CONTACTABOUTFACEBOOKTWITTERPODCAST IPHONE APPANDROID APPAMAZON APPRSS
Pro Wrestling Torch
Pro Wrestling Torch Reaches The Most Wrestling Fans Every Week: #1 in iTunes • #1 on iPhone and iPad • #1 on Android • #1 on Kindle
GOT THE PWTORCH APP YET?
iPhone & iPad
Android
Amazon Kindle
Windows Phone
PWTorch Phone App
Annual Obituaries
OBIT: California writer/producer Joe Franciosi dies suddenly

May 15, 2015 - 5:30:01 PM
PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO BOOKMARK US & VISIT US DAILY


Wrestling Deaths 2015

-- May 15: Wrestling writer/producer Joseph A. Franciosi has died, according to Southern California co-workers and colleagues. Franciosi was a writer for Championship Wrestling From Hollywood and previously wrote for WWE.

CWFH tweeted: "We are all saddened with the loss of Joe Franciosi a/k/a Schmo. He was a beloved member of our family and will be deeply missed. Our love and thoughts are with his wife and two children during his tragic time. We love you Joe and will truly be missed."

Samoa Joe tweeted: "Rest in Peace Joe Franciosi. I love you brother, see you on the other side..."

Colleague Stu Stone posted a detailed Facebook blog HERE.

-- April 27: AWA legend & promoter Verne Gagne died at the age of 89. [ Full Story HERE ] [ PWTorch Livecast Audio Interview Coverage HERE ] [ PWTorch Newsletter Cover Story HERE ]

-- April 6: The New Zealand Herald reports that long-time wrestling promoter Steve Rickard died at the age of 85 in New Zealand. Rickard was a wrestler before he was a promoter and TV producer. Rickard was also on the NWA Board of Directors in the mid-1990s when Shane Douglas infamously threw down the NWA Title and introduced the ECW Title. [ LINK: Report HERE ]

-- March 21: El Hijo Del Perro Aguayo, one of the top stars in Mexico, shockingly died following a major injury during a match in Tijuana, Mexico. [ LINK: Full Details HERE ]

-- March 20: The Southern California independent wrestler known as Cincinnati Red (Gregory Daves) has died according to reports in California.

SoCalUncensored.com reports that according to SoCal promoter Jesse Hernandez, Red died of a heart attack at the age of 40.

Christopher Daniels, who was part of Red's era of future stars coming out of SoCal, tweeted Friday night: "Just heard of Cincinnati Red's passing. One of the first guys I worked with in CA. RIP Red, tomorrow we walk that aisle for you!"

-- February 9: Scottish wrestling legend Drew McDonald (Charles Shaw) died after a battle with cancer at the age of 59. McDonald, who inspired future stars William Regal & Finlay & current Diva Paige, was one of the top heels in the U.K. as part of the "World of Sport" TV show. [ LINK: Full Tribute from Glasgow.STV.TV HERE ]

-- January 27: East Coast independent wrestler Larry Winters reportedly died of a heart attack.

-- January 16: Territory era wrestler Johnny Thunder (John Stewart) died at the age of 80, reports Cincinnati.com. Stewart reportedly died of prostate cancer following a three-year battle.

Stewart, who worked with Andre the Giant and the Original Sheik, was a greeter at Kroger's in Newport, Ky. up until a few weeks before his death. Visitation is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 22 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Fares. J. Radel Funeral Home in Newport. A memorial service will follow. [ LINK: Local News Report HERE ]

-- January 7: The wrestler who played The Zombie on the first WWE-branded ECW episode in 2006 has reportedly died. Zombie, played by Tim Roberts (Tim Arson on the independents), was found dead in his bed overnight, according to
PWInsider.


We suggest these recent related articles...
OBIT: Rickard, New Zealand promoter/former NWA Board member, dies at 85
OBIT: Report - SoCal independent wrestler Cincinnati Red dies at 40
OBIT: European legend Drew McDonald dies at 59
prowrestling.net
CLICK HERE FOR EVEN MORE PW.NET HEADLINES


CLICK TO EMAIL THIS ARTICLE
CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO MAIN LISTING

NEW! SIGN UP FOR FREE PWTORCH BREAKING NEWS EMAIL ALERTS
BECOME A PWTORCH VIP MEMBER
-FORMER MEMBERS LOGIN HERE TO RENEW
-NEW MEMBERS CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP
SELECT BY ARTICLES CATEGORY
SEARCH PWTORCH.COM



CLICK HERE FOR LIST OF UPCOMING PRO WRESTLING EVENTS
MORE HEADLINES AT AFFILIATE SITES
MMATorch
LATEST HEADLINES - CLICK TO READ CLICK HERE FOR MORE MMATORCH HEADLINES



LATEST HEADLINES - CLICK TO READ CLICK HERE FOR EVEN MORE INC HEADLINES

_
LATEST FREE AUDIO SHOWS - CLICK TO LISTEN VIEW MORE PWTORCH LIVECAST EPISODES
DOWNLOAD PWTORCH LIVECAST APP
SUBSCRIBE TO PWTORCH LIVECAST IN ITUNES


ABOUT US

THE TORCH REACHES MORE COMBAT ENTERTAINMENT FANS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

PWTorch editor Wade Keller has covered pro wrestling full time since 1987 starting with the Pro Wrestling Torch print newsletter. PWTorch.com launched in 1999 and the PWTorch Apps launched in 2008.

He has conducted "Torch Talk" insider interviews with Hulk Hogan, The Rock, Steve Austin, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Eric Bischoff, Jesse Ventura, Lou Thesz, Jerry Lawler, Mick Foley, Jim Ross, Paul Heyman, Bruno Sammartino, Goldberg, more.

He has interviewed big-name players in person incluiding Vince McMahon (at WWE Headquarters), Dana White (in Las Vegas), Eric Bischoff (at the first Nitro at Mall of America), Brock Lesnar (after his first UFC win).

He hosted the weekly Pro Wrestling Focus radio show on KFAN in the early 1990s and hosted the Ultimate Insiders DVD series distributed in retail stories internationally in the mid-2000s including interviews filmed in Los Angeles with Vince Russo & Ed Ferrara and Matt & Jeff Hardy. He currently hosts the most listened to pro wrestling audio show in the world, (the PWTorch Livecast, top ranked in iTunes)


REACHING 1 MILLION+ UNIQUE USERS PER MONTH
500 MILLION CLICKS & LISTENS PER YEAR
MILLIONS OF PWTORCH NEWSLETTERS SOLD
PWTORCH STAFF

EDITORS:
Wade Keller, editor
(kellerwade@gmail.com)

James Caldwell, assistant editor
(pwtorch@gmail.com)

STAFF COLUMNISTS:
Bruce Mitchell (since 1990)
Pat McNeill (since 2001)
Greg Parks (since 2007)
Sean Radican (since 2003)

We also have a great team of
TV Reporters
and Specialists and Artists.

PWTORCH VIP MEMBERSHIP

PWTorch offers a VIP membership for $10 a month (or less with an annual sub). It includes nearly 25 years worth of archives from our coverage of pro wrestling dating back to PWTorch Newsletters from the late-'80s filled with insider secrets from every era that are available to VIPers in digital PDF format and Keller's radio show from the early 1990s.

Also, new exclusive top-shelf content every day including a new VIP-exclusive weekly 16 page digital magazine-style (PC and iPad compatible) PDF newsletter packed with exclusive articles and news.

The following features come with a VIP membership which tens of thousands of fans worldwide have enjoyed for many years...

-New Digital PWTorch Newsletter every week
-3 New Digital PDF Back Issues from 5, 10, 20 years ago
-Over 60 new VIP Audio Shows each week
-Ad-free access to all PWTorch.com free articles
-VIP Forum access with daily interaction with PWTorch staff and well-informed fellow wrestling fans
-Tons of archived audio and text articles
-Decades of Torch Talk insider interviews in transcript and audio formats with big name stars.


**SIGN UP FOR VIP ACCESS HERE**

CONTACTABOUTFACEBOOKTWITTERPODCASTIPHONE APPANDROID APPAMAZON APPRSS
VIP SIGN-UP
VIP LOGIN
THE TORCH: #1 IN COMBAT ENTERTAINMENT COVERAGE | © 1999-2013 TDH Communications Inc. • All rights reserved -- PRIVACY POLICY