By Thomas M. Gallipoli, PWTorch.com Obituary Specialist

Deceased Wrestlers for 2006
PWTorch.com Exclusive
By Thomas M. Gallipoli, PWTorch.com Obituary Specialist

"Welcome to my funeral parlor."
-Paul Bearer

Hi again, everyone. I’m back with the 2006 Obituary List. 

As with the 2006 edition, I will list the information by Wrestler's Name, Real Name, Date of Death, Cause, Age and a brief snapshot of his/her career. I will also provide any Main-Stream Media links to the wrestlers if applicable. As the years go further back, I suspect that I will have less and less MainStream Media articles to post since the current media really didn’t report on wrestlers’ deaths. So, 2006 has fewer links than 2007 did. Again, please note that much of, if not most, of this information may be culled from "non-official sources" like blogs and websites but I have tried to insure the information was accurate. It is still my goal to make this section as up-to-date and accurate as possible for Wade and visitors so please feel free to email me at tomphoenix@optonline.net with any questions, comments, updates, links, corrections, or anything else you like.  I’ll give you a shout-out and thanks for any updates or corrections. I hope to update this section at least once per week with one entire year per update so the next one will cover 2005.
I'd like to thank my wife, parents, and sister for their ongoing patience and love. And now, onto the roll call:

*Ricky Romero, Enrique Gregory Romero, January 15, 2006, Complications from
Diabetes, age 74

-Longtime NWA wrestler, former member of the Youngbloods, NWA(five-time Western States Heavyweight Champion, eight-time Western States Tag Team Champion,
Amarillo-North American Heavyweight Champion, Texas-Tag Team Champion, Central States Tag Team Champion, seven-time Southwest Tag Team Champion, five time New Mexico Rocky Mountain Heavyweight Champion, WWA Tag Team Champion

*El Texano, Juan Conrado Aguilar Jaurequi, January 15, 2006, Lung & Respiratory Failure, age 47

-Mexican wrestler, two-time WWA Tag Team Champion, UWA (two-time Trios Champion, Tag Team Champion, Middleweight Champion, Welterweight Champion, Light Heavyweight Champion), WWC Junior Heavyweight Champion, CMLL Tag Team Champion, Mexico-National Tag Team Champion, IWA-Japan-IWA Tag Team Champion

*Black Cat, Mar Victor Manuel, January 28, 2006, Heart Attack, age 51

-Mexican wrestler, former member of Los Gringos Locos, Mexico-Naucalpan Tag Team Champion, Mexico- National Cruiserweight Champion

*Emory Hale, Emory Hale, January 29, 2006, Kidney Failure, age 36

-Also known as Lord Humongous and The Machine, not much on this wrestler, he appeared on WCW in its latter years and was scheduled to be a top heel in Hulk Hogan’s short-lived promotion in Florida before the rise of TNA

"Mr. TV" Jackie Pallo, Jack Ernest Gutteridge, February 11, 2006, Cancer, age 80

-Longtime British wrestler in Europe, debuted during WWII, Joint Promotions British Heavy Middleweight Champion

*Ron Dobratz(Wrestling writer), February 11, 2006, Lung Cancer, age 64

-Wrote many articles about the AWA, became a wrestling historian published the Wrestling Information Bulletin, in the early 70s that listed results from all over the territories and published several editions of Wrestling Digest Magazine.

MSM Links:
RonDrobatzarticle

*Johnny Grunge, February 16, 2006, Sleep Apnea, age 39

-Former ECW, WWE, and WCW tag team wrestler as Public Enemy with the late Flyboy Rocco Rock, close friend and neighbor to Chris Benoit, four-time ECW Tag Team Champion, CWA Tag Team Champion, NWA (San Francisco-Tag Team Champion, United States Tag Team Champion), WCW Tag Team Champion, TCW Tag Team Champion , MECW Tag Team Champion, two-time i-Genration Tag Team Champion

MSM Links:
JohnnyGrungearticle

*Jeff Barnes(ARW Announcer), Jeffrey Barnes, February 25, 2006, Fell Off Cliff While Hiking, age 23

-Lean announcer for indie Adrenaline Rush Wrestling league, nothing else except a real tragedy for someone so young

* Captain Leslie Holmes, Leslie Holmes, Feburary 28, 2006, Cancer, 89

-Was influential manager in the television era of wrestling, broke new ground wearing tuxedos with a walking cane and had great promo abilities, managed Lord James Blears & Lord Athel Layton.

*Maria Bernardi, Maria Bernardi, March 21, 2006, Cerebral Hemorrhage, age 80

-Longtime lady wrestler, not much on her, World Lightweight Champion, 
Italy-Italian Lightweight Champion

*Victor Quinones, Victor Quiñones, April 2, 2006, Natural Causes, age 46

-Promoter and owner of World Wrestling Council and International Wrestling Association, both leagues in Puerto Rico

*Kay Noble, Mary Charlene Noble-Bell, April 27, 2006, Stomach Cancer, age 65

-Lady wrestler, trained by 2007 deceased wrestler Sonny Myers, NWA (Texas Women's Champion, Central States Women's Champion)

MSM Links:
KayNoblearticle

*Sam Steamboat, Sam Mokuahi, May 2, 2006, Alzheimer's Disease, age 71

-Inspiration for Rick Steamboat’s wrestling name, Hawaiian wrestler, NWA (four-time Hawaii-North American Heavyweight Champion, three-time Hawaii Heavyweight Champion, five-time Hawaii Tag Team Champion, five-time Florida Tag Team Champion, Texas Tag Team Champion, Florida Tag Team Champion, Tennessee & Alabama Tag Team Champion, Georgia-Southern Tag Team Champion, Mid Atlantic-Southern Tag Team Champion

MSM Links:
SamSteamboatarticle


*Cowboy Bob Yuma, Robert Yuma, May 23, 2006, Lung Disease, age 54

-Longtime NWA wrestler, trained by Tito Montez, NWA (Western States Heavyweight Champion, Western States Junior Heavyweight Champion, Western States Tag Team Champion, Southwestern Junior Heavyweight Champion)

*Prince Pullins, Calvin C Pullins, June 1, 2006, Unknown, age 74

-Jamaican wrestler, not much is known about him, NWA (Gulf Coast Heavyweight Champion, Gulf Coast-United States Tag Team Champion) 

*Cobrita, Jorge Melendez, June 5, 2006, Suicide, age ??

-I could not find anything else about this wrestler

*Earthquake, John Tenta, June 7, 2006, Bladder Cancer, age 42

-Canadian wrestler, former Canadian and Junior World Amateur Champion in 1983, trained by Giant Baba of Japan, former Sumo wrestler before turning pro, had memorable feud with Hulk Hogan and Jake Roberts, wrestled in WCW as the Shark, WWE Tag Team Champion, SWS Tag Team Champion, two-time UWA Heavyweight Champion, UWA Canadian Champion

MSM Links:
Earthquakearticle

*"Crazy" Luke Graham, James Grady Johnson, June 23, 2006, Heart Failure, age 66

-Longtime wrestler as part of the fictitious Graham family, WWWF (Tag Team Champion, International Tag Team Champion, United States Tag Team Champion), WWC (Caribbean Heavyweight Champion, two-time North American Tag Team Champion), NWA Central States Heavyweight Champion, two-time Mid America Heavyweight Champion, Hawaii Heavyweight Champion, Tennessee & Alabama Tag Team Champion, Georgia Television Champion, Detroit Tag Team Champion, Hawaii Tag Team Champion), WWA( Heavyweight Champion, Tag Team Champion)


*Harry Elliot(Wrestling Promoter), June 25, 2006, Natural Causes, age 101

- He graduated Oregon State University with the highest honors ever, he became head referee in the Portland area, he obtained a contract with CBS Television to broadcast wrestling live in the City of Seattle in 1957, and until 1969 was the sole promoter in the Washington State, Idaho and Northeast Oregon areas.

*Tiger Khan, Marlon Kalkai, June 26, 2006, Heart Failure, age 33

-Indian wrestler (not Native American), wrestled mostly in Canadian Stampede league, Stampede Wrestling Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Champion

MSM Links:
TigerKhanarticle

*Pat Hutchison, June 27, 2006, Unknown , age ??

-I have no further information on this wrestler other than he wrestled under a mask since he was a County Clerk and wanted to keep his identity a secret

*Daniel Nickerson(All Out Mayhem Promoter), July 15 2006, Heart Attack, age 48

-I have no further information on this promoter

*Jenni Lee, Jennifer L Bednar July 15, 2006, Unknown, age 34

-I have no further information on this lady wrestler

*Billy Firehawk, William J Hawkins III , July 17, 2006, Complications From Diabetes, age 40

- Promoter of NWA indie league CSWF, CSWF (Internet Champion, Tag Team Champion)

*Cowboy Bob Orton Sr, Robert Orton Sr, July 16, 2006, Heart Attack, age 76

-Father of WWE Hall of Famer Bob Orton Jr. and grandfather to current WWE wrestler Randy Orton, longtime AWA and NWA wrestler NWA (Missouri Heavyweight Champion, Southwest Heavyweight Champion, two-time Central States Heavyweight Champion, six-time Southern Heavyweight Champion, North American Tag Team Champion, five-time Florida Tag Team Champion, United States Tag Team Champion,
Heart of America Heavyweight Champion), AWA (two-time Midwest Heavyweight Champion, three-time Midwest Tag Team Champion)

*Masked Medic, Donald Lortie , August 5, 2006, Heart Failure, age 75

Canadian wrestler, tag team specialist, five-time NWA Mid America Southern Tag Team Champion

*Cho Ei Tetsu, August 8, 2006, Parkinson's Disease, age 73

-I have no further information on this longtime wrestler

*"Dr Love" Adam Marks, August 10, 2006, Unknown, age 21

- Five-time NWA Mid America Southern Tag Team Champion, he died just days before his 22nd birthday, was 2005 UWSF Rookie of the Year

*Karl Von Stroheim, Walter Nurnberg, August 13, 2006, Heart Attack, age 78

-Canadian wrestler who played stereotypical German heel, longtime wrestler, NWA (two-time Mid America Southern Tag Team Champion, two-time International Tag Team Champion, Tri State United States Tag Team Champion), IWA Tag Team Champion, WWA (Tag Team Champion, Western States Heavyweight Champion)

*"Hotline" Ric Carter (Wrestling Radio Host & Referee), September 2, 2006, Hit & Run, age 44

-I have no further information on this person

*Apostolos Souglakos, Apostolos Souglakos, September 5, 2006, Stroke, age 56

-Greek wrestler, but I have no further information on this wrestler

*Ray Cortese (AWA SLAM/CHICAGO Promoter), September 11, 2006, Cancer, age Unknown

-I have no further information on this promoter.

*Ricky Gibson , Richard E. Cain, September 16, 2006,  Heart Attack, age 53

-Played the brother of Robert Gibson of Rock and Roll Express fame, tag team specialist, NWA (two-time Mid America Southern Tag Team Champion, three time Alabama Heavyweight Champion, Mid America Tag Team Champion, Tennessee Tag Team Champion, Mid America Six Man Tag Team Champion, Gulf Coast United States Tag Team Champion, Central States Heavyweight Champion, Southeastern Tag Team Champion), four-time AWA Southern Tag Team Champion,  SCW Western States Tag Team Champion, CWA Tag Team Champion

*"Crybaby" Dale Edwards, October 5, 2006, found dead by neighbor, age 58

-Former promoter of Iowa’s Midwest Championship Wrestling, also was wrestling historian and photographer

*Antonio Peña, Antonio Peña Herrada, October 5, 2006, Massive Heart Attack, age 55

-One of the most influential forces in Mexican wrestling, brought Luca Libre to the United States, gave Rey Mysterio, Psicosis, Eddie Guerrero, Juventud Guerrera, La Parka their first real exposure, AAA Promoter and Founder, EMLL Promoter, in 1995 he promoted the first AAA American Pay-Per-View “When Worlds Collide

*Joey Maggs, Joseph Magliano, October 15, 2006, Unknown, age 37

-Wrestled as enhancement talent for WCW, USWA (Tag Team Champion, Junior Heavyweight Champion, MEWF Mid Atlantic Champion, two-time SCW Southern Tag Team Champion

*Kim Il, Kintatro Ohki, October 26, 2006, Heart Attack From Renal Insufficiency & Kidney Failure, age 77

-Korean wrestler, trained by legendary Japanese wrestler Rikidozan, South Korea Far East Heavyweight Champion, JWA (four-time All Asia Heavyweight Champion, All Asia Tag Team Champion), WWA (Heavyweight Champion, Tag Team Champion), NWA (NWA Texas Tag Team Champion, four-time International Tag Team Champion,
International Heavyweight Champion)

*Huracan Ramirez, Daniel Garcia, October 31, 2006, Natural Causes, age 80

-Mexican wrestler, longtime wrestler, wrestled also as El Buitre Blanco (The White Vulture), Chico, Chamaco García, NWA Welterweight Champion, Mexico-three-time National Welterweight Champion, Mexico-Northern Middleweight Champion

*Sputnik Monroe, Rosco Monroe Merrick, November 3, 2006, Natural Causes, age 77

-Longtime NWA wrestler born in Texas, began wrestling in carnivals at age 17, NWA (Florida Southern Tag Team Champion, Florida Tag Team Champion, two-time Florida Tag Team Champion, two-time Georgia Heavyweight Champion, Gulf Coast Louisiana Champion, Southern Junior Heavyweight Champion, Mid America Southern Tag Team Champion, two-time Tennessee Heavyweight Champion, two-time Tennessee Tag Team Champion, World Junior Heavyweight Champion [defeated legenday Danny Hodge], Amarillo-North American Tag Team Champion, Western States Tag Team Champion, Texas Heavyweight Champion, two-time
Texas Tag Team Champion)

*The Stud, November 10, 2006, Drug Overdose, age 25

-Sadly, I have no further information of this wrestler

*Tiger Conway Sr, Dennis Conway Sr, November 13, 2006, Massive Stroke, age 74

-African-American wrestler, trained by Danny McShain, Texas Negro Champion

*Jimmy Hustler, Jimmy Alicea, November 21, 2006, Heart Attack, age 33

-Trained by Johnny Rodz, promoted indie All Boro Championship Wrestling league

*The Spoiler, Don Jardine, December 16, 2006, Leukemia, age 66

-Canadian wrestler, wore a mask, longtime wrestler under the names of Baby Face Jardine, The Butcher, Masked Enforcer #2, The Original Super Destroyer, Super Destroyer, Sonny Cooper, The Super Spoiler, NWA (two-time Texas Heavyweight Champion, three time, Florida Heavyweight Champion, two-time National Heavyweight Champion, two-time Tri State-North American Heavyweight Champion, two-time Georgia Wildside Heavyweight Champion, Southern Heavyweight Champion, Canadian Tag Team Champion, five time American Heavyweight Champion, five-time American Tag Team Champion, Florida Tag Team Champion, Tennessee & Alabama Tag Team Champion, Texas Brass Knuckles Champion), WWWF National Heavyweight Champion two-time WCCW Television Champion, WWC (North American Heavyweight Champion, North American Tag Team Champion) two-time Vancouver Tag Team Champion, MSWA (North American Heavyweight Champion, United States Tag Team Champion), two-time IWA Tag Team Champion

*El Shereef, Jerry Carroll, December 19, 2006, Cancer, age 60

-Wrestler who worked main events in the 50s and 60s then retired to become a medical physician, no further information

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