29 Wrestlers Who Died In 2019
1. Moondog Rex (14 December)
Randy Colley, best known as Moondog Rex and the original Smash in WWE tag team Demolition, died on 14 December, at the age of 69.
Born 2 May 1950 in Alexander City, Alabama, Colley got his WWE break at the age of 31, winning the company's tag team championships in 1981 as part of the Moondogs alongside Moondog King. Three years on, he earned a WWE Title shot against Hulk Hogan during a television taping in Canada.
Looking to capitalise on the success of the Road Warriors, WWE introduced a new tag team known as Demolition in 1987. Colley underwent a significant cosmetic makeover as he was repackaged as the team's bruiser Smash, but fans saw through the facepaint almost immediately, and began chanting 'Moondog' at early house shows appearances. He was quickly replaced in the tandem by Barry Darsow.
After leaving WWE, Colley enjoyed a spell in Continental Wrestling under the name 'Detroit Demolition', before assuming his old Moondog moniker in WCW. Amongst his highlights were a Halloween Havoc '90 match against The Junkyard Dog, and being part of a stable of inept cowboys known as 'The Desperados'.