Former WWE Manager Frenchy Martin Dies
Quebec native had been suffering from cancer for the past year...
Former WWE wrestler and manager Jean "Frenchy Martin" Gagné passed away Friday after a battle with bladder cancer. There are conflicting reports regarding his age, with some sources citing he was born in 1947 and others listing the year as 1950.
A Quebec City native, Gagné participated in Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling during the 1970s, capturing the company's heavyweight title twice. He also competed for Puerto Rico's World Wrestling Council, holding several singles and tag team titles in the promotion.
Gagné's claim to fame came in the mid-1980s, when he began working for WWE. Originally an enhancement talent, Gagné transitioned to a role as a non-wrestling personality in 1987, when he started hosting a show called Le Studio as part of the Canadian broadcast of Superstars of Wrestling. Soon afterwards, he became the manager of fellow Quebecer Dino Bravo, guiding him in matches at WrestleManias IV and V. After the pairing ended, Gagné returned to the ring briefly before retiring in 1990. He would go on to book for IWA: Puerto Rico.
Gagné's year-long battle with bladder cancer had been well-publicized as of late, with news that he was being moved into hospice care breaking last month. At the time, Gagné told The Montreal Journal, "I led an extraordinary life. "I am proud to have succeeded in the world of wrestling. I am no more worthy than another, but I'm not afraid of death. I accept the result."