24 Wrestlers Who Died In 2020
11. Xavier (16 August)
The list of former Ring Of Honor champions reads like a who's who of the industry over the past 10 years. The company's second ever title holder, Johnny 'Xavier' Bedoya is something of an anomaly; he'd never reach the same mainstream heights as his peers, but his contribution to ROH nevertheless helped created the platform from which they could launch.
Born 28 December 1977 in Queens, NY, Bedoya worked the NYC independent scene before bagging a prelim role in WWE. Though he made a number of appearances on the company's C-shows and as an occasional extra, it wasn't until the birth of Ring Of Honor that Bedoya made his name. Featuring in the novel upstart promotion's first ever show, the ROH original was soon rewarded with a run with the belt, defeating Low Ki for the honour. He held the strap for five months, before dropping it to emerging brute Samoa Joe.
Xavier's ROH appearances were sporadic thereafter, and he retired from the industry in 2016. He was set for Ring Of Honor comeback this year, only for the event to be scrapped due to the coronavirus pandemic.
On 16 August, news of Bedoya's death was announced. He was 43.