Balls Mahoney Death – Heart Attack

balls mahoney death

Balls Mahoney, Dead at 44. photo: wwe.com

1972-2016 (age 44)

Jonathan Rechner, known to ECW fans as Balls Mahoney, died on April 12th, 2016. Rechner died from a heart attack. He was 44 years old.

Just two months prior to his death, Balls Mahoney’s former ECW tag partner, Axl Rotten passed away after suffering from a heroin overdose.

Several other wrestlers passed in 2016 including Blackjack Mulligan, Mr. Fuji, Iron Mike Sharpe, and Frenchy Martin.

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On October 21st, 2016, the Boston Globe reported that CTE was discovered in Rechner’s brain. This shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, given the hardcore nature of Balls Mahoney’ wrestling style.

Earlier this year, we wrote a piece about CTE and the ongoing concussion lawsuit against the WWE.

The WWE, along with Mahoney’s former colleagues, have taken to Twitter to pay respects:

ECW 1999: Balls Mahoney and Axl Rotten. photo: wwe.com

ECW 1999: Balls Mahoney and Axl Rotten. photo: wwe.com

balls mahoney ecw

Balls Mahoney and ECW owner Paul Heyman

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ECW Hardcore TV 1997. photo: wwe.com