World Class curse

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This term was often used by some pro wrestling purists and even a few wrestlers themselves due to the fact that many competitors of World Class have died suddenly, either from cocaine overdoses, suicides, heart attacks, or in two instances, homicide. According to Skandor Akbar, between 1982 and 2005, he estimates that at least 18 World Class performers are now deceased.

Referee Rick Hazzard also died, but it is not known when or how he died. Preliminary wrestler Jerry Allen/Jerry Arotsky died in 1995 at age 32, but his cause of death is unknown. It is speculated, however, that both likely died due to one of the aforementioned causes.

Rumors about David Von Erich's death have circulated for years, with some wrestling magazines fanning the flames by reporting inaccurate details. Some "newsletters" reported that the Fabulous Freebirds were among the first to find Von Erich's body, but in fact the Freebirds were appearing on cards in Texas at the time of his death. Bruiser Brody and Bill Irwin were among the first to find Von Erich. Brody would later admit he flushed David's pain killers down the toilet, but said he did so as an over reaction. A wrestler having pain killers is common, even today.

Contents 1 Disease 1.1 I 1.2 P 1.3 S 1.4 V 2 Drug overdose 2.1 H 2.2 S 3 Heart Attack 3.1 A 3.2 D 3.3 G 3.4 H 3.5 R 3.6 S 3.7 T 3.8 V 4 Heart Failure 4.1 T 5 Murder 5.1 A 5.2 B 6 Other 6.1 J 6.2 M 6.3 P 7 Suicide 7.1 V 7.2 Y

[edit] Disease

[edit] I

• Scott Irwin (aka Super Destroyer #1) - (9/5/87, cancer)

[edit] P

• Ralph Pulley- (1/6/92, from AIDS)

[edit] S

• Big John Studd- (3/20/95, Hodgkin's disease)

[edit] V

• Fritz Von Erich- (9/11/97, brain cancer)

[edit] Drug overdose

[edit] H

• Gino Hernandez- (2/4/86, drug overdose; originally believed to have been murdered)

[edit] S

• Buzz Sawyer- (2/7/92, drug overdose)

[edit] Heart Attack

[edit] A

• Andre the Giant (Andre Rousimoff)- (1/27/93, heart attack)

[edit] D

• Mike Davis (wrestler)- (12/25/01, heart attack)

[edit] G

• Terry Gordy- (7/16/01, heart attack)

[edit] H

• Hercules Hernandez-(3/6/04, heart attack)

[edit] R

• Jeff Raitz- (2/9/02, heart attack)
• Rick Rude- (4/20/99, heart attack)

[edit] S

• Jeep Swenson- (8/18/97, heart attack)

[edit] T

• Billy Joe Travis- (11/22/02, heart attack)

[edit] V

• David Von Erich- (2-10-84, heart attack brought on by acute enteritis)

[edit] Heart Failure

[edit] T

• Professor Toru Tanaka (8/22/00, heart failure)

[edit] Murder

This will include all types of murder such as manslaughter and homicide.

[edit] A

• Chris Adams- (10/7/01, gunshot wound to the chest)

[edit] B

• Bruiser Brody- (7/17/88, stabbed to death)

[edit] Other

[edit] J

• Junkyard Dog- (6/2/98, injuries sustained in automobile accident)

[edit] M

• Magic Dragon- (?/?/1987, Plane Crash)

[edit] P

• D.J. Peterson - (5/25/93, motorcycle accident)

[edit] Suicide

[edit] V

• Chris Von Erich- (9/12/91, self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head)
• Kerry Von Erich- (2/18/93, self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest)
• Mike Von Erich- (4/12/87, overdose on Placidyl)

[edit] Y

• Tojo Yamamoto - (2/19/92, self-inflicted gunshot wound; he was in failing health at the time of his suicide)