R.I.P WRESTLING DEATHS 2022

[jimsteel]

MEN
Gene LeBell-89
JOE D’ORAZIO-99
Bert Royal-91
Humberto Garza Sr.-85
Rick "The Gladiator" Hunter-85
Ernie Moore-82
STRONG KOBAYASHI-81
Mike Pappas-81
Antonio Inoki-79
BILL ASH-76
Buzz Tyler-73
Black Man-73
Goro Tsurumi-73
Jose 'Hurricane' Rivera
Caveman Broda-68
MIKE MASTERS/ROCKY JONES-68
Scott Hall-67
Ken Raper-67
Masashi Aoyagi-65
Farmer Brooks-65
Scott Hall-63
Rocky King-62
Len Davies
Death Row 3260
Luis "Tiger" Marshal
Freddie Fargo
Jose Rivera Sr
Super Doll/Super Muñeco-59
Tarzan Goto-58
The Enforcer Big Doug-57
Babe The Farmers Daughter-56
Bronco del Cibao
Crusher Bones-54
Karl Kramer-54
Invincible Dave Maddison-52
El Salvaje-50
Raziel-49
Starman-47
Matt Sinister-46
Rey Corsario-45
Scrapyard Dog
Tommy Seabolt
Bad Boy Buck
Mad Dog Ken Johnson
Shannon Yakini Hutchens
Tee Lairson(Big T)
Huggy Bear
Joey Rage
Adam Windsor-41
“Cowboy” Hank Dalton-41
Damon Knight
Shooter Storm-39
Osamu Inoue-38
Jaysin Strife-37
Katsuya Kitamura-36
“Mr. Electricity” Adam Evans-35
The Janitor Ricky Dunlap-31
D'LO JORDAN-30
JT Highlander
Havok
Brute Barreto
Anarchy Ash Aubrey
Kid Krazy
General Romero/COTA
Sol Yang
Bubba Sutton
Big Mike Michael Hand
Maverick
Jake Slater
SONNY O'MARA
Jermaine Johnson
LOGAN LEGIT-28
Black Warrior Jr-24
Matt Mayhem

WOMAN
Jane Shirrel-83
Terumi Sakura-83
Matilda the Hun/Queen Kong-70
Candy Devine-63
Donna Day
Darling Pat Sherry
ANGEL/Hot Rod Andi-58
Chelsey “Bubbles” Cartwright-31
Sara Lee-30

OTHER
Vicki Askew-101
CHARLIE SMITH-92
Cynthia Heenan
KARL LAUER-84
‘DOC’ HOLLIDAY-80
Dave Hebner-73
Alan Denkenson-70
Tim White-68
Arturo "El Rudo" Rivera-67
HOWARD BRODY-62
Mickie "Jay" Henson-60
Don West-59
Bob Mulrenin-58
El Servio
Freddie Fargo
Vernon Love
Dan Masters
David “Blackjack” Brown
Todd Fulkerson
Sebastian Night
Dan Mirade
Terry Landell
“Hurricane” JJ John Maguire
Adam Turek-34

[jimsteel]

Former indy Wrestler Sonny O'Mara passed away

[TTX]

RIP

[jimsteel]

STRONG KOBAYASHI DEAD AT 81

Shozo “Strong” Kobayashi, who was one of the major wrestling stars in Japan in the 1970s and into the early 1980s, died on January 2nd at the age of 81.

Born on December 15, 1940, Kobayashi began training to be a pro wrestling in 1966, and debuted in 1967, but under a mask initially. (Note, that Shozo Kobayashi is no relation to Kuniaki Kobayashi, or Kenta Kobayashi.) The “Strong” nickname came in part for his bodybuilder physique on his 6-foot-2, 270-pound frame.

[TTX]

RIP Strong

[jimsteel]

Former GLOW Girl Matilda the Hun/Queen Kong passed away At 70

[jimsteel]

“The Real Deal” Jake Slater, a long-time veteran of the wrestling scene in southern Georgia, who also was a singer-songwriter, has died. Many who knew him in Georgia, and beyond, have shared their stories.

Slater was always a wrestling fan, and met a wrestler who suggested he give it a try. He figured he’d go watch them train.

“The ring is like a magnet, when you’ve dreamed of it your entire life,” Slater told “The Wrestling Doctor” Hal Lee from Pro Wrestling Extra in 2013. Soon, he was training, and after 8-10 months of learning, he debuted in early 2000, in Macon, Georgia, versus Duane Elliott.

“My real experience comes from being on the road with guys like Tommy Rich and Bob Armstrong,” Slater told Lee. The Armstrongs took a liking to him, and invited Slater down to their home in Pensacola, Florida, to further his skills, working out with “Bullet” Bob and his sons, Scott and Steve.

“I love this business,” the 6-foot-1, 235-pound Slater said on the interview with Lee. “You’re always learning. The day you quit learning, hang up the boots.”

Slater also ran his own shows for a while, but got out because it was too stressful; instead, he talked about enjoying booking promotions, including South Georgia Championship Wrestling. He also helped train some wrestlers. His wrestling days ended in 2014.

In a second career, Slater was a singer-songwriter, and fronted a group called Jake Slater and the Real Country Band.

[jimsteel]

Former Wrestler/Referee Osamu Inoue passed away at 38

He made his debut as a member of Michinoku Pro-Wrestling in 2002. In 2004, he would join Dick Togo in the formation of "SUPER CREW" in which he would become the manager of the dormitory. During his time training he suffered a cervical and lumbar hernia which slowed his in-ring career down. Though he diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2008, but he underwent a successful surgery.

In 2012, he joined on with the women's wrestling promotion Diana as an active referee. He would remain with them until 2019 when he would have to take a break due to poor physical health. It was later mentioned that he suffered from a bad liver and pancreas which would eventually lead to him passing away on January 7th, 2022 at the age of 38.

[jimsteel]

Indy wrestler Shannon Yakini Hutchens passed away

[on_the_edge]

Matilda was lucky to live a long life but still tough. I was watching some GLOW just a few months ago. I guess she and Mt. Fuji can have some matches up in heaven now.