14 Wrestlers From Your Childhood That You Probably Don’t Know Are Dead

Sean O’Haire’s life, career and last days on Earth are a sad reality for many professional wrestlers.

Sources close to the former WCW and WWE star indicated that O’Haire had been battling depression and substance abuse issues for years. O’Haire was in and out rehab, all sponsored by the WWE, and there is now speculation that his condition was the long-term effects of brain and head trauma from his days in the ring.

Perhaps the saddest fact in all this is that in a few years people will not only forget all about O’Haire but his untimely passing and struggles after the spotlight goes away. O’Haire isn’t the only wrestling star that people have forgotten. Here are fourteen other mat stars that passed away that everyone thinks are still alive and well.

Umaga

The two-time Intercontinental champion dominated the WWE through most of 2006, defeating everyone from CM Punk to Triple H to John Cena. Unfortunately he was released from his contract in June, 2009 for his second positive drug testing. Sadly, Umaga passed away after a heart attack in December, 2009 from a drug overdose. He was 36.

Andrew ‘Test’ Martin

Test had a solid career for nearly a decade with the WWE that included one of the most memorable storylines where he was engaged to Stephanie McMahon, only to have their wedding interrupted by Triple H. During the disturbance Triple H played a video showing where he drugged Stephanie and took her to a drive thru wedding chapel in Las Vegas, thus ruining Test’s wedding. He retired from the ring in 2008 and passed away in March, 2009 from an accidental oxycodone overdose. An autopsy revealed he had suffered severe brain damage from multiple concussions throughout his career.

Crush

Crush aka Brian Adams has an illustrious career that spanned three decades and included stints in both WCW and WWE, as well as multiple indie circuits. He is best known for his storylines in the Nation of Domination and the DOA. Crush retired in 2002 and moved to Tampa, Florida. He passed away in his sleep in August, 2007, which was believed to have been a result of the illegal steroids he had been taking.

Sherri Martel

Sensational Sherri was one of the most memorable managers in the history of pro wrestling and no one could ever forget her time with Macho Man Randy Savage. Sherri was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2014. She passed away in 2007 at age 49 as the result of an overdose of oxycodone.

Mike Awesome

Awesome was a force to be reckoned with in ECW, but his jump to WCW was highly documented and controversial because he was still the ECW champ while wrestling in WCW. He eventually dropped the belt to Taz, which was the first time a WCW wrestler faced off against a WWE wrestler at an ECW event. In 2007, at age 42, he was found dead in his home after hanging himself.

Bam Bam Bigelow

The beast from the east was one of the most recognizable faces in pro wrestling. He held the ECW Heavyweight Championship, while being a member of the Triple Threat, but his most highly publicized match was his feud with Lawrence Taylor at WrestleMania XI. Bigelow passed away in 2007 in Hudson, Florida as a result of a drug overdose.

Viscera

Formerly known as Mabel, the 487-pounder won ten championships through his career, including the 1995 King of the Ring and the WWE Tag Team Championships with Mo as Men on a Mission. Viscera passed away in February, 2014 from a heart attack at age 43.

Matt ‘Doink The Clown’ Osborne

Who could ever forget Doink and Dink the Clown? After, his real name, Matt Osborne left the WWE, several wrestlers dressed as the clown for different gimmicks and storylines, but none of the compared to the original. Osborne’s body was discovered in June, 2013 where he had died from a drug overdose.

Giant Gonzalez

The former basketball player wasn’t much of an in-ring technician and his furry bodysuit was bizarre, to say the least, but his towering height was so impressive you almost gave him a pass. His was brought into the WWE in 1993 to feud with The Undertaker. He passed away in 2010 as a result of complications from diabetes. He was 44.

Chris Kanyon

Kanyon made his first big impact in WCW as Mortis before teaming with Diamond Dallas Page, where we won two Tag Team Championships. Sadly, Kanyon suffered from bipolar disorder and took his own life in 2010 in New York.

Mrs. Cleavage/Marianna

Marianna had a brief, yet memorable stint in the WWE as Mrs. Cleavage, manager of Beaver Cleavage. Obviously they were a parody of Leave it to Beaver and made several appearances with the company throughout 1999. Tragically she passed away at age 35 in 2004 as a result of breast cancer.

Big Boss Man

The Boss Man never the big title, but he was one of the most well-known and popular athletes in the sport. He feuded with just about every major name you can think of and worked in the biggest companies. In 2004 he had completely retired from the ring and was running a storage company in Georgia. He passed away in September 2004, from a heart attack.

Hercules Hernandez

Raymond Fernandez was a huge star in the 80s feuding with everyone from The Ultimate Warrior to Ted Dibiase. He also wrestled at WrestleMania III at the Pontiac Silverdome in one of the biggest events in the history of pro wrestling. After wrestling all over the world, he retired in 1999. Five years later in 2004 he passed away in his sleep at age 47 from heart disease.

Crash Holly

Teaming with Bob Holly, the duo captured the WWE Tag Team titles, but that would only be the beginning for Crash. He went on to win the European title, Hardcore title, and Light Heavyweight title. Sadly he passed away in 2003 as the result of a suicide at fellow wrestler Stevie Richard’s home.