Former WWE & WCW Referee Mickie Jay Dead At 59
The long-time WCW ref had been battling pneumonia related to COVID-19.
In some sad news, referee Mickie Henson - better known to wrestling fans as Mickie Jay - has passed away at the age of 59.
Mike Mooneyham was the first to report this tragic news, with PWInsider since adding that Henson was taken off life support last night following a battle with pneumonia due to complications from COVID-19.
RIP longtime referee Mickey Jay (Hinson). Mickey passed away this evening at 6:19 p.m. pic.twitter.com/lz6usHz99J
Advertisement— Mike Mooneyham (@ByMikeMooneyham) February 15, 2022
Beginning his pro wrestling refereeing career in 1987, Henson became a mainstay of WCW from the early '90s through until when the company was purchased by the then-WWF in 2001. Vince McMahon's sports entertainment juggernaut would later hire Mickie in 2005, where he'd serve as one of the head referees on the SmackDown and ECW brands. It's also worth noting that he was the referee as Kevin Nash defeating Goldberg at Starrcade 1998 to end Da Man's legendary undefeated streak.
2008 saw Henson step away from the ring after being diagnosed with Mantle cell lymphoma, and he would officially exit WWE in 2009. Mickie would defeat this disease, and he would also later be extremely complimentary of WWE for paying him for the eight months after he first learned of his condition; a condition from which he was at one point told he only had months left to live.
In addition to his career as a referee, Henson - again as Mickie Jay - had a brief spell as a WWF enhancement talent in 1992 and early '93, where he competed against the likes of the Undertaker, Sid Justice, Rick Martel, and the Nasty Boys. He would also compete on the Florida independent scene until the end of 1993.
The thoughts of all of us here at WhatCulture Wrestling go out to the family and friends of Mickie Henson at this time.