12/20/08

Pro Wrestler Mike 'Mad Dog' Bell dies at 37

News from Newport Beach, California: Former pro wrestler Mike "Mad Dog" Bell has died at age 37, reports say.

Bell was found Sunday at a Costa Mesa live-in rehabilitation facility, although the cause of death is still to be determined. The coroner is waiting for the results of toxicology tests.

Bell's longtime struggle with alcohol and painkiller abuse was featured in the documentary Bigger, Stronger, Faster by his brother, Chris Bell. The youngest brother, Mark, also did some pro wrestling and was a worldclass powerlifter. From the Associated Press:

"He was always wrestling, he was a personal trainer, he was always pushing his body to the max," Chris Bell told the Orange County Register.

"You can't really blame wrestling, but it's kind of the lifestyle," he said. "You have a couple of painkillers to get to the next match, have a couple drinks night to night and it gets out of hand."

Bell wrestled on World Wrestling Entertainment's "Monday Night Raw" as a "jobber," a fighter who takes falls to promote others.

"Although Mr. Bell was never under a WWE contract, WWE extends its deepest condolences to the Bell family," the organization said.


Source : np posted

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