10 WCW Stars Who Died Too Young
6. Pez Whatley (1951 - 2005)
Though Pez Whatley ended the last six years of his career as nothing more than a jobber in Atlanta, the Chattanooga native had enjoyed a relatively productive career in the mid '80s with Jim Crockett Promotions - the forerunner to WCW.
During his first run with the group, Whatley paired up with Jimmy Valiant, contesting numerous bouts against Paul Jones' Army. However, the duo came to blows after Valiant's (worked) comments referring to Whatley as 'the best black in wrestling'. Offended by the seemingly racist statement, Whatley exacted revenge by shaving part of Valiant's beard, and the two feuded for the remainder of the year.
Whatley - now known as Shaska - eventually lost his own hair after losing to Valiant at the culmination of their programme. The Great American Bash blow-off was the high point of his wrestling career, though he later returned to WCW to flesh out the numbers in 1995 and 1996's World War 3 events before assuming a role as trainer at the company's Power Plant training facility.
After ending his in-ring stint, it was discovered that Whatley suffered from an enlarged heart. Requiring a transplant, the former grappler was even pronounced dead twice. However, he managed to lived on until the age of 54, and though still far too young an age to die, was nevertheless grateful for the unexpected extra time he enjoyed following his diagnosis.