Posted on 11/01/2012 10:53:00 AM PDT by CounterCounterCulture
WWE is saddened to learn of the passing of Brad Armstrong, 51, one of four sons of “Bullet” Bob Armstrong. Brad Armstrong last participated in the ring for the ECW brand in 2006. WWE understands that Brad saw his physician last week for a medical issue and was found unresponsive this morning. WWE extends its sincerest condolences to the entire Armstrong family.
Mike Graham passes away
WWE is saddened to learn of the passing of Mike Graham, 61, son of legendary promoter Eddie Graham. While never under contract with WWE, he was part of our extended family. The sports-entertainment world lost a beloved member today. WWE extends its sincerest condolences to his family and friends.
UPDATE: It has been confirmed that Mike Graham died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Graham, whose father also committed suicide, was found by his wife.
http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/news/259558/UPDATED:-Mike-Graham-Passes-Away.htm
As always, if you'd like ON or OFF my wrasslin' ping list, let me know
And another (whom I wasn’t familiar with) from last month I didn’t get around to pinging...
“Hangman” Bobby Jaggers dead at 64 (retired professional wrestler)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2939787/posts
Brad Armstong => real name Robert “Brad” James
Mike Graham => real name Michael Gossett
Is there are worse sport for dying young?
The NFL is close.
True, longevity is not a part of either.
I don’t know Brad, but I remember his dad from the early 70s.
RIP.
The "Cauliflower Alley Club" web site posted a notice a few days ago about Mike Graham's passing, but did not contain any details. I did not know it was a suicide. I remember seeing Mike and his father Eddie Graham wrestling together as a tag team when a local station in Philly started broadcasting "Championship Wrestling From Florida", with Gordon Solie providing commentary, back in the early 1970s. I also remember reading about Eddie Graham's suicide many years ago. Very sad.
I can recall Bobby Jaggers teaming with Dutch Mantel as the "Kansas Jayhawks", nad saw Brad Armstrong team with his father "Bullet" Bob Armstong on one or two occasions.
As someone else here noted, no other sport has so many participants that pass away at a young age.
Marvin Lambert, who specialized in hardcore matches under the name of “Brain Damage”, passed away on October 18, 2012 at age 34. His death was a suicide. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, the 6’ 4”, 270 pound Lambert trained under Toby Klein. He had his first ventures for a small promotion in Detroit, then in 2005 began a lengthy run of ultra-violent matches in IWA Mid-South. He moved on to Combat Zone Wrestling in 2007, and continued there until quietly retiring from the hardcore world in late 2011. The Cauliflower Alley Club extends its condolences to his wife Genevieve, and the family and friends of Marvin Lambert.
Although this young man never made a name for himself outside of some small local promotions, his death further illustrates the point that others have made about the disproportionately high number of deaths at a young age in the world of Professional Wrestling.
To their credit, I’m glad the WWE took measures to forbid their wrestlers (er, sports entertainers) to use chair shots to the head. This happened sometime after the Benoit murder/suicide.
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