Dick Slater Death

By Mike Rickard on March 4, 2019   /   2010s, 2018   /   Leave a comment
dick slater death

Dick Slater Death – Heart Complications 1951-2018 (Age 67) Long before there was “The Lunatic Fringe,” there was “Dirty” Dick Slater, a roughhouse redneck who brawled in and out of the ring; proving he didn’t live his gimmick – he was his gimmick. Slater established himself as one of the baddest men in wrestling during his heyday in the territories in the 1970s and 1980s, eventually retiring due to a back injury in 1996. However, Slater’s wild ways continued long after he left the ring, with some surprised he made it to the age of 67. A Common Beginning for an Uncommon Man Florida native Richard Van Slater showed his toughness wrestling and playing football at the University of Tampa, playing alongside future grappling great Paul “Mr. Wonderful” Orndorff. Recruited by wrestler Mike Graham, Slater (like many athletes) heard the siren call of quick cash and entered the squared circle.

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The Missing Link Death

By Ryan on October 25, 2016   /   2000s, 2007, Cancer   /   2 Comments
the missing link

The Missing Link Death – Lung Cancer 1939-2007 (age 68) From parts unknown, The Missing Link! Link, born Byron Robertson, spent the early 80s with the NWA, and by the mid 80s had shifted over to a small role in the WWF where he was managed by Bobby Heenan. His run with the WWF would prove short, never breaking out of the lower card. The Missing Link makes his WWF debut in 1985 Robertson would see the most successful period of his career when he joined Frtiz Von Erich‘s Texas-based promotion, WCCW. He first entered the company in November of ’85, managed by Percy Pringle (who would go on to become Paul Bearer with the WWF). He was later managed by Skandor Akbar. The Missing Link Death It was well known that Robertson struggled with substance abuse throughout his entire wrestling career. In 2006, Robertson published an autobiography, Bang Your Head: The Real

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Buzz Sawyer Death

By Ryan on October 25, 2016   /   1990s, 1992, Dead Before 50, Drug Overdose   /   3 Comments
buzz sawyer death

Buzz Sawyer Death – Drug Overdose 1959-1992 (age 32) Bruce Woyan, best known to wrestling fans as “Mad Dog” Buzz Sawyer, was a fixture in 1980s professional wrestling. Buzz Sawyer spent time with various territories, including NWA, UWF, Mid-South, WCCW, WCW, among others. He spent a short stint with the WWF in 1984, managed by the late Captain Lou Albano. Last Battle of Atlanta In the early 80s, Buzz had a bloody feud with “Wildfire” Tommy Rich, including the legendary 1983 match inside an enclosed cage – the first match of its kind, dubbed the “Last Battle of Atlanta”. Shawn Michaels notes the “Last Battle of Atlanta” as the inspiration for the WWE’s “Hell in a Cell” – a PPV that’s still prevalent today. Arguably, Buzz Sawyer saw the most success while working for Fritz Von Erich‘s Texas-based WCCW. In 1986, he won WCCW tag team gold alongside the late Matt Osborne

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