R.I.P WRESTLING DEATHS 2023

[TTX]

Rough run. RIP Joyce.

[Bazzy]

R.I.P Joyce Grable

If it wasn't for Filsingergames cards I would probably of never of known about her like many Legends & Indies wrestlers, thank you

[jimsteel]

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RUSS FRANCIS DIES IN PLANE CRASH AT 70

Russ Francis, who was both a Super Bowl-winning football player and a pro wrestler, has died in a plane crash.

The crash, in Lake Placid, New York, happened about 4 p.m. on Sunday, October 1. He was flying a Cessna 177, and there was apparently an emergency after takeoff, and he crashed into a ravine near the airport.

According to reports, Francis had purchased the Lake Placid Airways scenic tour business at the Lake Placid Airport recently. A pilot himself, it is unclear whether Francis was flying the plane or not, but his death was confirmed by Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s Senior Vice President Richard McSpadden.

Francis had gotten into flying early in his life, having grown up fascinated by birds and flight. He was at the University of Oregon, where he’d been a big success as a decathlete (a national interscholastic record in javelin, 254 feet, 11 inches) and a baseball player — before football. One day, he walked the eight miles from campus to the Eugene Airport, introduced himself to some of the older pilots there and asked to learn. He soloed later that week.

A thrill seeker in so many ways, Francis had well over 3,000 skydiving jumps under his wings too.

So, if anything, pro wrestling was tame.

His father, Edmund Charles “Ed” Francis, had been an amateur wrestler in Chicago, and grew up watching the pros grapple at the Marigold Gardens. Soon, he was training as a pro under Karl Pojello, alongside the future Johnny Valentine.

As successful as he was as a wrestling — including a run as the World Junior Heavyweight champion — Ed Francis was destined to change things as a promoter.

Ed Francis had wrestled in Hawaii for promoter Al Karasick, and then bought the promotion.

His seven children would be shaped by their time in Hawaii. Bill Francis would even demonstrate amateur moves on the KGMB television show while in high school.

As a promoter in Hawaii, Ed Francis “refined the art of televised wrestling,” said Russ Francis.

[TTX]

RIP Russ

[throwingtoasters]

Holy cow. I was literally just thinking about Russ Francis. He's one on the 49ers I met when I was a kid and thought it was so cool he was in the WM2 battle royal. We watched via closed circuit tv at the Cow Palace and the place was going nuts for him and booed loudly when he was eliminated.

Just the other day I read up on him and was surprised to find out he wrestled after football and his dad was a wrestler. I had it on my list to try and track down a contact to see if I could get him and his dad signed for LOW. This is such weird coincidence.

Sorry to hear of his passing.

[natureboi]

Russ Francis was the son of a wrestler and the brother of a wrestler (Billy Francis).

Russ once worked a 30 minute draw with a young Bob Backlund in the AWA.

RIP to one of my favorite Patriots. 🏈

[jimsteel]

SINCE HE WAS A PART OF WRESTLEMANIA

The Chicago Bears have announced the passing of NFL Hall of Famer Dick Butkus at the age of 80. According to the team, Butkus peacefully passed away in his sleep.



Wrestling afficianados may recall Butkus as the special guest referee for the battle royal at WrestleMania 2, which took place during the Chicago segment of the event. This battle royal featured NFL players and was won by Andre The Giant.

Throughout his illustrious nine-year career with the Bears, Butkus earned five first-team All-Pro selections and made eight Pro Bowl appearances. In recognition of his remarkable football career, he was enshrined in the NFL Hall of Fame in 1979.

[TTX]

that about stretches wrestling connections to the limit.

[jimsteel]

Indy Wrestler El Loco passed away at 45

[jimsteel]

An Israeli pro wrestler, Amit Magnezi, has reportedly been killed in the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel.