29 Wrestlers Who Died In 2019
14. John Quinn (22 April)
Canadian wrestler John Quinn, best known for his stint as The Kentucky Butcher, died in on 22 April after complications from surgery following a stroke. He was 77.
Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Quinn trained under Al Spittles before he began an itinerant grappling career across North America. After cycling through a number of monikers, he eventually settled on the name Virgil the Kentucky Butcher - a title he carried into two separate spells with the then-WWWF.
The apex of his run in New York arrived with a match opposite long-term champion Bruno Sammartino at Madison Square Garden in 1967. He'd beaten French veteran Édouard Carpentier at the same venue a few weeks prior.
Later in his career, Quinn enjoyed a lengthy spell touring Europe, during which he became one of the biggest stars in the UK. At the height of the sport's popularity, the Canadian headlined Wembley Arena alongside Shirley 'Big Daddy' Crabtree - British wrestling's biggest ever show.
Things turned sour after a falling out with a promoter, and, unwilling to adapt his style for the entertainment-centric styles of '80s, Quinn hanged his boots up in 1987.
After retiring, Quinn severed virtually all ties with the wrestling business, outside of a Top Ranked Wrestling tribute show in 2005.