REST IN PEACE: THE WRESTLERS WHO HAVE DIED IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS
Dead at just 32: Christian Able, AKA Josh Burgess, died last week
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Dead at just 32: Christian Able, AKA Josh Burgess, died last week
Balls Mahony, 44
Jonathan Rechner, better known by his ring name Balls Mahoney, who appeared on Extreme Championship Wrestling in the late 1990s and early 2000s, died at his home in New Jersey on April 12, 2016. He was watching Jeopardy! when his wife realized he had lost consciousness. He had passed away before paramedics arrived at the house.
Christian Able, 32
Josh Burgess was an American professional wrestler mostly seen working throughout the independent wrestling promotions including the AAW under the rings names of Chris Able and Christian Able. His death was announced on April 14. He was only 32. An official cause of death has not been released.
Blackjack Mulligan, 73
Robert Jack Windham, better known by his ring name Blackjack Mulligan, was a former professional wrestler and a former American football player. He is the father of wrestlers Barry and Kendall Windham, father-in-law of Mike Rotunda and the grandfather of Bray Wyatt and Bo Dallas. After suffering a heart attack months earlier, Windham was hospitalized in Florida in February 2016. He died on April 7, 2016.
Axl Rotten, 44
Brian Knighton was an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Axl Rotten. Knighton was found dead by police in a Baltimore, Maryland, motel room on February 4, 2016. Ten hours earlier, he had sent his final tweet, which read: 'The way I do things may not be the way you do things but you will find out there is only 1 way. My away! (sic) #AxIsTruth.'
Iron Mike Sharpe, 64
Michael Sharpe was a Canadian professional wrestler and actor better known as Iron Mike Sharpe. He was also the tag team partner of Hulk Hogan during a tour of Japan against stars of New Japan Pro Wrestling in early 1984. Sharpe died on January 17, 2016, at the age of 64, after he had been battling several health issues.
Rowdy Roddy Piper, 61
Roderick Toombs, better known by his ring name Rowdy Roddy Piper, was a Canadian professional wrestler, actor. He worked mostly with the WWF before later moving to the WWE. Piper died in his sleep at the age of 61, in his home in Hollywood, California. His death certificate attributes this to cardiopulmonary arrest caused by hypertension.
Dusty Rhodes, 69
Virgil Riley Runnels Jr. , better known as 'The American Dream' Dusty Rhodes, was an American professional wrestler and trainer who worked for WWE. He was a three-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion. Rhodes died in hospital in Orlando, Florida, on June 11, 2015, after collapsing at his home. He had been battling stomach cancer in the lead up to his death.
Dead at just 32: Christian Able, AKA Josh Burgess, died last week
+24
Dead at just 32: Christian Able, AKA Josh Burgess, died last week
Balls Mahony, 44
Jonathan Rechner, better known by his ring name Balls Mahoney, who appeared on Extreme Championship Wrestling in the late 1990s and early 2000s, died at his home in New Jersey on April 12, 2016. He was watching Jeopardy! when his wife realized he had lost consciousness. He had passed away before paramedics arrived at the house.
Christian Able, 32
Josh Burgess was an American professional wrestler mostly seen working throughout the independent wrestling promotions including the AAW under the rings names of Chris Able and Christian Able. His death was announced on April 14. He was only 32. An official cause of death has not been released.
Blackjack Mulligan, 73
Robert Jack Windham, better known by his ring name Blackjack Mulligan, was a former professional wrestler and a former American football player. He is the father of wrestlers Barry and Kendall Windham, father-in-law of Mike Rotunda and the grandfather of Bray Wyatt and Bo Dallas. After suffering a heart attack months earlier, Windham was hospitalized in Florida in February 2016. He died on April 7, 2016.
Axl Rotten, 44
Brian Knighton was an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Axl Rotten. Knighton was found dead by police in a Baltimore, Maryland, motel room on February 4, 2016. Ten hours earlier, he had sent his final tweet, which read: 'The way I do things may not be the way you do things but you will find out there is only 1 way. My away! (sic) #AxIsTruth.'
Iron Mike Sharpe, 64
Michael Sharpe was a Canadian professional wrestler and actor better known as Iron Mike Sharpe. He was also the tag team partner of Hulk Hogan during a tour of Japan against stars of New Japan Pro Wrestling in early 1984. Sharpe died on January 17, 2016, at the age of 64, after he had been battling several health issues.
Rowdy Roddy Piper, 61
Roderick Toombs, better known by his ring name Rowdy Roddy Piper, was a Canadian professional wrestler, actor. He worked mostly with the WWF before later moving to the WWE. Piper died in his sleep at the age of 61, in his home in Hollywood, California. His death certificate attributes this to cardiopulmonary arrest caused by hypertension.
Dusty Rhodes, 69
Virgil Riley Runnels Jr. , better known as 'The American Dream' Dusty Rhodes, was an American professional wrestler and trainer who worked for WWE. He was a three-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion. Rhodes died in hospital in Orlando, Florida, on June 11, 2015, after collapsing at his home. He had been battling stomach cancer in the lead up to his death.