- 12 hours ago
They left us too soon, but their legacies live on in the squared circle. Join us as we remember the WWE superstars whose bright careers were tragically cut short. From trailblazing performers to championship icons, these wrestlers made an indelible impact on sports entertainment before their untimely deaths. Which wrestler's story impacts you the most?
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00:00I love you, bro. And I'll never be another one like you.
00:04Welcome to Ms. Mojo.
00:06And today, we're looking back on the careers of WWE's brightest talents whose lives were cut tragically short.
00:13It was her being Chyna.
00:15It took my friend into a dark place that she could not come out of.
00:23Ashley Massero.
00:24The 2005 Diva Search winner resonated with fans because of her punk rock edge,
00:29making her a standout from the Ruthless Aggression era.
00:32And on tap, Diva, Tag Team Action.
00:39Her post-WWE years, however, were marked by serious allegations against the company
00:45regarding its handling of injuries and an assault she endured during a tribute to the Troops tour.
00:50She was in and out of consciousness, trying desperately to stay awake and move her limbs, and she couldn't.
00:58The lawsuit was dismissed in 2018, but years later, Ashley's lawyers released a statement
01:03in which she'd accused higher-ups of covering up the incident.
01:06Ashley took her own life in 2019 at just 39 years old, with her final tweet being a tribute to
01:12her fans.
01:13In an even stranger twist, Ashley's name surfaced in the Epstein files published by the Department of Justice.
01:19The context is unclear, but we do know that she submitted an anonymous complaint about people in Epstein's orbit.
01:26Luke Harper.
01:27Known to wrestling fans by many names, John Huber commanded respect both in and out of the ring.
01:33From the menacing portrayal of Luke Harper in WWE's Wyatt Family,
01:37to his acclaimed run as Brodie Lee, his talent was undeniable.
01:41And now, it is time to pay for your sins.
01:49His combination of believable intensity and surprising agility for his size constantly exceeded expectations.
01:56In 2020, he passed away due to a non-COVID-related lung disease.
02:00His sudden death at 41 stunned the wrestling world.
02:04Huber was universally praised by colleagues, who described him as an exceptional family man.
02:09He was caring.
02:12One of the things that you'll hear a lot about from people is how much he loved his family.
02:17Bray Wyatt.
02:18In a loss that still feels surreal, Wyndham Rotunda, better known as Bray Wyatt, left us far too soon.
02:28Both of his iconic WWE gimmicks, the leader of the Wyatt Family and later the split personality Fiend,
02:35captivated audiences with creepy storytelling.
02:42Fans lit up arenas with a lantern effect as he marched to the ring.
02:46Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to welcome you all to the era of Wyatt!
02:55The news of his passing came just three years after the death of his former ally, Luke Harper.
03:00At just 36 years old, Rotunda died of a heart attack exacerbated by complications from COVID-19 and a pre
03:07-existing heart condition.
03:09His willingness to embrace the supernatural has influenced the art in the years since his untimely death.
03:15Chris Canyon.
03:16An often overlooked entertainer, Canyon shone brightly in WCW before his tenure with WWE.
03:23Who's better than Canyon?
03:25He showcased a diverse skill set that earned him the title Innovator of Offense.
03:30Behind the flashy character, Canyon battled significant personal demons, namely his own sexuality.
03:36He hid his orientation for fear that it would hinder his career.
03:39If you were gay back then, you were a bad guy.
03:43You were a heel.
03:45You were the guy that you would do the sunset flip and they would pull your pants down and you'd
03:48have a thong on.
03:49And later alleged that he was buried and humiliated in WWE when officials learned about his sexuality behind the scenes.
03:56We know a lot of guys inside the business that are gay, but they don't want to go national and
03:59be nationally out.
04:01I did and I was punished for wanting to do it.
04:03Canyon made it a point to incorporate this part of himself into his in-ring persona when he joined the
04:08indie circuit.
04:09The rumor is the truth.
04:10I'm gay.
04:11I am the first ever openly gay professional athlete active in this country.
04:18You will always be my brother.
04:20Tragically, a bipolar disorder diagnosis and years of mental health struggles caught up with him in 2010 when he took
04:26his own life at age 40.
04:28He was one of my best friends.
04:31He wanted to reach his arms out and help, you know, me be successful.
04:36This one, I love him, man.
04:39I miss him.
04:40Rick Rude.
04:41The ravishing one himself.
04:43Rick Rude was a truly magnetic presence during the 80s and 90s.
04:47The champion now is helpless in the middle of the ring and the arrogant challenger.
04:51This trash-talking stud was the epitome of arrogance and showmanship, making him one of the most hateable heels in
04:58the golden era, almost like the wrestling version of Gaston.
05:01Keep the noise down while I take my robe off and show the ladies what a real sexy man looks
05:11like.
05:11His career saw him hold titles in both the WWF and WCW, and he even famously appeared on both shows
05:18on the same night.
05:19He passed away in 1999 of heart failure, brought on by an accidental overdose.
05:25The death of a 40-year-old man seemingly in peak physical condition left many wondering about the toll of
05:30the 90s wrestling scene.
05:32Sarah Lee.
05:33Competing on the sixth season of Tough Enough, Lee beat out the likes of Mandy Rose and Chelsea Green.
05:39Sarah Lee is the winner!
05:43The minimalist WWE team of Sarah Lee!
05:46Despite winning and securing a one-year contract, she never actually made it to the main roster.
05:52Lee's tenure was short-lived due to a perceived lack of improvement while she was in developmental training.
05:58I just get in my head too much.
05:59Yeah, well get out of your head, because I'm over you being in your head.
06:03In 2022, news broke that Lee had taken her own life at just 30 years old.
06:08She left behind a husband, former WWE superstar Wesley Blake, and three young children.
06:14Though she never got her moment in the spotlight, the outpouring of fan support she received on the show proves
06:19her potential.
06:20I'm here to learn and improve each week.
06:22Umaga.
06:25Umaga!
06:29Umaga?
06:30Umaga?
06:31The Samoan bulldozer left a mark on WWE with his ferocious face paint and devastating attacks.
06:38A member of the legendary Anawaii family, which includes Roman Reigns and The Rock,
06:43Eddie Fatu brought a level of intensity and raw power that few could match.
06:47At the height of his career, this monster heel was a main event player known for the terrifying Samoan spike.
06:53Appearing as a brute who only ever grunted or shouted in Samoan.
06:57Fa!
06:58Sa!
06:59Moa!
07:04As soon as he walked into a room, he just, he brightened up the room.
07:10He was loud, he was happy, and everybody loved him.
07:13His 2009 passing at 36 years old, a heart attack complicated by acute intoxication, added another sad chapter to the
07:21Anawaii family's history of premature deaths in the wrestling business.
07:25I just wish he was here, you know, cause, like, the day we got signed, you know, he passed away.
07:31Owen Hart, yet another wrestling dynasty with a sinister curse.
07:35Owen was a beloved member of the legendary Hart family, renowned for his incredible in-ring talent and genuine kindness
07:42backstage.
07:43However, his legacy is marred by perhaps the darkest moment in WWE history.
07:48Owen Hart fell from the ceiling during an event in Kansas City.
07:52The wrestling world was irrevocably changed in 1999, when Owen tragically died at just 34 years old during a live
07:59pay-per-view event.
08:00A malfunction occurred while he was being lowered to the ring from the rafters, and he plummeted to his death
08:05in front of the live crowd.
08:07I thought I heard screaming, and then I felt something brush against the side of my head and my shoulder,
08:15and at the same time, the top rope that I was holding pulled out of my hand.
08:19The footage wasn't broadcasted and remains sealed in the vaults to this day.
08:23I have the unfortunate responsibility to let everyone know that Owen Hart has died.
08:33Owen Hart has tragically died from that accident here tonight.
08:38His wife, Martha, received an $18 million settlement for proving that officials acted with negligence in coordinating the stunt.
08:45There will be a day of reckoning, and this is my final promise to Owen.
08:50It was out of respect for Owen.
08:53I can't let everything that our life was just be all for nothing.
08:57China.
08:58Known as the ninth wonder of the world, Joni Lohr broke barriers in professional wrestling.
09:03The ninth wonder of the world making history!
09:07I very much see myself as the Wonder Woman 2000.
09:11I'll write it!
09:12Her physical prowess allowed her to compete against men, winning the Intercontinental Championship, and asserting that women could be just
09:19as dominant.
09:20The first woman to become the Intercontinental Champion!
09:25After that, it was just like this phenomenon of the magazine covers and all the interviews.
09:30She was a pivotal member of D-Generation X, but a failed relationship with Triple H culminated in her departure
09:36from WWF in 2001.
09:39Fans complained that she was blocked and erased from the product as a result of this bad blood.
09:44It's something that the company's actually very good at doing, and they did it with Joni, which is that once
09:49she was let go, it's like she was completely erased.
09:52Later, Laura faced significant personal struggles, publicly battling substance use disorder and mental health issues.
09:58In 2016, she died of an accidental overdose.
10:02Only then was the 46-year-old inducted into the Hall of Fame, a bittersweet tribute to one of the
10:07most trailblazing female athletes of all time.
10:10No one had ever seen the likes of her before.
10:13In my mind, we haven't seen the likes of her since.
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10:32Eddie Guerrero, pure Latino heat.
10:36China's on-screen partner, Eddie Guerrero was best known for playing a beloved face and an even more captivating heel.
10:42Nobody could so convincingly switch sides while still drawing as much fan interest as he did.
10:47When I said I'm sorry, I forgot to tell you.
10:51Yeah?
10:52I lied!
10:55His journey to sobriety and championship glory represented one of wrestling's most genuine redemption stories.
11:01But it came to a tragic end in 2005.
11:04He's still there, man.
11:06And we're trying and then all of a sudden, he's in my arms and he's not there anymore.
11:13The shocking discovery of 38-year-old Guerrero, unresponsive in a Minneapolis hotel room, occurred at the absolute peak of
11:21his career.
11:22Perhaps most heartbreaking of all, his death came when he had finally found personal peace.
11:26His wife came back, his family came back, his life came back.
11:30And that's where Eddie got rehired from WWE and things were great.
11:34He was in the best shape.
11:36Guerrero is remembered as a profoundly influential superstar, with ripples of his impact still visible today.
11:44Like, this is all Eddie.
11:47I watched him just so much that it organically became a thing.
11:51Which moments from these wrestlers' careers do you look back on fondly?
11:55Share your tributes in the comments.
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