R.I.P WRESTLING DEATHS 2024

[jimsteel]

Bob Bruggers, a former NFL linebacker and professional wrestler, passed away at the age of 80.

Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, Bob Bruggers led a remarkable life both on the gridiron and in the wrestling ring.

After a decorated high school basketball career at Danube High School, Bruggers shifted his focus to football. He played college football for Minnesota and went undrafted in the 1966 American Football League draft, where he later signed as a free agent with the Miami Dolphins and played as a linebacker for three seasons. During his time with the Dolphins, he recorded six interceptions and two fumble recoveries. In 1969, Bruggers was traded to the San Diego Chargers, where he continued to showcase his skills before retiring from professional football in 1971. During his NFL career he played in 57 games and started in 21 of those games.

Following his football career, Bruggers transitioned to professional wrestling. Introduced to the sport by fellow former Miami Dolphin Wahoo McDaniel, he adopted the ring name “Bob ‘Rocky’ Roller”. Trained by legends Verne Gagne and Billy Robinson, Bruggers made his wrestling debut in 1972 for Gagne’s American Wrestling Association, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His finishing move was a powerful football tackle, reflecting his athletic background.
In 1973, Bruggers joined Championship Wrestling from Florida, where he continued to make an impact. He even embarked on a brief tour of Japan with International Wrestling Enterprise. Teaming up with Paul Jones, Bruggers secured the NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship in 1974. His wrestling career was cut short on October 4, 1975, when his plane crashed which resulted in spinal fractures. He never returned to Wrestling.

[on_the_edge]

If only he swapped the second and third letters of his last name to make his wrestling name, he would have been ahead of his time.

EDIT: Forgot to point out that the plane crash that ended his career is the one Flair was in.

[TTX]

I knew an actual Bob Roller back in the day.

RIP Bob.

[jimsteel]

Billy Blue River, the long-time wrestler and promoter, and dedicated husband to women’s wrestling great Beverly Shade

He was 79.

[jimsteel]

Wrestler Reggie Rage from WWA4 was shot and killed while he was driving for Lyft. He was killed by his rider, an Atlanta Police Officer named Kirby Minor, who was on administrative leave for drug related charges.


He was 35

[on_the_edge]

So much sadness in that story. RIP

[db1091]

German wrestler John 'Bad Bones' Klinger sadly died today aged 40.

He made his debut in 2004 and has been a mainstay across Europe ever since, plus has wrestled around the world in Japan, the USA, and in Israel to name a few.

Bones held titles almost wherever he went. He had two reigns as the IPW:UK World Champion, which included defences against the likes of Ricochet, Uhaa Nation, Mr Anderson and Chris Masters. 

He is also a two time wXw World Champion, the first time being a one day reign having beaten Karsten Beck in Hamburg and then losing it in a three way with Karsten and AJ Styles the next night - Beck the winner on that occasion. Tragically, Styles is the only one now alive from that triple threat, with Beck passing away in 2020.

Klinger has also been the King of Switzerland and held multiple titles in the German Wrestling Federation and many other German federations.

In 2018, he appeared at Evolve 106 and 107, with his match on the first night being against Josh Briggs, while in 2007 he stepped in the ring for PWG on one of their European Vacations.

He also made a number of appearances for TNA over the years. His first came on a European tour back in 2009, at a house show in Dortmund, and five years later he lost to Christopher Daniels in a match on Xplosion at Wembley Arena.

Klinger lost to Samoa Joe in a one minute squash on Impact in February 2014 which happened after he had found himself as Joe's partner in the 2014 Jokers Wild One Night Only tournament, beating Daniels and Robbie E and then being part of the 12 man gauntlet battle royal, which was ultimately won by EC3.

Further TNA appearances came in Orland in 2016 and 2017, losing to Mark Andrews and Jessie Godderz, before being Godderz partner in the 2017 Jokers Wild tournament. The final TNA appearance for him was a loss to Josh Barnett on Impact.

His final match came just nine days ago, in Poland, where he defeated 'Flash' Morgan Webster.

Perhaps the most heartbreaking of all was that Bones was in his final year as an in ring competitor, having made the decision to retire.

Rest in peace, Bad Bones.

[on_the_edge]

I think I saw him wrestle in one of more of those TNA matches. Name seems familiar. RIP

[TTX]

He looks familiar but I don't remember the name

[db1091]

My initial introduction to him was through wXw. As I started to learn more about the indies and develop my love for them, I found the 16 Carat Gold tournament and bought a bunch of DVDs. Bones won the 2008 edition, which was absolutely stacked. It had PCO, Ishimori, Generico, Jimmy Jacobs, Walter, Ares, Chris Hero, Chuck Taylor, Marufuji, Doug Williams, Quackenbush and Danielson all competing. Bones beat PCO, Generico, Ares and Danielson to win the three day tournament.

So far, every wrestler who has tweeted about John has said he was a lovely guy, who would go out his way to welcome them to locker rooms when they visited/toured Germany, and just loved wrestling.