wrestler – News Stories About wrestler - Page 1

Dwayne Johnson Finally Gets Rights to Famous Nickname

'The Rock' Has a New Owner

And it's Dwayne Johnson, who strikes a deal with WWE regarding rights to his famous nickname

(Newser) - It's a name that has become almost synonymous with professional wrestling, but its bearer, Dwayne Johnson, has never legally owned "The Rock." That will change under a new agreement with the WWE, under which Johnson will also join the board of TKO Group, the sports and entertainment...

Pro Wrestler Jay Briscoe
Killed in Car Crash

OBITUARY

Jan 19, 2023 5:07 AM CST

Pro Wrestler Jay Briscoe Killed in Car Crash

He was an 'incredible performer who created a deep connection with wrestling fans'

(Newser) - Pro wrestling star Jay Briscoe was killed in a car crash in Delaware on Tuesday after another driver veered into his lane for "unknown reasons," police say. The 38-year-old, whose real name was Jamin Pugh, was pronounced dead at the scene and his two daughters, ages 9 and...

WWE Hall of Famer 'Razor Ramon' Dead at 63

Wrestling Legend
'Razor Ramon' Dead at 63

obituary

Mar 15, 2022 5:05 AM CDT

Wrestling Legend 'Razor Ramon' Dead at 63

Scott Hall had multiple heart attacks after fall, hip replacement surgery

(Newser) - Scott Hall, or "Razor Ramon" as he was known in World Wrestling Entertainment, died Monday at age 63. Hall had suffered a fall and broke his hip in early March; he reportedly experienced complications during the ensuing hip replacement surgery. On Saturday, after suffering three heart attacks, he was...

Wrestling Legend
'Mr. Wonderful' Dies

Jul 13, 2021 12:02 AM CDT

Wrestling Legend 'Mr. Wonderful' Dies

Paul Orndorff was 71

(Newser) - One of the stars of World Wrestling Entertainment's 1980s heyday has died at age 71. Paul Orndorff, otherwise known as "Mr. Wonderful," signed with the World Wrestling Federation in 1983, and was managed by "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, who gave him his nickname, Deadline reports. During the...

Iran Shows No Mercy
to Accused Wrestler

Sep 12, 2020 1:00 PM CDT

Iran Shows No Mercy to Accused Wrestler

Navid Afkari said he gave a false confession under torture

(Newser) - Iranian state TV on Saturday reported that the country's authorities executed a wrestler for allegedly murdering a man, after President Trump asked for the 27-year-old condemned man's life to be spared, the AP reports. State TV quoted the chief justice of Fars province, Kazem Mousavi, as saying: "...

World Rallies Behind
Wrestler Facing the 'Rope'

Sep 9, 2020 5:20 PM CDT

World Rallies Behind Wrestler Facing the 'Rope'

Navid Afkari says Iranian authorities tortured him into confessing

(Newser) - Navid Afkari has the world's attention. Sports groups are rallying behind the Iranian wrestler who insists his murder confession was forced under torture, the New York Times reports. Now his execution appears imminent: "We really are at one minute to midnight," says Brendan Schwab, head of the...

Wrestler's
Last Words:
'Save My Son'

OBITUARY

May 20, 2020 10:40 AM CDT

Wrestler's Last Words: 'Save My Son'

Body of Shad Gaspard, 39, washes ashore in Venice Beach, Calif.

(Newser) - Former WWE star Shad Gaspard has been confirmed dead after he disappeared in a rip current off Venice Beach, Calif., on Sunday. A person reported a body on the beach near Venice Pier around 1:30am Wednesday. The Los Angeles County coroner's office has since confirmed the body is...

Former WWE
Champ Accused of
Horrific Sexual Assault

May 11, 2020 2:02 AM CDT

Former WWE Champ Accused of Horrific Sexual Assault

Jose A. Rodriguez Chucuan, aka Alberto Del Rio, arrested in Texas

(Newser) - A professional wrestler is facing charges after a woman accused him of a horrific, hours-long assault, News 4 San Antonio reports. Jose A. Rodriguez Chucuan, 42, known to wrestling fans as Alberto Del Rio, was arrested in San Antonio, Texas, after a woman told police that Chucuan beat her on...

Cops: He Tried to Kidnap Kids.
A Teen Wrestler Was Watching

Cops: He Tried to Kidnap Kids. A Teen Wrestler Was Watching

New Mexico's Canaan Bower, 16, credited with heroic body slam

(Newser) - A man who allegedly tried to kidnap three children from a New Mexico convenience store was stopped when he came up against a champion high school wrestler. Canaan Bower, 16, was getting gas in Las Cruces on Wednesday morning when he noticed a commotion at a convenience store across the...

He Gave It His All in
the Ring. It Killed Him

Jan 13, 2020 10:45 AM CST

He Gave It His All in the Ring. It Killed Him

Mask-wearing Mexican pro wrestler 'La Parka' dies at age 54 after October in-ring injury

(Newser) - A horrific in-ring accident in October reportedly left a Mexican pro wrestler paralyzed—and now he has succumbed to his injuries. Per the New York Daily News , "La Parka" (real name Jesus Alfonso Huerta Escoboza), known for donning elaborate costumes and masks, most notably ones depicting skeletons, died Saturday...

Wrestler in Jack Black Film
Dies During Match

May 12, 2019 3:30 PM CDT

Wrestler in Jack Black Film Dies During Match

Mexico's Cesar Barron, the 'Silver King,' suffers apparent heart attack in London

(Newser) - Tragedy on a London wrestling stage Saturday night: A Mexican wrestler who appeared in the Jack Black movie Nacho Libre died during a match from an apparent heart attack, reports the Guardian . Cesar Gonzalez Barron, who wrestled as The Silver King, was 51. Those who saw the 2006 movie might...

WWE's 'Walking
Condominium'
Has Fallen

OBITUARY

Mar 5, 2019 8:51 AM CST

WWE's 'Walking Condominium' Has Fallen

King Kong Bundy dead at 61

(Newser) - The "walking condominium" has fallen. The death of 61-year-old WWE legend King Kong Bundy, real name Christopher Pallies, was confirmed Tuesday by his promoter and friend David Herro. "Today we lost a Legend and a man I consider family. Rest in Peace Chris. We love you," he...

He Came Ready
to Win. Then, a
Ref's 'Cruel'
Demand

Dec 22, 2018 8:00 AM CST

He Came Ready to Win. Then, a Ref's 'Cruel' Demand

NJ athletic officials investigating why Alan Maloney made young athlete shave off his dreadlocks

(Newser) - In 2016, Alan Maloney was accused of using a racial slur against a colleague. Now the high school wrestling referee is in hot water again, this time for forcing a young athlete to have his dreadlocks shaved right before a match. NBC News reports the incident took place Wednesday night,...

2 Deaths Slam WWE World,
Including Son of 'the King'

OBITUARY

Jul 30, 2018 6:03 AM CDT

2 Deaths Slam WWE World, Including Son of 'the King'

Brian Lawler reportedly hanged himself; Josip Peruzovic, aka 'Nikolai Volkoff,' dies at 70

(Newser) - The professional wrestling world lost two of its own over the weekend, including the son of WWE legend Jerry Lawler. Per Yahoo Sports and the Commercial Appeal , Brian Christopher Lawler, 46, was found hanging in his jail cell in Memphis, Tenn., Saturday evening and died the next day. "Corrections...

Wrestler on Lawmaker's Denial
He Knew of Abuse: 'Hurtful'

Jul 6, 2018 9:42 AM CDT

Wrestler on Lawmaker's Denial He Knew of Abuse: 'Hurtful'

Rep. Jim Jordan says he didn't know of molestation by Dr. Richard Strauss at Ohio State

(Newser) - The number of Ohio State wrestlers who've come forward to say Rep. Jim Jordan knew about abuse at the hands of their team doctor is rising, despite Jordan's adamant denials. After an initial report on three former wrestlers, NBC News interviews a fourth accuser, Shawn Dailey, who says...

Transgender Teen's Wrestling
Win Courts Controversy

Feb 27, 2017 7:49 AM CST

Transgender Teen's Wrestling Win Courts Controversy

Critics say Texas' Mack Beggs shouldn't have competed against girls—a fact he agrees with

(Newser) - The outcry started building after Mack Beggs started winning match after match in Texas' high school wrestling tournament—and once the 17-year-old from Trinity High School in Euless clinched the championship Saturday, the controversy reached its peak. NBC News reports that the junior won to "cheers and jeers,"...

Jimmy 'Superfly'
Snuka, WWE
Legend, Dead
at 73

OBITUARY

Jan 15, 2017 3:28 PM CST

Jimmy 'Superfly' Snuka, WWE Legend, Dead at 73

Hall of Famer who'd faced murder charges lost his battle with cancer

(Newser) - Less than two weeks after a judge dismissed murder charges against him in a 30-year-plus case, a WWE legend has died. Hall of Famer Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka passed away at the age of 73, TMZ reports, with former WWE star Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson confirming his death on...

Ex-WWE Star
Bret Hart Fights
'Toughest Battle':
Cancer

Feb 2, 2016 7:44 AM CST

Ex-WWE Star Bret Hart Fights 'Toughest Battle': Cancer

Says he'll 'wage fearsome fight' against prostate cancer

(Newser) - The ex-professional wrestler known to his fans as "The Hitman" has just taken a hit of his own. Bret Hart has prostate cancer, he told fans in an Instagram post Monday, and he says he'll be having surgery within days, ESPN reports. "Mark Helprin wrote: 'We...

'Lucha Libre'
Wrestler Dies
of Hit Taken
in the Ring

Mar 22, 2015 8:09 AM CDT

'Lucha Libre' Wrestler Dies of Hit Taken in the Ring

Pedro Aguayo Ramirez had wrestled for 20 years

(Newser) - A Mexican lucha libre wrestler died early yesterday from a flying kick he took inside the ring in a match that continued for almost two minutes before anyone realized he was injured. As NBC News reports, Pedro Aguayo Ramirez was rushed to a hospital a block away from the Tijuana...

Ultimate Warrior’s Cause of Death: Massive Heart Attack

Apr 15, 2014 8:25 AM CDT

Ultimate Warrior’s Cause of Death: Massive Heart Attack

No toxicology results yet, but death listed as 'natural'

(Newser) - Ultimate Warrior, the wrestling icon who collapsed and died last week just after his return to the WWE, suffered a massive heart attack, Radar reports. The medical examiner's office listed his cause of death as "natural," due to heart disease, but will still conduct a death investigation....