40 Wrestlers Who Died Before Age 40

An accomplished amateur wrestler and a member of the legendary Anoa’i wrestling family by marriage, Gary Albright spent much of his life in the ring and ended his life there as well. After competing in Calgary Stampede Wrestling, Albright found his amateur credentials made him a commodity in Japan’s quasi-shoot promotion Union of Wrestling Forces International (UWF International). A career in All-Japan Pro Wrestling followed through 1999, but Albright would barely see the new millennium. On January 7, 2000, Albright was working for World Xtreme Wrestling when he collapsed to the mat after taking a three-quarter facelock bulldog. Medical personnel failed to resuscitate him and it was later revealed Albright died from a heart attack, possibly caused by diabetes-related complications.