8. Dino Bravo (1948-1993)
The self proclaimed Strongest Man in Canada, Italian born Adolfo Bresciano made his professional wrestling career debut in 1970 under the name Dino Bravo. A tag team specialist, Bravo is probably best known for the time he bench pressed '715 lbs' (with a little assistance from Jesse Ventura) at the 1988 Royal Rumble, which would have been a world record. This fed into his strong man image (he could legitimately bench press more than 500lbs) and he also played up his Quebec heritage which was mildly hostile to USA wrestling punters. I remember him most as a heel tag team with the Earthquake under the management of Jimmy Hart in the WWE. He also partnered such luminaries as Greg 'The Hammer' Valentine and Haku. Bravo retired from wrestling in 1992. In March 1993 he was found dead from gunshot wounds in his Quebec home. It is thought that he was involved in the illicit smuggling of cigarettes in Canada. Rick Martel has said that Dino's fame as a professional wrestler attracted many suppliers and that Dino crossed the Mafia. Bravo had been involved in organised crime for some time and had voiced fears of being shot to various people before he died. A life cut tragically short due to his fame as a wrestler and his involvement in organised crime.