16 Wrestlers Who Died In 2017

Otto Wanz, arguably the most famous Austrian professional wrestler of all time and a man who made the Guinness Book of World Records for tearing apart telephone directories with his bare hands, died in September at the age of 74 after a short illness.

At 6'2" and 375lbs, Wanz was an absolute behemoth, bulldozing through competition in his native Austria and the neighbouring Germany before a US tour of his Catch Wrestling Association in 1982 brought him to the attention of Verne Gagne. Wanz appeared for Gagne's AWA during his spell in the States, claiming the promotion's title from Nick Bockwinkel - an accolade essentially funded by Wanz himself as a way to further promote his business back in Europe.

Apart from the phonebook shredding which landed him in the Irish brewer's most notable publication, Wanz's other claim to fame was being the only man to slam both Andre the Giant and Yokozuna - a feat even Hulk Hogan couldn't match, no thanks to a malfunctioning camera at King of the Ring '93.

Wanz called it a day in 1990, but continued to promote in the business up until the new millennium. Post-retirement, he remained a minor celebrity in his home country, often appearing in commercials and films.