21 Wrestlers Who Died In 2018
Paying tribute to those who joined the Great Ring in the Sky this year.
Death is a sad inevitability of life, and the unceasing march of time meant that 2018 was no different than any other in seeing a host of well-known figures from the squared-circle leave us.
The past twelve months have seen numerous names from the world of pro wrestling tragically pass on prematurely, as we've said sad goodbyes to a Tough Enough winner, a second-generation tag sensation, and a joshi star who crossed paths with the greats.
2018 also saw the bell ring a final time on a veritable Hall of Fame of wrestling legends, including a British technician who changed the business, one of the business' best ever big men, and arguably, the finest world heavyweight champion of all time.
We also said farewell to a number of names who, though their contributions are not as widely known as some of their departed colleagues, nevertheless made a significant mark upon the industry we all love. Now is the time to eulogise their lesser known achievements.
Join us, as we pay tribute to all the heroes of wrestling who left us this year to join the Great Ring in the Sky.
21. Mountain Fiji (2 January)
Original Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling star Emily 'Mountain Fiji' Dole passed away at the turn of the year, having suffered from various health complications for many years. She was 60 years old.
One of the first names on the GLOW roster at its inception, the un-toppleable Dole quickly marked herself out as the show's most beloved star, sharing feuds opposite monster baddies Big Bad Mama and Matilda the Hun. Her popularity briefly parlayed into a television and film career, credits including the Pauly Shore vehicle Son in Law and CBS science-fiction Hard Time on Planet Earth.
As GLOW was reaching its conclusion, Dole was involved in an unsavoury incident when the LA County Sheriff's Dept. invaded her sister's home during a bridal shower. In echoes of the Rodney King scandal, three dozen members of Dole's American Samoan family were beaten at police hands. Dole herself, aware of her celebrity, passively took her abuse, all in front of a neighbour's video camera. Nine years later, the family won a legal settlement from the LACSD after suing on the grounds of racial discrimination.
Towards the end of her life, Dole had been living in an assisted care facility. She died on 2 January.