Wrestling is a combat sport that poses many risks, especially if practiced without proper protective gear. Today, numerous professional wrestlers participate in local and international games. Unfortunately, some wrestlers have lost their lives in the ring. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the famous wrestlers who died while performing in the ring. Premature deaths are not uncommon in the world of wrestling, which is a great yet risky sport. We’ll take a closer look at some of the notable wrestlers who have passed away in the ring over the years.
Premature deaths are not uncommon in the wrestling ring. Wrestling, one of the mixed martial arts, is a great yet risky sport. The world has bid farewell to some famous wrestlers who died in the ring multiple times.
Top 15 Famous Wrestlers Who Died In The Ring
Below we provide a list of wrestlers who passed in the wrestling ring –
Emiko Kado
Emiko Kado was a female professional wrestler from Japan who unfortunately passed away shortly after starting her professional career. Her debut match took place in February 1999 at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall, where she wrestled in front of over 1550 people. However, she lost her first match to Aja Kong. It’s worth noting that Kado’s death was the second wrestling-related death to occur in Japan.
- Full Name: Emiko Kado
- Date Of Birth: 28 January 1976
- Date Of Death: 9 April 1999
- Age At Death: 23 years
Larry Cameron
Larry Cameron was a professional wrestler and football player whose career was ended by injuries. Unfortunately, he passed away on 13th December 1993 after suffering a heart attack during a wrestling match with Tony St. Clair in Bremen, Germany.
- Full Name: Larry Cameron
- Date Of Birth: 4 November 1952
- Date Of Death: 13 December 1993
- Age At Death: 41 years
Masakazu Fukuda
Masakazu Fukuda was a professional wrestler. He is known for his appearances in WAR and NJPW. Masakaza was born in Otawara, Tochigi, Japan. He died in Kesennuma, Miyagi. He died after suffering a fatal head injury during a wrestling match with Katsuyori Shibata in the Young Lion Cup Tournament.
- Full Name: Masakazu Fukuda
- Date Of Birth: 17 May 1972
- Date Of Death: 10 April 2000
- Age At Death: 27 years
King Kong Kirk
Malcolm Kirk was a professional wrestler who went by several names including King Kong Kirk, Kojak Kirk, Killer Kirk, and Mucky Mal Kirk. Before he became a wrestler, he played rugby league professionally. During a tag team match at the Hippodrome in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England, he fainted in the ring and unfortunately passed away due to a heart attack.
- Full Name: Malcolm Kirk
- Date Of Birth: 18 December 1935
- Date Of Death: 23 August 1987
- Age At Death: 51 years
Silver King
Cesar Cuauhtemoc Gonzalez Barron, also known by his ring name Silver King, was a Mexican luchador enmascarado or masked wrestler who passed away within the last decade. On May 11th, 2019, during a wrestling match in Camden Town, London, England, he fainted in the ring while facing off against Juventud Guerrera.
- Full name: Cesar Cuauhtemoc Gonzalez Barron
- Date Of Birth: 9 January 1968
- Date Of Death: 11 May 2019
- Age At Death: 51 years
Brian Ong
Brian Ong was a wrestler who tragically lost his life in the ring. On May 28, 2001, he received a flapjack wrestling move from Dalip Singh Rana, also known as The Great Khali, which ultimately caused his death. Brian had already suffered a concussion during the session, but despite this, the trainers instructed him to continue training.
- Full Name: Brian Ong
- Date Of Birth: 28 May 1974
- Date Of Death: 28 May 2001
- Age At Death: 27 years
Plum Mariko
Mariko Umeda, also known as Plum Mariko, was a Japanese professional wrestler who competed for Japan Women’s Pro-Wrestling from 1986 to 1992. She then continued her wrestling career in the JWP Joshi Puroresu from 1992 until her untimely death. Mariko was known for being prone to accidents, and her injuries are believed to have contributed to the growth of an abscess in her brain. Unfortunately, she became the first professional Japanese female wrestler to pass away in the ring.
- Full Name: Mariko Umeda
- Date Of Birth: 1 November 1967
- Date Of Death: 16 August 1997
- Age At Death: 29 years
Jeanette Wolfe
Janet Boyer Wolfe, who also went by the name Jeanette Wolfe, was the foster daughter of Billy Wolfe and Mildred Burke. Billy Wolfe was responsible for managing a group of female wrestlers associated with the NWA, and he trained Janet in the sport. Unfortunately, on 28 July 1951, during a wrestling match, Ella Waldek body-slammed Janet onto the mat, causing her to lose consciousness. Janet was declared dead, and it was determined that she died from a brain hemorrhage.
- Full Name: Janet Boyer Wolfe
- Date Of Birth: 13 June 1933
- Date Of Death: 28 July 1951
- Age At Death: 18 years
Oro
Jesus Javier Hernandez Silva, also known as Oro, was a professional wrestler who always wore a mask during his fights. The name Oro means gold in Spanish. Oro was part of a family of wrestlers, as his brothers and cousins were also involved in wrestling. During one match, Oro was clotheslined by wrestler Kahoz, and he fell on his head, causing him to suffer from brain damage. Unfortunately, Oro passed away on October 26, 1993, before he could be taken to the ambulance.
- Full Name: Jesus Javier Hernandez Silva
- Date Of Birth: 24 December 1971
- Date of Death: 26 October 1993
- Age At Death: 21 years
Gary Albright
Gary Albright was a professional wrestler best known for his work in Japan. He competed in the UWF International (UWFi) and later All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW). He was also known for his work with Stampede Wrestling in Canada under his birth name as well as the ring name Vokhan Singh.
- Full Name: Gary Mitchell Albright
- Date Of Birth: 18 May 1963
- Date Of Death: 7 January 2000
- Age At Death: 36 years
Moondog Spot
Larry Wayne Booker, who went by the ring names Larry Latham and Moondog Spot, was a professional wrestler hailing from the United States. He was notorious for his aggressive tactics in the ring. His final wrestling appearance was on November 29th, 2003, during a tag team match. Sadly, the superstar suffered a heart attack whilst inside the ring.
- Full name: Larry Wayne Booker
- Date of birth: 6 June 1952
- Date of death: 29 November 2003
- Age at death: 51 years
Mitsuharu Misawa
Mitsuharu Misawa was a legendary Japanese professional wrestler and promoter, best known for his time in All Japan Pro Wrestling. In 2000, he founded the Pro Wrestling Noah promotion. On June 13, 2009, Misawa and Shiozaki teamed up against GHC Tag Team Champions Saito and Smith in a title match at Hiroshima Green Arena. Tragically, ten minutes into the match, Misawa suffered a back suplex from Saito. Despite efforts to resuscitate him, he passed away.
On 13 June 2009, Misawa teamed with Shiozaki against GHC Tag Team Champions Saito and Smith in a title match at Hiroshima Green Arena. He took a back suplex from Saito about ten minutes into the match. He died after efforts to resuscitate him failed.
- Full Name: Mitsuharu Misawa
- Date Of Birth: 18 June 1962
- Date Of Death: 13 June 2009
- Age At Death: 46 years
Iron Mike DiBiase
Iron Mike DiBiase was adopted by a man known as The Million Dollar Man. On July 2nd, 1969 in Lubbock, Texas, DiBiase died in the ring after losing to Man Mountain Mike. He had started his professional wrestling career in 1940. DiBiase suffered a cardiac arrest during the match and passed away shortly after.
- Full Name: Michael DiBiase
- Date Of Birth: 24 December 1923
- Date Of Death: 2 July 1969
- Age At Death: 45 years
Perro Aguayo Jr
Perro Aguayo Jr was a renowned Mexican luchador (professional wrestler) and promoter who gained fame in the lucha libre community. He was known for leading the Los Perros del Mal stable. In October 2008, he left CMLL to establish his own independent professional wrestling promotion, Perros del Mal Producciones.
On March 20, 2015, Aguayo participated in a tag team match where he teamed up with Manik against Rey Mysterio Jr. and XTiger. During the match, Mysterio Jr. drop-kicked Aguayo Jr., causing him to suffer from cervical spine trauma that ultimately led to his untimely death.
- Full Name: Pedro Aguayo Ramírez
- Date Of Birth: 23 July 1979
- Date Of Death: 21 March 2015
- Age At death: 35 years
Owen Hart
Owen Hart was a professional wrestler who worked for various wrestling promotions such as Stampede Wrestling, New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), World Championship Wrestling (WCW), and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). He performed under both his real name and the ring name The Blue Blazer.
Unfortunately, Hart passed away on May 23rd, 1999, during his entrance from the rafters of the Kemper Arena in Kansas City. The equipment that was lowering him to the ring malfunctioned and he fell to his death in front of a live audience.
- Full name: Owen James Hart
- Date Of Birth: 7 May 1965
- Date Of Death: 23 May 1999
- Age At death: 34 years
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