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By Thomas M. Gallipoli, PWTorch.com Obituary Specialist

Deceased Wrestlers for 2005
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 2005 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 Mainstream Media links to the wrestlers if applicable. As the years go further back, I suspect that I will have fewer and fewer MainStream Media articles to post since the current media really didn't report on wrestlers' deaths. So, 2005 has even fewer links than 2006 did. I'm not expecting the situation to get much better the further we go back in time.

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 2004.

I'd like to thank my wife, parents, and sister for their ongoing patience and love. And now, onto the roll call:

Buddy Porter , January 5, 2005 Natural causes, 59

-I could find nothing else about this wrestler

Ray Villmer, Raymond Vilmer, January 9, 2005, Natural Causes, 92

-World War II Naval Veteran, wrestled under a mask as "The Mighty Yankee",
NWA (two-time Central States Heavyweight Champion, two-time Southern Heavyweight Champion, Gulf Coast Heavyweight Champion, Pacific Coast Heavyweight Champion), California State Heavyweight Champion

"Pistol" Pez Whatley, Peter Whatley, January 18, 2005, Heart Failure, 54

-African-American wrestler, Wrestled as enhancement talent for WCW, NWA
(two-time Mid America Tag Team Champion, two-time Southern Heavyweight Champion, Western States Tag Team Champion), ICW United States Champion

Tony Lanza, Ferdinairdo Antonio Lanza, January 20, 2005, Fell in Bathroom, 84

-Canadian wrestler, not much else is known except was Mr Sante Quebec Bodybuilding Champion before becoming wrestler and was the most respected wrestling photographer in the 50s and 60s

Gary Lee Pearson, Gary Lee Pearson, January 20, 2005, Cancer, 61

-Nothing else is known except he portrayed a stereotypical redneck gimmick

Dave Levin, February ??, 2005, Unknown, ??

-I found nothing else on this wrestler but am including for the record.

Roger Mackay, February 19, 2005, Congestive Heart Failure, 76

-I found nothing else on this longtime wrestler

Mighty Joe Esposito, February 20, 2005, Unknown, 89

-I found nothing else on this longtime wrestler

George Culkin(Promoter), February 26, 2005, Natural Causes, 78

-I found nothing else on this longtime promoter

Chief Black Eagle, Louis Torres, April ??, 2005, Unknown, 72

-I found nothing else on this longtime wrestler

"Mad" Mike Allen(Manager), April ??, 2005, Unknown, 32

-I found nothing else on this manager

Bobby Whitlock, April 3, 2005, Unknown, 68

-I found nothing else on this manager

Chris Candido, Christopher Candito, April 28, 2005, Blood Clot, 33

-Wrestled for WCW, WWE, ECW, and TNA, trained by Larry Sharpe, member of ECW's Triple Threat, WWA (Light Heavyweight Champion, two-time Junior Heavyweight Champion, Tag Team Champion, Heavyweight Champion), WCW Cruiserweight Champion, ECW three-time Tag Team Champion, WWE Tag Team Champion, NWA (North Jersey Heavyweight Champion, Heavyweight Champion, Heavyweight Champion, United States Tag Team Champion, two-time United States Junior Heavyweight Champion, Midwest Heavyweight Champion) SMW (two-time Tag Team Champion, two-time "Beat the Champ" Television Champion, two-time United States Champion), XPW Heavyweight Champion, JCW Television Champion, ISPW Heavyweight Champion, PCW United States Champion, CCW Heavyweight Champion, WWC Television Champion, two-time UXW United States Champion, two-time UWA Heavyweight Champion, LWE Heavyweight Champion

Guy Brunetti, Guy Joseph Brunetti, May 8, 2005, Natural Causes, 75

-Longtime wrestler, NWA (three-time Canadian Open Tag Team Champion, two-time Minneapolis Tag Team Champion, two-time Pacific Coast Tag Team Champion),
AWA two-time Tag Team Champion, Stampede International Tag Team Champion

Chris Kreski(WWE TV Writer), Christopher Kreski, May 9, 2005, Cancer, 42

-Former mainstream TV writer before joining WWE

Spider, Daniel Quirk, May 28, 2005, Dies In Ring, 22

-Indie wrestler, not much else is known, NAWF Junior Heavyweight Champion, 
NWA New England Junior Heavyweight Champion

Kevin Mailhot, June 14, 2005, Car Accident, 24

-I could find out nothing else about this wrestler

 
Rod Trongard(Wrestling Announcer), June 18, 2005, Liver Cancer, 72

-Longtime AWA wrestling announcer, was inducted into the Minnesota broadcasting Hall of Fame in October 2003

"The Commish" Eric Acker(Wrestling Promoter), July 3, 2005, Motorcycle Accident, 32

-I could find out nothing else about this promoter

Shinya Hashimoto, Shinya Hashimoto, July 11, 2005, Brain Hemorrhage, 40

-Japanese wrestler known for his stiff style, NJPW( three-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, two-time IWGP Tag Team Champion, 1992 & 1996 Super Grade Tag League Winner, 1998 G1 Climax Winner), AJPW Unified Triple Crown Champion, NWA (Heavyweight Champion, New Jersey-New York World Class Champion), two-time Japan-Zero-One Intercontinental Tag Team Champion

Jose Miguel Perez Sr., Jose Miguel Perez, Sr., July 16, 2005, Heart Attack, 68

-Puerto Rican wrestler, teamed with Antonio Rocca, WWC (three-time North American Tag Team Champion, four-time Puerto Rican Heavyweight Champion)

Al Kashey, July 17, 2005, Unknown, 75

-Not much about this longtime wrestler except he was the son of King Kong Kashey and held the NWA Light Heavyweight Championship

Lord Alfred Hayes, Alfred Hayes, July 20, 2005, Stroke, 77

-Longtime WWE personality in the 1980s, was longtime British wrestler, was despised heel before becoming beloved face announcer, NWA (two-time Western States Tag Team Champion, Texas Tag Team Champion, Central States, Tag Team Champion
World Mid Heavyweight Champion)

Lou Pitoscia, July 28, 2005, Unknown, 76

-I could find nothing else on this longtime wrestler

Chris Tolos, Christopher Tolos, August 13, 2005, Cancer age 75

-Brother of Greek wrestler John Tolos and was tag team with John, Canadian-born wrestler,  WWWF United States Tag Team Champion, NWA (two-time Canadian Tag Team Champion, Toronto International Tag Team Champion, Texas Tag Team Champion, Detroit Tag Team Champion, Florida Tag Team Champion, Southwestern Tag Team Champion, two-time Vancouver Tag Team Champion, Pacific Coast Tag Team Champion) AWA (Midwest Tag Team Champion, Indiana Tag Team Champion),
Stampede International Tag Team Champion

Chris Cash, Christopher Bauman Jr., August 18, 2005, Motorcycle Accident, age 23

-Indie wrestler, not much else is known except died too young, CZW Tag Team Champion

Dean Rockwell, August 8, 2005, Unknown, age 93

-I could find out nothing else about this longtime wrestler

Scotty Thompson, August 17, 2005, Unknown, age 84

-I could find out nothing else about this longtime wrestler

Kunimatsu Matsunaga(AJWPW Promoter), August 19, 2005, Jumps Off Building, age 63

-I could find out nothing else on this Japanese promoter

Moondog King/Sailor White, Edward John White, August 27, 2005, Unknown, age 56

-Member of the famous Moondog stable, Canadian wrestler, fluctuated between tough-as-nails Sailor gimmick and drooling Moondog gimmick, WWWF Tag Team Champion, IW (Heavyweight Champion, three-time Tag Team Champion), NWA Maritimes-Canadian Heavyweight Champion, Canada-Canadian Television Champion, ICW Tag Team Champion, CEW Newfoundland Heritage Champion, even ran for Canadian Parliament in 2000 but lost

Czaya Nandor, Robert Nandor, August 30, 2005, Cancer, age 80

-Known as the Hungarian Freedom Fighter, wrestled mostly in Canada, three-time NWA Calgary-Canadian Heavyweight Champion, Stampede International Tag Team Champion
          
Trae Kellar, Trae Kellar,  September 20, 2005, Unknown, age 36

-Not much is known about this wrestler, wrestled under the names "Totally Biff" Trae Kellar, Heinrich Von Kellar, & Miles LongBrownsville, died in Tennessee

"Mr. America" Gene Stanlee, Eugene Stanley Zygowicz, September 23, 2005, Unknown, age 88

-Became famous TV wrestler in the 1950s with the advent of television, had very good physique, NWA Southern Heavyweight Champion, Ohio-Ohio Heavyweight Champion, was personal trainer to Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks

Bob "Legs" Langevin, October 8, 2005, Unknown, age 91

-Not much about this longtime wrestler, known for his great leg strength, would perform a gimmick where he would split a bag of flour by squeezing it with his legs, feuded with Lou Thesz, Killer Kowalski, and Ed "Strangler" Lewis, even boxed legendary Joe Louis

The Crusher, Reginald Lisowski,  October 22, 2005, Brain Tumor, age 79

-Longtime wrestler known as a bump machine, longtime tag team wrestler with the Bruiser, managed by Bobby Heenan, NWA (three-time Chicago Tag Team Champion, three time Georgia Tag Team Champion, two-time Minneapolis Tag Team Champion, two-time Canadian Open Tag Team Champion), AWA (three-time Heavyweight Champion, eight-time Tag Team Champion), JWA International Tag Team Champion, six-time WWA Tag Team Champion, Minneapolis British Open Tag Team Champion

Choo-Choo Lynn, November 11, 2005, Unknown, age 79

-I could find out nothing else on this longtime wrestler

"Latino Heat" Eddie Guerrero, Eduardo Gory Guerrero November 13, 2005 , Heart Failure, age 38

-Member of the famous Guerrero wrestling dynasty, uncle of current WWE wrestler Chavo Guerrero Jr., born in Mexico and became U.S. citizen, started wrestling at young age so had a long career, WWE (Heavyweight Champion, four-time SD! Tag Team Champion, two-time Intercontinental Champion, European Champion, United States Champion) WWA (World Trios Champion, Welterweight Champion, International Cruiserweight Champion), AAA Tag Team Champion, Junior Heavyweight Super Grade Tag League Champion, two-time ECW Television Champion, WCW (United States Champion, two-time Cruiserweight Champion), PWF Tag Team Champion, IWA Mid South Heavyweight Champion, LAWA Heavyweight Champion, WWE Hall of Famer

MSM Link:
eddieguerrero

Don Evans, Donald A, Evans, November 28, 2005, Natural Causes, age 88

-Longtime wrestler, feuded with Lou Thesz, Texas Tag Team Champion,
Texas Brass Knuckles Champion

Chazz Rocco, Chad Floyd, December 10, 2005, Unknown, age 37

-Indie wrestler and promoter, ACW (Heavyweight Champion, Tag Team Champion), ACW Promoter, SAPW Tag Team Champion

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