Yes, there is tragedy in professional wrestling. There is a reason why promotions tell their fans not to try moves and segments on their own and that the wrestlers are professionals. However, even the most skilled professionals get injured – some even lose their lives.
Some died of heart attack, some died of moves in the ring. Some died of other reasons that are still related to the match they were to perform in.
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In any way, and in all situations, there is still tragedy over triumph.
These five wrestlers are known for their success while in the business, but also for the way they lost their lives while doing what they loved.
#5 Perro Aguayo, Jr
It’s the tragedy that is more recent. He died almost immediately of cervical spine trauma. Aguayo was performing in a match with Manik against Rey Mysterio Jr. and Xtreme Tiger at a show for The Crash promotion in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.
Mysterio used a headscissors takedown to propel Aguayo Jr out of the ring – who then returned to the ring – which forced him to the middle rope in anticipation of Mysterio's signature 619.
Manik then fell onto the middle rope Aguayo was resting on.
The match continued, but was quickly finished by Mysterio pinning Manik. Aguayo Jr. rested there limp and could not be revived, and was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. He was just 35 years old.
#4 Iron Mike DiBiase
The Father of Ted DiBiase and grandfather of Ted DiBiase Jr.
On July 2, 1969, in a match with Man Mountain Mike, DiBiase suffered a massive heart attack in the ring. It was Harley Race who recognized something was wrong, realized what was going on and tried to revive him, performing CPR in the ring.
DiBiase was also known as a tough guy who began his wrestling career in 1950. He was known for also being the last knockout victim of light heavyweight boxer Archie Moore. To his credit, he wrestled in the AWA and was the Midwest Heavyweight Champion on three occasions and in the NWA, where he won the Central States Heavyweight Champion three times.
#3 Mitsuharu Misawa
Misawa was a Japanese wrestling legend who performed well into his 40s. He was trained by legends Giant Baba, Dick Beyer, and Dory Funk Jr. On June 13, 2009, he was to wrestle in a tag team match at the Hiroshima Green Arena.
Misawa received a belly to back suplex during the match, and was knocked out by the move and never regained consciousness. It is believed he suffered a spinal cord injury during the spot, which led to his death.
He was a champion in the Orient many times over having won the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship five times and the GHC Heavyweight Championship three times. He was also named Wrestler of the Year by Wrestling Observer Newsletter on three occasions.
#2 Luther Lindsay
Lindsay broke racial barriers when he was a ring star in the 1950s and 1960s. He was also a graduate of the famed Dungeon run by Stu Hart in Canada. Lindsay’s match in 1972 led to his death. As part of his finishing move, Lindsay went for a diving splash and pinned his opponent only to lie in the ring limp.
He was taken to the dressing room after the match, and he was declared dead that night. It would later be learned that he suffered a fatal heart attack during tha match. He was a fan favorite during his time in the business, having had feuds with "Iron" Mike DiBiase, Mad Dog Vachon, Beauregarde, Moondog Mayne, Tony Borne and Pat Patterson & The Hangman.
#1 Owen Hart
It has been 17 years since Hart died in a freak wrestling accident that did not occur in the ring, but rather on his way to the ring at the Over the Edge pay-per-view in Kansas City.
According to several reports, Hart was in the process of being lowered via harness and grapple line into the ring from the rafters of Kemper Arena, for a booked Intercontinental Championship match against The Godfather.
He was in costume as the Blue Blazer. While being lowered into the ring, Hart fell as the harness did not hold him until his landing, where he died before the match.
