7 Professional Wrestlers Who Died On the Ring – This Sport is More Dangerous Than It Seems
Many people think that since everything that happens on the ring is scripted and made only for entertainment it is not dangerous. But actually many wrestlers get seriously injured and sometimes even die right on the ring.
Nexter.org prepared you a list of 7 tragic stories.
Eric Denis
Source: Youtube
In October 2017 the heart of Canadian wrestler Eric Denis stopped on the ring for no particular reason. There were no botched moves or failed spots, he was fit experienced 40-year-old pro wrestler. The qualified medical staff who was present at the scene couldn’t save Denis from the heart attack.
Matt “Riot” Lowry
Source: Youtube
On September 15, 2009, Lowry was training at ECW Arena with some other wrestlers. After the workout, he suddenly became lightheaded and fainted. He was immediately taken to the hospital and 14 hours later he was pronounced dead. It is reported that he had suffered a fatal brain hemorrhage.
Plum Mariko
Source: Youtube
Japanese wrestler Plum Mariko died in the ring after her opponent power bombed her in 1997, according to the New York Times. People realized that she still hadn’t moved only after the match was over. Quebrada reports that Mariko was immediately taken to the hospital but it was too late. The 29-year-old died of brain damage.
Wayne “Richard Delicious” Van Dyke
Source: RiverHorse Wrestling Photography/Alan Rolette
Wayne Van Dyke, also known as Richard Delicious, was an independent 29 years old wrestler who suffered a series of heart attacks during a tag team match. The first heart attack happened right after he tagged himself out. And then things just got worse.
When someone tried to give him CPR, they broke him at least one rib and a punctured lung. On his way to the hospital, he suffered a second heart attack. The third one happened when they reached the facility. The hospital staff had to put him in a medically induced coma. But it was way too much for him to bear and he passed away.
King Kong Kirk
Source: Youtube
On August 23, 1987, Kirk faced Shirley “Big Daddy” Crabtree at the Hippodrome of Great Yarmouth. Everything went as planned right up until Big Daddy’s finishing move. 50-year-old Kirk was left lying in the ring, but later it was clear that he died of a pre-existing heart condition.
Brian Ong
Source: Getty Images
Sometimes, one wrong move can turn a sparring match into a tragedy. In 2001, Dalip “The Great Khali” Singh accidentally killed Ong in a training ring mishap. Singh executed a flapjack on Ong, and Ong, who was already struggling with previous injuries and concussions, was seriously injured and died a few days later. Â Â Â
Hijo del Perro Aguayo
Source: Getty Images
On March 21, 2015, a Mexican wrestler Pedro Aguayo Ramirez aka Hijo del Perro Aguayo faced Rey Mysterio Jr on the ring. And when a flying kick from Mysterio got to Aguayo the match turned into tragedy. The match continued for two whole minutes before everyone realized what happened and stopped the match.
Aguayo’s vertebrae had snapped and caused a heart attack. Unfortunately, they couldn’t save him.
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