Wrestlers Who Had Their Tragedies Told On Dark Side Of The Ring

With Dark Side Of The Ring's 5th season just launching, we are reminded of some of the most tragic stories told in the series. Producers Evan Husney and Jason Eisener are lifelong wrestling fans, who have managed to cast wrestling in a slightly dimmer light, captivating viewers with tales of death, mystery, and the real-life people behind these sensational personalities.

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While the show has had its share of critics, it has also crossed over with an audience that isn't exclusively comprised of wrestling fans. It's also brought attention to stories and cases that are still pending investigation, case in point the recent Marty Janeatty episode. Some of the installments have featured stories that are decidedly more tragic than others.

Matt Borne's Official Cause Of Death Was Determined To Be A Drug Overdose

Matt Borne Was The Original Doink The Clown

Matt Borne was a second generation wrestler
Matt Borne wrestled under his real name at the first WrestleMania
Matt is largely considered to be the best at portraying the Doink character

The episode titled "Whatever Happened To Doink The Clown," was a examination of the volatile life of Matt Borne. Matt was a second generation wrestler, the son of Tony Borne. Matt was a territory wrestler, who made a name for himself in both Portland and Mid-South, and would eventually be cast as the original Doink The Clown. A combination of drugs, alcohol, and domestic violence made Borne's story an especially tough watch. He left behind a daughter, who was interviewed for the show. She believes that foul play was a factor in her father's death.

Chris Kanyon Lived The Majority Of His Life As A Closeted Homosexual

Chris Kanyon Portrayed Mortis In WCW

Chris Kanyon trained current AEW wrestler, Brian Cage
Chris was known as the "Innovator Of Offense" throughout his career
Chris was a native of New Jersey

The story of Chris Kanyon as told on Dark Side Of The Ring, is one of struggling with his sexuality in the masculine domain of professional sports. Chris was a fantastic performer, who just happened to be a gay man. During his time in wrestling, Chris feared that if his secret were to come out, it would likely lead to him being disenfranchised from the business. Sadly, Chris would go on to commit suicide as he struggled with his sexual identity. The tragic aspect of Chris's story is that had he existed in a different era, he likely would have been much more comfortable living his life as he chose.

Chris Candido And Sunny Were Wrestling's Version Of Sid And Nancy In Many Ways

Chris And Sunny Met When They Were Both Teenagers

The first episode of season 4 of Dark Side, would spotlight Chris Candido and Sunny. While Sunny is a major part of the story, the episode mostly focuses on Chris. The relationship he had with Sunny seemed to be a somewhat toxic one for Chris, offscreen. Chris's career would go on a downward spiral after leaving ECW, and he would develop a drug problem. Chris would mount a comeback in the early 2000s with TNA, but a blood clot of all things would tragically claim his life at only 33 years old.

Adrian Adonis Would Die In A Car Accident Along With Other Wrestlers While Touring Canada

Adrian Adonis Would Undergo A Major Character Shift During His Time With WWE

Adrian portrayed a flamboyant character in the vein of British star, Adrian Street
Adrian was known as "Adorable" Adrian Adonis
Adrian was managed by Jimmy Hart

Adrian Adonis was a colorful star in the early days of Vince McMahon's new vision for pro wrestling. The most recent season of Dark Side Of The Ring chronicled the life and career of Adrian, including his early incarnation as a street wise tough guy. While Adrian struggled with many of the same demons that others on the show have, it wasn't what would ultimately claim his life. While driving in the harsh winter conditions of Nova Scotia, Adrian and other wrestlers would pass away after swerving to avoid a moose. It's been said that fellow wrestlers would happen upon the scene before the police, and would actually rob Adrian and the other wrestlers of their cash and valuables.

Dino Bravo Died After Being Shot In His Home By An Intruder

Dino Bravo's Murder Is Still Unsolved To This day

Dino Bravo was known as the "Canadian Strongman"
Dino was a wrestler and a promoter in his native Quebec
Dino was managed by both Frenchy Martin and Jimmy Hart

The Dino Bravo story would just as easily fit on an episode of Unsolved Mysteries, as it did on DSOTR. Dino was a Montreal-Quebec native who would eventually find his way to WWE. After leaving the WWE, Dino would allegedly become involved in organized crime, and the distribution of contraband.

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While his family was out of the home, an unidentified assailant would enter the house and shoot Dino in the back of the head, as the wrestler sat in his recliner. No one has been charged in Dino's death, but it's heavily speculated that his death was attributed to his affiliation with the mafia.

Magnum T. A.'s Career Was Tragically Cut Short By An Automobile Accident

Magnum T.A. Would Survive His Crash, But Would Never Be able To Work Again Due To His Injuries

Magnum T.A's look and name was inspired the 80s television show, Magnum P.I.
Magnum got his start in Florida Championship Wrestling
Magnum was good friends with Dusty Rhodes on and off camera

Magnum's story differs from others on this list in that he escaped with his life, but not his promising career. The real-life Terry Allen was driving his sports car during a rain storm, and lost control, wrapping it around a phone pole. It was an unfitting and unjust to a career that was essentially just getting started. Magnum was scheduled to wrestle Ric Flair for the NWA title at the upcoming Starrcade, and was expected to win it. While Magnum has been able to live a full life, there will always be a question of what if, when it comes to just how bright his star would have shone.

Gino Hernandez Died Under Somewhat Suspicious Circumstances In His Texas Home In 1986

Gino Was Said To Be Using Drugs Heavily At The Time Of His Death

Gino Hernandez was one of the top heels in WCCW
Gino was bi-racial, being both Caucasian and Hispanic
Gino was considered a great promo and a charismatic personality

Like Dino Bravo, Gino's death is somewhat shrouded in mystery. For years there has been speculation that Gino's death was a case of foul play. DSOTR seemingly attempts to refute the idea that Gino was murdered, by conducting interviews with key individuals, who claim that Gino's death was indeed, drug-related. Gino had apparently developed such a high tolerance for cocaine, that the amount found in his system was enough to kill someone several times over. The story of Gino is tragic because he never seemed to reach his full potential.

Brian Pillman Died in His Hotel Room In 1997

Brian Pillman's Body Had Been Severely Affected By A Car Crash In 1996

Brian Pillman was a walk-on with the Cincinnati Bengals
Brian and Jushin Liger are considered to have revolutionized the wrestling business in the early 90s with their matches
Brian Pillman was considered to be ahead of his time when he adopted his "loose cannon" persona

The Brian Pillman edition of DSOTR would be a two-part episode. There was a lot of ground to cover, although his career only lasted around a decade. Much of the episode centered around Brian's family, including his son who has gone on to become a wrestler himself. Brian was one of the most iconoclastic and creative individuals in wrestling, and when an ill-timed car accident limited his in-ring abilities, it had a profoundly negative effect on his psyche. Brian would turn to drugs and alcohol to cope, and they would ultimately claim his life.

Owen Hart Died In A Packed Arena In Kansas City During A Stunt

Owen Hart's Widow Would Go On To File A Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against WWE

Owen Hart was the youngest of the Hart Family
Owen had requested to portray the Blue Blazer character at the time of his death
Owen Hart has been memorialized by AEW with The Owen Hart Men and Women's Tournaments

The story of Owen Hart is the epitome of a tragedy, and an avoidable one at that. It was only a matter of time before DSOTR covered Owen's story. It has perhaps the darkest cloud that will ever hang over the WWE as a company. Owen would plunge to his death inside the ring as he intended to repel from the ceiling.

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What many still can't wrap their head around to this day, is why the WWE allowed to show to continue after Owen had perished. This incident has prevented Owen from ever being inducted into the Hall Of Fame, at the insistence of his family.

Bruiser Brody Was Murdered In A Locker Room In Puerto Rico

Bruiser Brody Has Never Received Justice For His Slaying

Bruiser Brody was a football player before becoming a pro wrestler
Bruiser had a legendary feud with Abdullah The Butcher
Bruiser was a highly influential wrestler, though he never signed with WWE

The story of Bruiser Brody that was profiled on DSOTR is one of the more angering in the show's history. Brody was stabbed to death in Puerto Rico in the shower of a locker room. To make matters worse, all appearances indicate that there was a concerted effort to cover up his murder. There is much speculation that Jose Gonzalez was the one who assaulted and killed Brody, but he has never been convicted. One can only hope that Bruiser Brody's widow and son will get the closure and the justice they deserve one day.

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