Pro Wrestlers Who Have Died In 2015 – Rowdy Roddy Piper Makes 14

The sudden and shocking death of legendary wrestler Rowdy Roddy Piper on Friday has left WWE, and all, wrestling fans stunned. Every year, there is at least one big-time wrestling personality that passes away unfortunately, and it leaves many speechless. Well, there have already been 14 pro wrestler deaths this year now, and a number of them have left fans with complete sadness.

In the past month alone, there have been three big-name pro wrestler deaths that have saddened a community that spans the globe. Piper’s death is just the latest, but all three have history attached to them and paved the way for those that came after them.

On June 11, iconic wrestler and legend Dusty Rhodes passed away quite unexpectedly. Less than two weeks later, “Nature Boy” Buddy Landel died at the young age of 53 after having been involved in a car accident, but then making it home.

Now, less than two weeks after Landel died, the wrestling world has lost Rowdy Roddy Piper.

It was back in late April that the iconic Verne Gagne, a professional wrestling pioneer, died at the age of 89. Honestly, he’s one of the few wrestlers in the past decade that died late into their life and didn’t leave the world at a young age.

In March of this year, Perro Aguayo Jr. died while in the ring in Tijuana. He was teaming with Manik to face off against Xtreme Tiger and Rey Mysterio. His cause of death ended up being ruled as cardiac arrest due to a cervical stroke caused by three fractured vertebrae.

Aguayo was said to have died almost instantly, and the frightening videos of the match seemed to prove that fact.

A Facebook page called RIP Dead Wrestlers puts together tributes, Twitter posts, and news regarding those that have passed away. Looking back through everything, 14 pro wrestlers have passed away in 2015, and the year is just a little over half over.

Others who have died:

• Akira (MZW)
• Cora Combs
• Drew McDonald
• Larry Winters
• Lynn McCrossin
• Steve Rickard
• Thomas Couch
• Tim Arson

Not all of those names may be familiar to all wrestling fans, but it’s an interesting look at just how many pro wrestling deaths there can be each year. In 2014, there were 20 pro wrestler deaths, and 2015 is already more than two-thirds of the way there.

Names that were lost in 2014 included some well known figures such as Warrior, Nelson Frazier Jr. aka Big Daddy V/Viscera, Jimmy Del Ray, and Sean O’Haire.

Pro wrestler deaths happen far too often and that is truly evident by the last month which has seen the loss of Dusty Rhodes, Buddy Landel, and Rowdy Roddy Piper. Fans simply hope that the tragic losses are done for now and hopefully through at least the end of 2015.

[Images via WWE/Zap2It]