Darkest wrestling deaths – from backstage stabbing to 50ft ring plunge horror
Professional wrestling puts on a front of glitz and glamour as its superstars entertain huge crowds every night and millions around the world on TV. But the industry has a tragic history of stars dying far too young in horrific circumstances.
Away from the bright lights and adoring fans, there have been a huge number of dark deaths that have rocked the wrestling industry, including a megastar who fell to his death live on TV and a former World Champion who killed his family in a murder-suicide.
From a main event star who died after being stabbed backstage to a curse that stalked one of the industry’s most beloved families, your Daily Star takes a look at some of the tragic tales from the dark side of the ring.
Owen Hart
The youngest of the Stu Hart’s 12 kids, Owen and brother Bret were two of the biggest stars of the famous wrestling dynasty. With his high-flying style combined with technical ability, Owen was one of the most versatile and beloved stars of the 90s.
But his life was cut tragically short in 1999, when he died in the ring when a stunt went wrong during a live event just days after his 34th birthday. The father-of-two was due to be lowered from the ceiling of the Kemper Arena in Kansas city as part of a ring entrance.
He plunged 50ft when the harness failed and he landed on a padded metal turnbuckle. Medics scrambled to the ring to perform CPR but he was later pronounced dead in hospital.
Staggeringly, WWE owner Vince McMahon decided to continue with the show despite the severity of the situation being immediately clear. Commentator Jim Ross later announced Hart’s death to viewers.
Chris Benoit
One of the darkest moments in wrestling history came in 2007 when WWE headliner Chris Benoit killed his wife and son in a double murder-suicide. The muscle-bound maniac, 40, murdered his wife Nancy on June 22 and his seven-year-old son Daniel the next day.
He then hung himself at his home in Fayetteville, Georgia, using a weight-machine pulley. His death prompted the WWE to air a special tribute show hours before the full horrors of the incident came to light.
Widely considered to be one of the finest in-ring performers of all time, his name has been erased from WWE history and his matches are never broadcast on the company’s official programming.
Bruiser Brody
Legendary heavyweight Bruiser Brody, real name Frank Donald Goodish, was stabbed in the locker room before a match in Puerto Rico in 1988.
Due to heavy traffic and a huge crowd at the arena, it took medics almost an hour to get to the stricken star. He later died in hospital. His attacker, fellow wrestler José Huertas González, was acquitted of murder when a jury ruled he killed Brody in self-defense.
It was claimed in a recent documentary that when Brody and González had wrestled each other in the 1970s, Brody had roughed up González, who vowed: “One day I am gonna kill that man.”
The Von Erich family
The Von Erich family were wrestling royalty in Texas, but they were blighted by tragedy with five out of sixth brothers dying young. The youngest of the family, Jack, was tragically killed after being electrocuted and then drowning in a puddle aged just six.
His brothers followed in their dad’s footsteps and became grapplers, but tragedy stalked the family. David earned high praise as the top “technical” wrestler and was proudly wearing the NWA United States champion crown.
But he was found lifeless in his hotel during the Japanese tour. It was later disclosed that he died from acute enteritis, which led to his intestines rupturing and filling his body with blood, ultimately causing a fatal heart attack.
Three years later, Mike tragically took his own life after developing toxic shock syndrome aged 23. Hindered by a shoulder injury and unable to match the success of his older brothers, his illness-induced brain damage made his wrestling performances increasingly distressing for fans.
Chris, the youngest of the Von Erichs, struggled under the weight of his famous siblings’ shadows. Despite this, by the early ’90s, the youthful-looking grappler was wrestling full time, often alongside his brother Kevin to makeup for his limited skills.
Following Mike’s death, Chris fell into a deep depression and turned to drugs to numb the pain. His situation worsened, and in September 1991, Chris took his own life with a gunshot to the head.
When Kerry took his own life in 1993, a week after his 33rd birthday to avoid jail time, it left Kevin Von Erich as the sole surviving brother.
By 1990 Kerry’s career was on a downward spiral after an 80s motorcycle accident resulted in the amputation of his right foot. His disability restricted his ring abilities, leading to an addiction to painkillers.
Instead of facing prison, the shattered wrestler retreated to his father’s ranch, where he ultimately took his own life, firing a single bullet into his heart.
WWE legend Bret Hart wrote in his autobiography: “Kerry confided that he’d made up his mind to join his brothers in heaven.”
Surviving brother Kevin was portrayed by Zac Efron in biopic Iron Claw. He told The Guardian that he did not “believe in a curse” concerning his family. He stated: “I believe in a fair and loving God that has our best interests at heart.”
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