24 Wrestlers Who Died In 2020
1. Brodie Lee (26 December)
The wrestling world was left devastated on 26 December when AEW announced that Jon 'Brodie Lee' Huber had passed away following a non-COVID related lung issue. He was just 41 years old.
Huber's death prompted an overwhelming outpouring from all corners of the wrestling world, with the many people he touched paying tribute to an immense talent and an immense father.
Jon Huber was born 16 December 1979 in Rochester, New York. He began backyarding in his early 20s, before receiving formal training at Roc City Wrestling in 2003. Within four years, Huber - working as Brodie Lee - was scouted by Philadelphia's Chikara. Across the next half decade, Huber became one of the most in-demand talents on the indie scene, until he was signed to a WWE developmental contract in 2012.
Under the new name Luke Harper, Huber formed part of NXT's backwoods trio The Wyatt Family, capturing the brand's tag team title alongside fellow disciple Erick Rowan. The pair would repeat the feat on the main roster whilst working as The Bludgeon Brothers, a modern day reprisal of The Road Warriors formula which was ultimately stopped in its tracks by recurrent injuries.
Huber also captured the Intercontinental Championship during his time in WWE, but despite his secure position in the company, requested his release in April 2019 as he sought professional fulfilment elsewhere. The request was eventually granted last December.
Three months later, Huber made a dramatic AEW debut as cultish stable The Dark Order's much-touted Exalted One. From day one, the former Luke Harper was positioned as the main eventer his skills deserved. Within two months, he challenged for Jon Moxley's AEW World Championship at Double or Nothing, before taking the TNT title from Cody in late August.
Huber was written out of storylines in October, with AEW citing an undisclosed injury. It was reported after his death that he had been placed in an ICU facility late that month due to lung failure.
Huber leaves behind a wife, Amanda, and two sons. A week following his tragic passing, AEW suspended all storylines to put on an emotional tribute show, during which Huber's eldest, Brodie, was declared TNT Champion for life.