16 Wrestlers Who Died In 2017
Paying tribute to those we lost this year.
It's an unfortunate facet of the wrestling industry that its fans have grown accustomed to waking up to news of their heroes' deaths. Time marches on, and the year 2017 was no different in seeing a host of well-known figures from the world between the ropes depart us.
Often, these men and women have been taken from us tragically young. The past twelve months have seen numerous stars of the squared circle pass away prematurely, as we said goodbye to a former Samoan superhero, a muscle-bound bodyguard, and one part of a tag-team who rocked bow-ties like no other.
2017 also saw the bell ring for a final time on a veritable Hall of Fame of '80s wrestling legends, including an evil 'Russian' who left Madison Square Garden in a state of shock, a hirsute beast with a heart of gold, and probably the greatest manager to ever rustle the ring ropes.
In addition, we lost a number of names who, though not as widely known as some of their departed colleagues, made a notable contribution to the industry we all love in their own way.
Join us as we pay tribute to all those who entered the Great Ring in the Sky in 2017.
16. Timothy Well (9 January)
Timothy Smith died in January in his home of Greencup, Kentucky, as a result of kidney failure. He was 55.
Smith, under his alias Timothy Well, is probably best remembered by wrestling fans alongside Steve 'Steven Dunn' Doll as one half of mid-'90s WWE tandem Well Dunn. The pair debuted in Stamford in 1993, with an arcane gimmick which could best be described as Chippendales. Both men wore tights with prominent pink lips displaying the team's supposedly humorous name, as well as little bow-ties. It was a strange look.
Smith and Doll had previously competed in the NWA Pacific Northwest as the Southern Rockers. Smith, working as 'Rex King', replaced Scott Peterson in the team, and the freshly rejigged tandem went on to lift the company's tag belts four times. The pair departed for the USWA, where they repeated the feat with the Memphis outfit's equivalent straps.
Well Dunn stuggled to make an impact during their two years in WWE - their most notable feud came in opposition to the abysmal Bushwhackers - and the duo were eventually dismissed from the company in 1995. Smith continued working on the independent scene, particular for Puerto Rico's WWC, until an injury forced his retirement in 2004. Eight years later, his ex-employer reported Smith had died on their website, only for the man himself to refute the claims.
In the wake of Smith's real death earlier this year, a GoFundMe was setup to help cover funeral costs - the goal reached largely thanks to a huge donation from Chris Jericho.