7 Wrestlers Who Were Murdered

6. Bruiser Brody (18 July 1988)

Bruiser Brody
Pro Wrestling Illustrated

A little under 25 years later, another stabbing blighted the pro wrestling world. This time, it happened backstage at a show and took the life of wild man brawler Frank 'Bruiser Brody' Goodish.

Scheduled to wrestle Dan Spivey on a card in Puerto Rico, Brody was called into the shower area by José Huertas González (ring name: Invader I) before his match to talk over some business. Obliging, Bruiser walked over and, following a short scuffle, was clutching his stomach in agony.

He'd been stabbed in the gut by González.

Tony Atlas reportedly tried to help paramedics lift Brody downstairs and load him into a waiting ambulance, but it was all in vain. Medics had been unable to get to the building for close to an hour, which proved disastrous for Goodish. He died in hospital from the stab wounds.

Years later, Dutch Mantel (who was also working the show) claimed that a "weak justice system" in Puerto Rico helped González plead self-defence.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.