5 fans who didn't listen to WWE's "Don't Try This At Home" warning

Modified Sep 12, 2021 14:24 GMT

Vince McMahon; two kids trying out WWE moves

#2 Toddler tragically dies after being hit with WWE move

Batista Bomb is one of the most devastating finishers in all of WWE. The move was popularized by former WWE Superstar Batista. The WWE veteran never imagined in his wildest dreams that the move would someday end up being used on a toddler, leading to her death.

The incident took place in Jefferson County in 2017. 24-year-old Richard Gamache Jr. was charged with abuse/neglect after he performed a bunch of wrestling moves (including a Batista Bomb) on a 2-year-old named Addie Cook. The toddler suffered a seizure and was immediately rushed to hospital on May 16. She passed away at the hospital a few days later.

Gamache denied abusing the little girl and added that her head injury was possibly a result of being subjected to a wrestling move. WWE immediately commented on the death of the child and demanded justice for her.

“We are deeply saddened by this tragic death and hope that the guilty parties are brought to justice. There is no excuse or justification for the brutal and ultimately fatal beating of a 2-year-old child by a grown man. This is a clear case of criminal intent and a lack of parental supervision,” wrote WWE.

As per the police, Addie's mom didn't intervene to put an end to the abuse as she was afraid of losing custody. She was also concerned about putting her relationship with Gamache at risk.

About the author

Abhilash Mendhe is a pro wrestling journalist at Sportskeeda with nearly five years of experience. He completed his MBA from the Symbiosis Institute of Telecom Management in 2016 and worked with multiple banking institutions, including Tech Mahindra. While he started writing WWE articles for Sportskeeda in 2019 as a hobby, it eventually became a significant part of his professional journey.

Abhilash checks his articles thrice before sending them to the editing team, ensuring his work is highly accurate and reliable.

He has interviewed prominent pro wrestling personalities like Noam Dar, Angry Miz Girl, Brendan Cobbina, and Jesse Lambert. Abhilash is a big fan of AEW star Orange Cassidy, as he believes the former International Champion’s on-screen gimmick of an extremely lazy guy resonates with him.

Given the opportunity to script WWE’s next big storyline, Abhilash would treat fans to the second installment of The Bloodline Civil War. He would book Roman Reigns to re-form The Bloodline with The Usos and Sami Zayn upon his comeback. The angle would see The Tribal Chief-led group go head-to-head with The Rock, Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, and Jacob Fatu in a blockbuster family feud.

When not reporting on pro wrestling, Abhilash likes to work out, go on walks, read, and explore new eateries.

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Edited by Abhinav Singh