Former ECW Wrestler Suffers Mild Stroke

Best wishes to Simon Diamond as he recovers.

Simon Diamond
WWE

Former ECW wrestler Simon Diamond suffered a self-described "mild stroke" on Friday 11 March, reports PWInsider's Mike Johnson.

The 53-year-old was admitted to a New Jersey hospital following the incident. Released on Wednesday 16 March, Diamond (real name: Pat Kenney) tweeted the following:-

Life is precious. Hug your childrty, tell family & friends you love them. Life is a girl, DO NOT take it for granted.

A long recovery awaits for Kenney, who has been dealing with impaired vision.

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Kenney got his start in pro wrestling as Lance Diamond through the Delaware-based East Coast Wrestling Association in 1993, where he eventually formed a tag team with future ECW World Champion Steve Corino. Becoming Simon Diamond after joining Paul Heyman's cult promotion himself in 1998, Kenney, who was mentored by Dean Malenko, is perhaps best known for his allegiance with Johnny Swinger and C.W. Anderson, though he fell away from wrestling as ECW was declared bankrupt and a potential WCW contract fell through in 2001.

July 2003 saw Kenney commence a lengthy TNA/IMPACT run, starting off as a wrestler before assuming a backstage role, though he spent 10 months out of the company after being released due to budget cuts in November 2008. Returning the following September, he was with the promotion until departing again in June 2017.

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More recently, Kenney has been working as Director of Talent Relations for the National Wrestling Alliance.

All the best to the former Simon Diamond as he recovers.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.