WWE SmackDown Debut Wrestlers: Where Are They Now?

Darren Drozdov’s fate will forever be linked to D’Lo Brown’s. While some might remember him for his brief Legion of Doom stint, Droz is most famous for his misfortune. He suffered a severe neck injury while wrestling Brown on an episode of SmackDown in October 1999, and was immediately rushed to hospital. Even with extensive medical care, the injuries left Droz quadriplegic and wheelchair-bound with no movement below the neck.

Fortunately, Droz has shown some minor signs of recovery since, and has now regained some movement in his upper body and arms. Brown took immediate responsibility for botching the move that led to the injury and claimed that the incident prompted him to tone down his hard-hitting style, but Droz has never blamed him. He maintains his belief that it was an accident, and holds no ill will towards D’Lo to this day.

Droz current lives in his native New Jersey, where cutting edge wheelchair technology allows him to live with a degree of independence. A strong support system of friends and family members (and WWE’s ongoing assistance) has helped him come to terms with his paralysis, and while still suffering from headaches and muscle spasms, he gets by with a positive life attitude and a resilient spirit.