The world of professional wrestling has given us many great heroes. We venerate these wrestlers during their lifetimes and commemorate them upon their deaths. Nevertheless, there have been a few great pro wrestling heroes who seemed to have died without much notice. It’s high time we recognize them for their achievements and their incredible lives.
Over the next few minutes, we’ll tell you the incredible story of wrestlers who overcame the odds to make an impact in this crazy sport. From Sodbuster Kenny Jay to Charlie Norris with a bit of Billy Two Rivers, these are stories you don’t want to miss out on.
Their achievements in the field of pro wrestling are incredible and their stories are due to be told…
These Pro Wrestlers Died Without Notice – and had tragic deaths. Join FactsVerse to learn more about their lives and careers…
SODBUSTER KENNY JAY
Sodbuster Kenny Jay was born as Kenneth Johnson on March 27, 1937. Sodbuster Jay was a well-known wrestler who rose to prominence in the 1960s and 1970s. He was best known as a member of the National Wrestling Alliance. He had a brief stint in the army but he was best known for his wrestling career and he jumped into this career – not having much work experience in other fields.
Jay began his wrestling career in the late 1950s and soon became known for his tough and often ruthless and vicious style in the ring. His signature move was the “Sodbuster Suplex.” These abilities and his obsession with his sport gained him the reputation as one of the toughest wrestlers of his generation.
His love for wrestling continued even after he retired from the sport. He eventually became a promoter and was instrumental in launching the Central States Wrestling promotion during the 1980s. But his dedication to wrestling didn’t stop there. He is also credited for bringing wrestling to cable television. He helped introduce wrestling to ESPN and other popular sporting networks. In other words, his contribution to the sport cannot be ignored. He was not only a great wrestler but a pioneer in promoting this great sport.
He died on February 2nd, 2023, at the age of 85. While his death hasn’t been reported so much, those who are truly passionate about wrestling were saddened by his passing. Those who worked in the wrestling industry from the 1960s to the 1980s know about his incredible contribution to the sport. And that’s something we hope no one forgets anytime soon.
LANNY POFFO
Lanny Poffo was a professional wrestler who born on December 28, 1954, in Calgary, Canada. Some people may say that his life and career was overshadowed by his older brother – the wrestler Randy Savage, also known as Macho Man. Lanny Poffo is known best for his stint in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). He performed under the name, The Genius.
He began his wrestling career in the late 1970s. During this time he wrestled for a variety of organizations. These included Championship Wrestling from Florida and the National Wrestling Alliance. In 1985, he joined the WWF as The Genius – and this would be his career breakthrough. As “The Genius” – he became known for his intellectual prowess and flamboyant personality. In fact, he would often recite poetry and hurled frisbees that had inspirational messages written on them to the crowd of adoring fans. He even published two books – one that included poems and limericks.
Apart from his wrestling skills, The Genius was also known for his feuds – most notably with Hulk Hogan. The Genius was also part of a tag team with Mr. Perfect. The two of them won the WWF Tag Team Championship in 1990.
He left the WWF in 1992 but he didn’t stop wrestling. He then moved onto wrestle for several other organizations including the World Championship Wrestling and the Extreme Championship Wrestling.
He retired from wrestling in 2018 and spent the remainder of his years in Florida. However, he died in New York City on February 2nd, 2023 at the age of 68. This was the same day that Sodbuster Kenny Jay died.
ERICH FROELICH
Eric Froelich was a German born-Canadian professional wrestler and promoter. He was born on May 3rd, 1937, in West Germany. He was very different from other wrestlers. He often wrestled barefoot and was lauded for his acrobatic-style moves. Plus he was also considered to be a lot more handsome, charming, and nice compared to many wrestlers.
His background in gymnastics made him a perfect fit to the world of wrestling and it wasn’t long until he became wrestling champion. Fans immediately loved him and the most hardcore wrestling fans still know about him to this day.
He continued to attend wrestling events and conventions up until his passing. His base was in Vancouver but he was well known in several US states, as well as in Fiji and Japan. Apart from wrestling his fellow humans – he even once, famously wrestled a tiger.
In December 1981, upon the birth of his last son, he decided to retire from wrestling. His injuries from wrestling caught up to him and he had to live on disability payments for the rest of his life. But despite these injuries he stated that he never regretted his career and that he’d do it all over again. On February 10th, 2023, his wife announced his death. He was 85 years old.
JERRY JARRETT
Jerry Jarrett was born on July 14, 1942, in Nashville, Tennessee. He was best known as a professional wrestler as well as a wrestling promoter.
He began his wrestling career in the 1960s, and wrestled under the ring name “Jerry King.” In 1977, he co-founded the Continental Wrestling Association along with fellow wrestler – and fellow Jerry – named Jerry Lawler. This organization was known for its combination blend of sports entertainment and wrestling. While this might be the norm now, it was unique for its time. Needless to say, it became one of the most successful wrestling organizations of its time.
He was also lauded for developing other great wrestlers and helping them go far in their careers. This included his friend Jerry Lawler but also included Austin Idol, and Dutch Mantell.
Apart from his career as a wrestler and wrestling promoter, he even Jarrett Logistics Systems, a transportation and logistics company based in his home state of Tennessee.
He himself began his wrestling career as a referee in the early 1960s. By the mid 1960s, after being trained by prominent wrestlers, he began his wrestling career in 1965. He was especially successful in the first half of the 1970s and was notable mostly as a tag team wrestler. He was highly respected as a wrestler but continued to be famous in this industry due to his promotional work.
He retired from wrestling in 2001 and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2018. He died on February 14th, 2023, at the age of 80.
BILLY TWO RIVERS
Billy Two Rivers was a professional wrestler and former First Nations chief from the Kahnawake Mohawk Territory in Quebec, Canada. He was born on May 5, 1935 and began his wrestling career in the early 1950s. He wrestling for various organization throughout Canada and the United States.
Billy Two Rivers was known for his cultural ring gear – donning his traditional Mohawk clothing and his feather headdress. H signature move was the Tomahawk Chop. This now-famous move involved hitting his opponent on the head using a hand chop – a move that has become commonplace in wrestling and in some of your favorite action movies!
In addition to his wrestling career, he was also heavily involved in political life. He served as the chief of the Kahnawake Mohawk Territory from 1982 to 1986 and he advocated for First Nations rights throughout his life.
Billy Two Rivers retired from wrestling in the late 1970s. But his successes continued from there. He went on to become a successful businessman. His entrepreneurial ventures included owning a clothing company as well as several restaurant chains.
It can’t be stressed enough how Billy Two Rivers was an icons for First Nations representation in professional wrestling. He was one of the first Indigenous wrestlers to receive nationwide recognition. If there are famous indigenous wrestlers today, they owe their careers to Billy Two Rivers.
Billy Two Rivers also appeared in several movies including Pocahontas: The Legend[RS1] , Black Robe, and Taking Lives. He died on February 12th, 2023. He was 87 years old.
CHARLIE NORRIS
Finally, we come to the legend that was Charlie Norris. He was born on October 21, 1963 in Red Lake, Minnesota. He began his wrestling career in the late 1980s and became a hit with wrestling fans in the 1990s.
He wrestled for a variety of wrestling promotions, most notably with the Professional Wrestling Association. Like Billy Two Rivers, he was also one of the most notable indigenous wrestlers. His career lasted from 1989 to 2006 when he retired. Upon is retirement, he worked as a personal trainer on the Red Lake Indian Reservation.
Charlie Norris passed away on February 6, 2023, at the age of 58. His cause of death has currently not been disclosed. While there wasn’t too much notice upon his death, his colleagues and wrestling fans sent their condolences, and one hopes that more attention will be given to his incredible life and career.
Are you a fan of any of these great wrestlers? They were some of the best wrestlers of their generation and their lives and legacies deserve to get much attention.
Now, here’s what we’d like to hear from you:
Do you think that wrestlers will continue to gain fame and notoriety for the foreseeable future?
Or is it no longer a popular sport and its likely to die an eventual death?
