Mae Young Death

Mae Young Death – Natural Causes

Mae Young – Female Wrestling Legend – Dead at 90. photo: wwe.com

1923-2014 (age 90)

Mae Young will forever be remembered in the world of professional wrestling for being a fierce competitor and pioneer in the women’s division. Even after her death, she remains one of the most well known female wrestlers of all time.

Many professional wrestlers have died before age 50, but not Mae Young. Born in 1923 as Johnnie Mae Young, she was the youngest of eight siblings. Mae lived through the great depression with a wrestling career that began in 1939. Who would’ve thought that 60 years later she would be taking bumps through tables?

Never afraid to take a bump: 77 year old Mae Young takes a powerbomb off the entrance through a table, courtesy of Bubba Ray Dudley.

Over the course of her career, Mae Young won the NWA United States Women’s Championship and the NWA Women’s World Tag Team Championship with Ella Waldeck.

Fans who weren’t watching Mae in her wrestling heyday in the 1950s will most likely remember her for the infamous angle with Mark Henry during the WWF’s Attitude era. Mae was well into her 70s at the time, and continued to make occasional WWE appearances from 2002 to 2010 before officially retiring.

Details of the Mae Young Death

In the late 1990’s, Mae Young was still taking bumps. Here she is working the Fabulous Moolah during the October 21st, 1999 episode of SmackDown. photo: wwe.com

In 2013, Mae’s health deteriorated and she was put on hospice care. She was hospitalized on December 31, 2013 and reported to be in poor health.

Young was released from the hospital, but died roughly one year later on January 14, 2014. She was home at the time in Columbia, South Carolina and died of natural causes.

Mae Young was 90 years old at the time of her death.

In accordance with her wishes, Young was buried at Greenlawn Memorial Park, located in Columbia, South Carolina. Her burial site is not far from where her good friend, The Fabulous Moolah, was laid to rest back in 2007.

Mae Young’s grave at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Columbia, South Carolina. photo: pinterest

Confusion Over the Mae Young Death Story

In one of the more ridiculous angles in WWF’s “Attitude Era” – Mark Henry finds a love interest in the 80 year old Mae. photo: wwe.com

There was confusion surrounding the death of Mae Young caused by the media. On January 9, 2014, the Charleston Post and Courier, a local newspaper in the city where Mae Young lived, reported that she had died. The news turned out to be false, but not before many were mourning her passing on social media.

Mae Young died five days later – January 14, 2014.

Because of the false death report in the days prior, when the WWE announced on their website that she died on January 14, many questioned if it was legitimate. Sadly, in this instance the news was not a false report.

Paying Tribute After the Mae Young Death News

Once it became clear that Mae Young had indeed passed away, the world of professional wrestling began to pay respects. On January 16, 2014, TNA’s Impact Wresting was dedicated to Mae’s memory. The WWE also paid tribute to Mae Young by dedicating the January 17 episode of SmackDown to Mae.

Wrestlers Pay Their Respects

Following the Mae Young death news, many wrestlers took to social media. The Rock tweeted that he had “deep affection” for her and called her a “wrestling pioneer” while Stephanie McMahon called her a “legend.” Titus O’Neil said she was one of the “greatest women” he ever met, and Jim Ross said that her toughness was inspiring.

Have a favorite Mae Young memory? Share in the comments section below.