10 Mysterious Wrestler Deaths

As wrestling fans we are all, rather regrettably, used to seeing our heroes die and, all too often, die young. From Art Barr and Gino Hernandez to David Von Eric and Rikidozan, in this video, we examine 10 Mysterious Wrestler Deaths.
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Cultaholic provides video coverage of professional wrestling - including WWE (including WWE Raw, WWE SmackDown, NXT and 205 Live), AEW, IMPACT Wrestling (formerly TNA), NJPW, ROH, and more with daily news updates, reviews, lists, highlights, predictions, reactions, podcasts and much, much more.

[@ChasetheLights13]

Abismo Negro’s mask is one of the coolest ones I’ve ever seen.

[@Ralphanthonybianscomusic]

Man. Just imagine Art Barr in ECW. He would have been a star for sure. The man was so far ahead of his time.

[@timothygraham4304]

Nobody is or was a star in ECW. It doesn't matter how talented they are, if they're not in front of an audience, they are trees falling in the woods.

[@jareddavis9012]

@@timothygraham4304 Don't you mean a bigger audience?

[@positivevibetec]

What about joey janella?

[@positivevibetec]

@@timothygraham4304 you are wrong, sir

[@BR-ty3hx]

@@timothygraham4304 lmfao this is rich

[@style3804]

Seems like being a 28 year old wrestler is unlucky

[@kenfleischman]

Yep, just like how 27 is unlucky in music.

[@dennypanz]

@@kenfleischman that’s what I was gonna say lol. Although a few have died at 28 also, Shannon Hoon, Brad Nowell etc...

[@kenfleischman]

@@dennypanz yeah, I remember first getting into Sublime and I was like "man I wonder if they're still around" and then I read that Brad died right before their big break and that basically fucked up my day.

[@MrZombieTurds]

I should start training now that I'm 29 😂

[@tomtanaka841]

@@MrZombieTurds Batista started wrestling training in his 30's and look at him now, you still have time, brother! 🤪

[@Heavymetallord1]

The Jiminez brothers needs to become a Dark Side of the Ring episode

[@blacksheep25251]

That series is just incredible.

[@MrZombieTurds]

7:42 "A film depicting the events was released in 2015"

[@deadonpictures]

@@MrZombieTurds "Bleak Street" directed by Arturo Ripstein

[@richardtherichard26]

@@MrZombieTurds do you for some reason think that if one piece of media on a subject is released than no more can be? Bc I’ll tell ya that’s definitely not how it works. That quote is entirely 1000% completely irrelevant…

[@deadbydefiance9341]

One minor edit. . Art Barr used the frog splash before eddie adopted it.

[@AusElixir]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didnt Eddie adopt the frog splash as a constant tribute to Art?

[@soulknife20]

@@AusElixir I believe that's right. Pretty sure Art Barr invented the frog splash

[@AusElixir]

@@soulknife20 I always just assumed it was, considering their teaming together and friendship. No facts to back it up though

[@OldSkullGaming]

@@soulknife20 Art Barr didnt invented the move, just as the video says La Fiera was using the move a decade before Barr ever used it.

[@Trev794]

Eddie said lots of times it was Al snow who did it best and it was him he tried to emulate.

[@stevenrose86]

The amount of these guys that died at 28 is almost as shocking as the circumstances they died in

[@MadSnake123]

Abismo Negro was something like a John Cena in a weird way ... He was on TV shows, he was well known outside the ring more as a personality than a Luchador. His death was shocking to everybody but you could see his last years were dark. Thanks for the mexican Luchadores coverage. Trust me, we do have some serious insane stories around.

[@princesstamika]

i remember the news even made it to non-lucha circuits.

[@MasterSartorius]

Abismo Negro was huge in AAA. It was crazy when one day it just came up suddenly that he passed away. You just never know. Tell your family you love them.

[@eduardotirado2958]

Thanks for tell the history of Abismo Negro. He was one of my all time favorite and died in my state after a show. I didn't know that was the last time i saw him

[@tafua_a]

Apparently, while Abismo was missing, somebody worked a show with the Abismo Negro gimmick. Hopefully the Abismo you saw was the real one

[@eduardotirado2958]

@@tafua_a idk that, but Konnan said that Abismo was contact by some drug dealers after he wrestled the main event show in Mazatlán, where i live. So i'm 100% sure i saw his last match.

[@noegonzalez4918]

El Abismo Negro death hit me, I remember he was gonna do a show in San Jose, California. Me and my parents went to the event but he died a few days prior. One of the main reasons we went was to see Abismo Negro. All I remember, the news reports said he got off the bus and he was passed out and died.

[@eduardotirado2958]

@@noegonzalez4918 you missed an oportunity of a lifetime. He was one of the best heel wrestlers in México

[@BeWare_I_Live]

Why did all these wrestlers die at 28. Too young man..

[@andu1854]

A year younger than the rock and roll 27

[@drzoidberg4601]

@@andu1854 older*

[@egpmh2891]

pretty much ages 27 to 38 is a bad age to be, either a lot of them die or get into drugs because of injuries

[@skateorpie]

I’m 28 now.. crap

[@cherrypopscile3385]

@@egpmh2891 tbh if you survive past 38 in the wrestling industry, you'll usually live to your 70s.

[@mike1975a]

"The Handsome Half-Breed" would never make it on TV nowadays. The name, not the wrestler.

[@adamguthrie7063]

If anyone is curious about Art Barr, Chris Jericho talks about him fondly in his first book

[@joeyramirez.308]

I grew up watching Abismo Negro in his tenure in AAA and I always wanted to be a “luchador” because of him. I remembered his sudden passing and I was truly devastated because he was my favorite. Til this day, I can’t really understand nor cope with his passing

[@juanvaldez2921]

Did your career take off as Jumping Joey Ramirez down south?

[@joeyramirez.308]

@@juanvaldez2921 the only jump I made was jumping the border, getting a college degree, having a fine paying job, a mercedes, in 2 weeks time my first home, it’s a good life can’t complain but damn it jumping joey would be a hit in this new NXT since it’s another classic generic pile of garbage wwe has been in recent times. Just imagine me in my shark suite running it up in NXT 2.0

[@orlandodanielperez5131]

@@joeyramirez.308 Brock Lesnar would throw you around like a rag doll that’s about it.

[@Gamnesia_]

That makes two of us

[@1991awest]

I’m surprised Gino isn’t number 1 and then Dino a close 2nd. Gino’s death was a total mystery. The people he got involved with and who paid for his funeral were unknown to the family. His door was unlocked for someone to freely come into his home. He had a ton of cocaine in his system. I think it was in his stomach which is odd. Plus, his life was a mystery too. No one knows who his real father is except his mother. There’s always been that speculation on why he was treated so well by Paul Boesche in World Class.

[@dynad00d15]

Although it looked like a mob hit, Dino Bravo's death is still a complete mystery. No one was arrested, no weapon was found, no fingerprints, nothing. Although everyone associate Dino's death on cigarette smuggling, The authorities didnt get out of their way to investigate that kind of crime since the native americans were heavily involved and it was a very touchy subject at the time. So let's say it's not the cigarette smuggling, who did it and why? 30 years later, we dont have an answer..

[@Look_Dad_Old_Tunes]

Your boy with the weird-looking head with La Fiera is either Kinnikuman, anime originator of the Muscle Buster finish, or his son. Given the timing, probably the former.

[@fourlomm]

I cannot begin to thank you enough for having Art Barr on this. He was a family friend and a heart of gold.

[@ameliastencil6058]

Loved Art Barr. Even before Beetlejuice

[@The-Brute-Squad]

Under the radar choice: Hiromitsu Gompei Gompei was a Young Lion who supposedly died of a training incident, but it's alleged that there was a cover up because he was beaten and suplexed by Kensuke Sasaki until he suffered head trauma, and that's what caused his death. This was the incident that led to Hiroshi Hase "retiring" and then jumping ship to AJPW.

[@craigdavis5818]

Wow

[@therealmannyphresh]

Man Art Barr’s frog Splash was simply amazing!

[@ameliastencil6058]

💯

[@no_one01-5]

There's the 27 club with musicians, actors, etc. Maybe wrestling should have 28 club.

[@smokeybones1977]

Nothing needs a fucking “club” for dying

[@dexterjustice8749]

Maybe

[@coltkillergaming5685]

There doesn’t need t be a club

[@yurinoworry]

There’s already The Von Erich club :(

[@tinky_winky4488]

@@yurinoworry ouch

[@gregoriocruz4530]

I knew La Parkita when he was alive. He was a really nice guy. He worked for my dad selling paletas.

[@PolarisCastillo]

That's awesome. Do you know what the title of the movie about them is called?

[@marcolopezc.x]

Thank you for the attention to Mexican Lucha Libre, there's a lot of stories out there that can be very interesting for the folks who don't speak Spanish, and probably making them more interested in old school Lucha Libre

[@EmmaBonn96]

I’m guessing Gino and Dino will be on here

[@hib6076]

I reckon Abismo Negro's death is the most mysterious. All the others you can understand what happened but that one is truly a mystery

[@leonardcrowe6362]

Abismo Negro was such an amazing luchador, since his passing, I have never sawn AAA the same say

[@smileybenji1525]

Edit: Dino Bravo was billed as “Canada’s strongest man” not world

[@Dwellerz]

He did start proclaiming himself as Worlds Strongest Man after Jessie Ventura helped him cheat to set an unofficial bench press record at the ‘88 Royal Rumble. So for a while he was billed as such, by himself and Ventura at least.

[@thecodex0994]

The whole Von Erich family was tragic, Theirs a brilliant podcast called crime in sport did a brilliant episode covering the whole family.

[@thatmexicanuzer]

I have another one for you, the Luchador "oro" who died in 1993 in the middle of the ring during a trios match. It's quite bizarre, a heel wrestler "Khaoz" slaps him near the neck and Oro bumps, no big deal, but then Khaoz runs out of the ring, has a suspicious interaction with a fan while Oro pursues him and then minutes afterwards, Oro just starts to collapse outside of the ring, to the point where the medical staff walks him out on a stretcher.

[@mrmutyFTW]

Descanse en paz Abismo Negro :(

[@joeyramirez.308]

🙏🏼 el rey del martinete

[@BrandonH58]

R.I.P. Abismo Negro. My favorite Luchador!

[@andrewberenson5717]

Honorable mention. Bruiser Brody's death.

[@NGMonocrom]

Bravo had apparently gotten greedy and started skimming off the top. His mafia bosses found out, and decided to make an example of him.

[@peggytheveteran4968]

Art Barr and Eddie Guerrero had a great tag match (pretty sure it was 2 out of 3 falls) and Art died a few days later

[@grapefruitsimmons]

11:08 now I know where The Batman Who Laughs design came from

[@danyalshaikh1478]

I’m still curious about the death of Gran Naniwa, there’s not much info out there about him and it seems he got less and less active and passed of a heart attack at 33, strange for a Japanese Jr Heavyweight

[@egpmh2891]

yes especially if you saw his ECW matches he had, he ran circles around everyone

[@danyalshaikh1478]

@@egpmh2891 and he was in the Super J cup when he was like 18 I think, I’d love to see if there is any more info about what happened to him

[@harrybanner170]

There has never been more of a cursed sport then professional wrestling

[@goingrogue2236]

Art Barr was very well known among the 'ahem' younger girls here in Portland. Knew several high school girls who used to go out and hang with him.

[@kendrickcooperimmarshallte2142]

Everyone seems shocked most of these men died at 28 but wrestling takes its toll on your body constantly.

[@Peringon]

I just love seeing the attention to mexican wrestling Cultaholic often brings to their videos 💕💕💕💕💕 Gracias 💕💕💕

[@joeywrestling9536]

Although the subject is tragic, this could be one of the most fascinating and well done videos I've seen. Thanks very much, Adam, for all you guys do!!

[@TV499]

I wouldn't be surprised that Abismo Negro was the inspiration for DC Comic's The Bat Who Laughs...

[@coltkillergaming5685]

Batman

[@suro2545]

If I ever become a wrestler, I'm bubble wrapping myself the moment I turn 28 for that year.

[@peggytheveteran4968]

Art Barr had an amazing frog splash, that's where Eddie Guerrero got the move from, to pay homage to him

[@stevegallo8483]

Since Eddie's death, wrestlers like Rey Mysterio Jr. have used it to pay tribute to Eddie.

[@itsRandyRandom]

What an interesting cycle.

[@keithboyd9582]

I remember seeing Gino Hernandez, Chris Adams and all of the WCCW guys in person and on TV when I lived in Dallas back then. Gino was so good and funny to watch. Never got to see David wrestle in person but the first show I ever went to was the day he died and Kerry and Kevin was supposed to do a house show at my local high school. And I was at the 1st David Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions show where Kerry won the NWA World Title.

[@callumroberts4616]

Good video! Surprised no ultimate warrior in this list.His speech and then heart attack the day after is creepy

[@tafua_a]

It is less mysterious, considering that a lot of people feel when they're close to their final days, his steroid use in the 80's and the fact that he had a family history of fatal heart attacks.

[@MovieguruThe]

6:00 David Von Erich was 25. Gino was 28.

[@Madeyoulook123]

Ill trust dollar store ribeyes before I believe whatever Ric Flair says

[@adamdevree6482]

To be fair, I think someone else has said the same thing.

[@aliciasimmons8473]

Great list some of these I've never heard of keep up the great work guys!

[@marylubrano9112]

I think Brodie Lee's death should be on this list. To this day his family and his doctors don't know exactly what happened. Edit. Yes, I know he died of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, but people that get that diagnosis can usually survive at least 4 more years, Brodie went from being fine to dead in just a couple of months, he went from being considered healthy enough for a transplant to being in a coma. It was so sudden and confusing for everyone involved.

[@jvfm97]

Actually Amanda Huber revealed in January on AEW Unrestricted that he died of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, it's a rare disease with a unknown cause, but still, they know the cause of death

[@marylubrano9112]

I know he died of that medical condiction, but Amanda has detailed, day by day, how he was completely fine and then shit hit the fan and he was gone in just days. It's still more mysterious than the many deaths on this list about wrestlers overdosing. The doctors don't understand yet how it came to be that bad, because the treatments worked initially. Later on it was complete madness, and everything was failing. He went from being considered healthy enough for a transplant, to being dead.

[@michellemenefee8359]

brodie lee was an illuminati blood sacrifice

[@SheltonHull]

Very well researched. Great job!

[@MuseMaribethh]

This video was really well done. You guys are amazing writers!

[@Vipers_Pit]

The von Eric family. I believe they had a curs on them.

[@thebrandolorian9037]

Man what a great video. Any video with Gino Hernández gets a thumbs up from me.

[@nicktaylor2657]

Gino Hernandez was murdered His cocaine overdose was three times the lethal limit and they found cocaine in his stomach

[@allknower6647]

Actually art bar used the splash first then eddie .... eddie used it as tribute to art

[@piguelmonce9937]

The Ricky lawless story sounds like perfect episode for dark side of the ring

[@noegonzalez4918]

El Abismo Negro death hit me, I remember he was gonna do a show in San Jose, California. Me and my parents went to the event but he died a few days prior. One of the main reasons we went was to see Abismo Negro.

[@TheJedihunter]

That is under selling Dino Bravo he had more then one run with the WWF in his first run he won both The Canadian Heavyweight Championship even though he was awarded it, and With Dominic DeNucci won the WWWF Tag team titles now the WWE Tag team titles. Should always give the whole story.

[@alleahsasseville]

OMG.... Gino could have become a LEGEND. 💪❤

[@vids2002]

I need that Adam issue of Hustler 😂😂

[@barkbentley4657]

Lmfao David con Erich "a young heartthrob"😆

[@venomousnate7263]

Very respectful video.

[@Duncanlinc]

I can imagine seeing a Von Erich at some point in this.

[@emiliano3552]

¡Yo soy Abismo Negro! ¡El mejor rudo, viper extreme! ¡¡¡TRIPLE LLL!!! (RISA MALVADA)

[@user-dt8vy2yb3d]

Remember the quote from the 1980's. "Just say NO to drugs."

[@Matt_tenny92]

The scary thing is that a lot of these wrestlers died at the age of 28 years old which is the same age I am now 😳

[@chrisblester37]

Dino Bravo was an x wwf tag team champion but before his last run but he did hold wwf gold it was in 1978 14,5. And they held them for over 100 days

[@Flair27]

He held the tag belts with Dominic Denucci

[@joegreenhalgh6902]

He was also the short lived Canadian champion.

[@tamzidmohsinkhan3333]

RIP to these wrestlers

[@eduardosotelo8446]

Rip to all the Mexican Legends. Abismo Negro was ahead of he’s time

[@CHAOTIXMaddLass]

Man, this video is dark....

[@mike1975a]

Missed the most mysterious disappearance/death of all: El Generico 😢

[@ethanbell6762]

El Generico isn't dead though. He went back to his home in Mexico to run the orphanage he wrestled for.

[@jimmiecarson7518]

He was found dead in a ditch after a run-in with a cartel. Bless El Generico. Olé!

[@ethantravis8378]

I was just watching the vice documentary about Gino Hernandez so this is kinda weird timing.

[@zenos02]

Well a lot of these guys start very young, get injuries, and rely on drugs/alcohol at an even earlier age and back then a wrestler in their 30's was "nearing the end"

[@SteRDLK]

I wasn't watching that documentary so it's not weird timing

[@rhinogamer0271]

and back when you would hear about wrestlers passing away like of course the Von Erichs it was a shock seeing how back than there was no internet.

[@carloscjr23]

The music business has the 27 club, it seems the wrestling business has the 28 club. I have seen sadly how many wrestlers have died at that age.

[@PansTheCatboy]

Very pleased to see the return of Sgt. Pacitti there for the magazine cover on number 2

[@trevorkenny]

I'm both glad and sad to see Dino in the top spot.

[@VeinySausage]

Jiminez bros were born on the same day and murdered on the exact same day that’s really sad man

[@zmbdog]

28 seems to be wrestling's equivalent to the 27-year-old rock star curse.

[@thethinkingcatakaneonormie3527]

Having seen Dino's great ring work in Canada pre WWF it's a great shame he was made a heel and forced to have blonde hair

[@poppunkmark305]

This video is like Dark side of the ring lite still good tho

[@TraciPeteyforlife]

So glad Dark Side of the Ring finally laid the truth about Gino's death bare.

[@jerransperarman9411]

good video

[@YoshiCosmico]

Abismo Negro, El Rey del Martinete 🙏

[@jaytrigger8173]

I know this comment may be debated but should Benoit be on this list? Now I'm 75-80% sure we know what happened but I feel there's a few unanswered questions about it to say we don't know 100% about it. Like why would someone so close to him like chavo wait 24 hours after the "goodbye" message he got before saying something about it? Just saying I don't believe in coincidences and it just so happens some random guy posts something about benoit's family and his wife being deceased, just seems like a very strange string of events from that Friday all thru the weekend.

[@MaryBeach-zx1gg]

It is very sad at the young wrestling pass way at young age.Rlp.

[@lilpoetat]

thanks!

[@huntercarpenter7185]

Did anyone else think of that episode of 1000 ways to die during the twin midgets part

[@megsley]

with regards to David von erich - opioid abuse can lead to intestinal issues (due to the slowing of intestinal motility caused by opioids) which if left untreated could theoretically cause things like non viral enteritis. so his death could have been caused directly by enteritis which was caused by his opioid abuse.

[@burnthetrolls5971]

Some of these need to be on Dark Side of the Ring of course The Von Erichs, Gino Hernandez, and Dino Bravo were already done but we need an episode of more of these wrestlers who passed away especially Abismo Negro

[@jamesfrost2032]

I knew #1 would be Dino Bravo.

[@BrottenGuy]

“He was just 28-years old...!” is said way too often here.

[@AlexGarcia-kn9be]

Anyone know where I can find that one documentary/ in depth story of The Jimenez brothers?

[@bones666]

we've all seen dark side of the ring by now....

[@kaniac5768]

Even more incredible about Ricky Dozan death is that both the gang member and THE LEADER of the crime family came to his bedside bowing and prostrating themselves and asking for his forgiveness which they received. After his death the gangster turned himself in willingly with no struggle

[@cdc3337]

Music has the 27 club and Wrestling has the 28 club

[@batsau652]

RIP Abismo Negro

[@MrMarvelous1973]

I figured Bruiser Brody's death would make the list

[@ownknow8161]

*Gino's heel character was the consummate one. His death was the most tragic of wrestling's history.*

[@ShowdeQuetzal]

This reminded me of the Caborba legend

[@2koKiller]

David von erich was actually 25 even sadder

[@GlassesnMouthplates]

"....wrestlers' deaths. JOIN US." That transition doesn't sound right.

[@loboblanco4426]

Did I blink and miss Brody?

[@dashtoroya2838]

Nah, we know who killed Brody, and why they did. But the court let them go because "in act of self defense" and showed his matches to prove their point.