World Heavyweight Champion, as well as the one time WCWA World Heavyweight Champion. In addition, Rude also occupied on occasion the WWF Intercontinental and WCW United States Championship titles. Billing himself as the “Sexiest Man Alive”, Rude’s chiseled physique and smooth ringside patter vied for fan recognition alongside his membership in the initial incarnation of D-Generation X, alongside performers such as Chyna, Triple H, and Shawn Michaels. 

After graduating high school, Rood attended Anoka Ramsey Junior College, acquitting himself with a degree in physical education. Rood then began his storied wrestling career in 1982, performing as babyfaced jobber Ricky Rood. His television debut on the November 20, 1982 episode of NWA World Wide Wrestling consisted ignominiously of a loss to Mid-Atlantic Champion Paul Jones. However, Rude bounced back to debut on the May 28, 1983 episode of World Championship wrestling, defeating opponent Pat Rose with an infamously well-timed dropkick. Notorious ringside announcer Gordon Solie interviewed Rood the next week, with televised excerpts of the encounter featuring Rood discussing a largely fictitious transition from arm wrestling to pro wrestling, accompanied by a radical loss of weight in order to increase performing speed. Rood then abruptly left to join the upstart National Wrestling Alliance affiliate Jim Crockett Promotions where he, sometimes accompanied by an ad hoc assemblage of temporary tag team partners, feuded interminably with the Road Warriors. Afterward, his performing persona having undergone a considerable transformation, Rood arrived in Memphis having declared his intention to be known henceforth as “Ravishing” Rick Rude, an arrogant, supremely egocentric and overly confident heel, whose management was swiftly undertaken by legendary loudmouth Jimmy Hart. Wasting no time establishing his new found heel persona, Rude soon established long running professional feuds with Jerry Lawler and King “Kong” Bundy. 

Competing for some time within the ranks of the WWF and establishing himself as a major headlining personality, Rude collected on a Lloyd’s of Londoninsurance policy and refrained from wrestling for several years, subsequently joining Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) in 1996, appearing spasmodically as a masked competitor who harassed Shane Douglas, at one point subjecting Douglas’ ringside companion Francine to a humiliating public spanking. Rude later unmasked and became a ringside commentator, later assisting Jerry “King” Lawler to defeat resident ECW crown pretenders Tommy Dreamer and the Sandman. 

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Having previously testified to using anabolic steroids to lessen the debilitating effects of pain in his joints as well as increasing muscle mass, it was perhaps less of a surprise to longtime fans than to the general public when Rude’s death at the age of 40 was listed as “heart failure”.

     Among wrestlers, Bam Bam Bigelow was one of the longest-lived (professionally speaking) of the bunch, with a career that spanned two decades from the 1980′s through to the start of the 21st century. Known for his distinctive flame tattoo that famously adorned his otherwise largely bald dome, Bigelow worked in several major league wrestling federations, including but not limited to the World Wrestling Federation, the (original era) Extreme Championship Wrestling promotion, and World Championship Wrestling. Holding multiple championships in both ECW and WCW promotions, his grand total of titles eventually ran to 13. In addition to these legendary achievements, he also held the ECW World Heavyweight Champion on one occasion, and the WCW World Tag Team Championship on several others. Although he never retained any such titles in the WWF, he managed to headline several pay per views for the organization including, on one occasion, WrestleMania XI

     Bigelow reached what many knowledgeable wrestling fans consider to have been the crowning glory of his career in May 1997, when he signed with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). His debut involved a particularly well written and notorious storyline in which the various “heel” managers were portrayed as competing amongst themselves to obtain Bigelow’s services. The dispute was labeled by the wrestling press as the “Battle for Bam Bam”. However, in a completely unforeseen plot twist which continues to shock and divide fans’ opinion to this very day, Bigelow opted to become a “babyface”, repudiating the appeals of all the heel managers and signing defiantly with Oliver Humperdinck. 

     Patient WWF afficionados were subsequently entertained by Bam Bam Bigelow’s unique style, not the least part of which was his remarkable agility for a man his size (6 ft, 3 in, weighing in at nearly 400 lbs). Bigelow’s initial encounters in his newfound guise as WWF contender included bouts with Nikolai Volkoff, as well as appearances as part of Hulk Hogan’s assembled team at the first Survivor Series, in which Bigelow managed to survive even longer than Hogan (who himself was currently reigning as the biggest draw in the wrestling industry). Bigelow finished the match by being eliminated by eventual champion Andre the Giant, after himself putting paid to the efforts of both King Kong Bundy and One Man Gang. He then went on to wrestle in the WWF for some time further before leaving due to the pressing need for surgery on a badly injured knee (although, despite having sustained the injury some considerable time previously, Bigelow continued to appear in more than a few high profile matches). 

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     Some years later, after having staged multiple comebacks, several of which were followed by a round of well-publicized retirements, Bigelow was found dead by his longtime partner Janis Remiesiewicz. Subsequent autopsy reports proved that Bigelow’s death was due to multiple illicit substances, including cocaine as well as anti-anxiety medication. Sources also linked the death to a heart problem, possibly arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. He was survived by several children and an ex-wife, who had previously sued for nonsupport. 

Dead Wrestlers #7 : Dino Bravo

Adolfo Bresciano (August 6, 1948 – March 10, 1993) was an Italian-born, Canadian-based professional wrestler, and #7 on our list of wrestlers. Professionally known as Dino Bravo, he famously billed himself as “The World’s Strongest Man”. He began wrestling in the early 1970′s, having taken the name “Dino Bravo” from a previous competitor. At the start of his career, Bravo worked in a number of tag team combinations, including co-bills with Dominic DeNucci and Tim “Mr. Wrestling” Woods. During his partnership with Woods, Bravo won the NWA World Tag Team Championship, which had been won from the team of Gene and Ole Anderson, and which was eventually lost to them in a rematch later that year. By the late 1970′s, Bravo had become a large enough personality to get a push as a solo performer. In December 1978, he won a hotly contested match against Gene Kiniski to win the Canadian heavyweight title.

Bravo’s persona was that of a Quebecois nationalist, proudly sporting the Fleur-de-is and often carrying placards bearing anti-American slogans into the ring with him. However, following a loss at WrestleMainia VII to Kerry Von Erich, Bravo left WWF, later surfacing on local Canadian television for several matches against The Mountie. Bravo retired from active competition in April 1992.

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On March 10, 1993, at the age of 44, Dino Bravo was allegedly shot 17 times in the head, in what has passed into legend as a reputed “mob hit”. He had been watching hockey on television in his Laval, Quebec apartment. Rumours quickly reached the press and public that Bravo’s role in illegal cigarette smuggling had led to his untimely demise. His popularity with locals had given him a virtual monopoly on the trade, thus putting him in the bad books of local mafiosi. Various sources have confided to the media that Bravo had known his days were numbered, as he was in fact a nephew (by marriage) of Montreal crime boss Vic Cotroni, and had been involved in the mafia for some years, overlapping extensively with his wrestling career. He was survived by his wife Diane and daughter Claudia.

Smith began wrestling at the age of 15 as Young David. His first match was televised by British ITV’s World of Sport on September 2, 1978, and he continued to appear there until February 1983. During this time he won the British Welterweight Championship from Jim Breaks (1979), although his receipt of the belt was held up considerably due to the hotly disputed finish of that match. Shortly afterward, Bruce Hart invited Smith to travel to Canada to join his family organization, Stampede Wrestling. During his time with Stampede, Smith won the Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Title by defeating the Dynamite Kid.

In 1984, Smith and Dynamite Kid formed a tag team known as the British Bulldogs. A highly publicized showing in a Japanese tag team tournament caught the interest of the World Wrestling Federation, and the Bulldogs were soon brought into that organization after Vince McMahon purchased a controlling interest in Stampede Wrestling. While with the WWF, the Bulldogs began a famous long running feud with the Hart Foundation and the Dream Team. The Bulldogs defeated the Dream Team at Wrestlemania 2, winning the Tag Team Championship, which they then held for nine months, finally losing it to the Hart Foundation. Shortly thereafter, the Bulldogs introduced their famous mascot, Matilda, who played an integral part in several humorous episodes thereafter.

After leaving the World Wrestling Federation, the Bulldogs returned to Stampede Wrestling. Stampede officials had hoped that the Bulldogs’ return would revive the struggling company, but this proved to be a false hope, and the Bulldogs split up in 1989. On July 4 of that year, Smith was involved in a serious automobile accident. He had not been wearing a seatbelt, and was thus thrown head first through the windshield, landing 25 feet away onto the concrete pavement. His injuries required 135 stitches, and it was some time before he fully recovered.

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After nearly a decade spent wrestling for World Championship Wrestling, Smith returned to WWF, his character transforming into a villainous heel. Perhaps the highlight of this last phase of his career was his headlining of a six-man WWF Championship Match that was ultimately won by Triple H. However, Smith’s wife Diana divorced him in 2000, at which time he entered a rehabilitation program due to his addiction to prescription painkillers. On May 18, 2002, Smith was found dead by his girlfriend after suffering a heart attack while on vacation in Canada.

 Guerrero never became a “main event” personality at WCW. He finally requested that WCW President Eric Bischoff either feature him more prominently or give him a pay increase for family reasons. At a meeting, Bischoff allegedly threw hot coffee into Guerrero’s lap, after which Guerrero demanded his release from WCW on a live episode of Nitro. However, he later returned to WCW for several months, at the end of which he allowed Brian Adams to obtain in an upset victory in his final WCW match.

 Moving on to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), Guerrero was soon considered a VIP personality. An arrest for drunk driving in November 2001 resulted in a temporary suspension from WWF, after which he returned to contention for the heavyweight title, remaining so for several years until his untimely death on November 13, 2005. Guerrero was found unconscious in a hotel room in Minneapolis, MN, by his nephew Chavo, having died of acute heart failure due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.  

After some minor success with Stampede and the New Japan Pro Wrestling promotion, Hart signed with the World Wrestling Federation in 1988. His WWF debut took place at the Los Angeles Sports Arena in August of 1988, where Hart donned a blue mask and wrestled as “the Blue Blazer”. The Blazer was ultimately defeated by Mr. Perfect at Wreslemaina V. Following the loss at Wrestlemaina V, Hart left the WWF, returning to Stampede. He toured with Stampede until the promotion went out of business in 1989.
Hart returned to WWF in 1991, and continued to gain in popularity. After an early feud with his brother, Bret Hart, the two decided to form “the Hart Foundation” and wrestle as a team in 1997. Owen Hart won his first WWF Intercontinental Championship in 1997, by pinning Rocky Maivia.

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