Matt Osborne Death – Drug Overdose
Matt Osborne aka the original Doink the Clown – Dead at 55 of a drug overdose. photo: wwe.com
1957-2013 (age 55)
The early 90s was a transitional period for the WWE. Lots of silly gimmicks came and went. Although the gimmick of Doink the Clown gets a lot of flack by todays standards, there’s no denying that the man under the costume had a lot of talent. I’m of course referring to Matt Borne.
Born Matthew Wade Osborne, he was only 55 years old when he died.
Early Days in Wrestling
“Maniac” Matt Borne with WCCW in 1986. photo: wwe.com
Osborne made his WWF debut in March 1985. He participated in a number of low card matches, including one against Ricky Steamboat at the very first WrestleMania. After a brief break from professional wrestling, he returned to the ring with WCW. He wrestled under the name “Big Josh” from 1991 to 1992.
Even though the character may be a bit cheesy by today’s standards, Doink’s original heel run was pretty terrifying as a young kid in the early 90’s. photo: wwe.com
A Villainous Clown
Matt Osborne didn’t hit it big until late 1992 when he debuted in the WWF as Doink the Clown. Not unlike Pennywise from Stephen King’s IT, Doink was first scripted as a villainous clown. Osborne would have moderate success with the character, notably feuding with Crush, Bret Hart, and Randy Savage.
Osborne was ultimately fired from the WWF in 1993 for problems stemming from drug abuse, and Doink the Clown was later played by Ray Apollo. Osborne did get to reprise the role one final time during the Raw 15th Anniversary on December 10, 2007. The event held a Legends Battle Royal.
20 years prior to his death: One of Doink the Clown’s more memorable feuds was with Crush. Here they match up at WrestleMania IX at Caesar’s Palace (1993)
A History of Health Problems
Weighing in at 243 pounds with a 6 foot frame, Osborne was strong, but he was also overweight. He had a number of health problems. Medical examiners blamed these problems as being partially responsible for his death. The most serious was heart disease.
Battle with Substance Abuse
During his years in the public spotlight, Osborne wasn’t afraid to discuss his personal struggles. Specifically, he often talked about how he was addicted to drugs. He claims he made several failed attempts to quit using on his own. He also shared that he was admitted to rehab at least once; however, it seems that the time he spent at the White Deer Run facility in Allenwood, Pennsylvania, did not ultimately help him get clean. Drugs would ultimately play a factor in Matt Osborne’s death.
A bad night to be a jobber: Doink hits his finishing move, “The Whoopie Cushion”. photo: wwe.com
Matt Osborne dies
The professional wrestler died on June 28, 2013. Details into exactly what happened on this day are scarce. It was about one month before what would have been his 56th birthday.
Reportedly, his girlfriend woke up that morning and found Osborne’s dead body in their home. The couple lived in Plano, Texas. The authorities were called and an autopsy was scheduled to determine the cause of death.
Investigation into Matt Osborne’s Death
Because Matt Osborne was found dead at home and there was no immediate physical evidence to indicate exactly what transpired, the Plano Police launched a full-scale investigation into the cause of death.
An immediate search of Osborne and his girlfriend’s home found no weapons or any signs of a struggle. Ultimately, the autopsy blamed an overdose of the narcotic pain relievers morphine and hydrocodone for Matt Osborne’s death. It is believed that the overdose was accidental and not an act of suicide and that the wrestler’s heart condition likely made him more at risk for an overdose.
A Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Nearly 2 years after his death, in June 2015 the family of Matt Osborne filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the WWE. The lawsuit states the WWE is to blame for the wrestler’s death. The paperwork filed by the family accuses the WWE of promoting violence, contributing to Osborne’s negative state of mind that led him to drug abuse.
Matt Osborne reprises the role of Doink the Clown for Raw’s 15 Year Anniversary show in 2007. photo: wwe.com
In addition, the lawsuit alleges that the WWE did not do enough to make Osborne aware that repeat blows sustained in the ring could cause chronic swelling of the brain and other brain injuries. The lawsuit states that because Osborne did not fully understand the risks, he continued to wrestle and sustained repeated injuries. These injuries caused him to grow depressed and use drugs to self medicate.
The WWE Fires Back
Days after the lawsuit from Matt Osborne’s family was filed, attorneys for the WWE spoke out about the case. They stated that Osborne’s family had been misled by an unscrupulous attorney who promised them money if they brought a frivolous lawsuit against the wrestling organization. The lawyer was adamant that the WWE was not liable.
Later in 2015, the families case was consolidated with the other WWE concussion-related cases being brought on by Kyros Law Firm. The law firm has it’s own website dedicated to their on going class action concussion case.
Have a comment about Matt Osborne’s wrestling career? Sound off in the comments section below!
