40 Wrestlers Who Died Before Age 40

A TV beatdown followed by a wrestler’s sudden passing led to one of wrestling’s greatest urban legends regarding the death of Rick McGraw. Like many of his contemporaries, “Quickdraw” Rick McGraw was a talented worker who excelled in smaller promotions, but served as enhancement talent in the WWF, putting over talent such as Randy “Macho Man” Savage in exciting matches. McGraw was involved in a high-profile TV match with Roddy Piper where Piper destroyed him, leading to the referee ending the match. Ironically, McGraw died shortly after the match aired, leading some fans to think Piper’s kayfabe beating had done McGraw in. McGraw died in 1985 from a heart attack, with some alleging drug abuse as the cause. In his memoir, Hitman, Bret Hart noted McGraw’s fondness for the drug Placidyl and how on one night, “he took enough downers to tranquilize an elephant.” Others believe McGraw’s alleged heavy use of steroids contributed to his heart failure.