Professional wrestlers put their bodies on the line each time they step into the squared circle. And while they have an unfathomable commitment to the craft they spent years of their lives training for, unfortunately, that doesn’t stop terrible wrestling injuries from occurring. Discover the heart-wrenching stories of 3 WWE wrestlers whose careers were tragically cut short by devastating in-ring injuries.
1. Marty Jannetty’s Finishing Move That Ended Chuck Austin’s Career
A recent image of Chuck Austin, who continues to live with the aftermath of the injury that changed his life. Photo Credit: WESH 2 Orlando.
We begin with Chuck Austin, a college football standout who developed an interest in wrestling after graduating. Due to this interest, he and some friends formed a small wrestling school and put on amateur shows.
In December of 1990, three friends joined him and made their way to a WWF show in Tampa, Florida, where Chuck was hired to perform as enhancement talent for $150, despite only having around six months of experience under his belt.
The Tragic Match That Paralyzed Chuck Austin in 1990
Marty Jannetty, whose botched Rocker Dropper move in 1990 led to the tragic injury of Chuck Austin. Photo Credit: WWE.
He was placed into a tag team match with Lanny Poffo, opposite Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty, AKA The Rockers.
The match progressed well enough until it neared the end. Marty Jannetty set Austin up for his finisher, The Rocker Dropper, but Austin did not take it properly.
How Marty Jannetty’s Rocker Dropper Changed Chuck Austin’s Life Forever
Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty as "The Midnight Rockers" in the AWA. Jannetty’s in-ring career would later be marked by an unfortunate accident that tragically ended Chuck Austin’s wrestling journey. Photo Credit: WWE.
It was a reasonably simple bump. Austin only needed to fall and hit the floor with whatever body part he wanted, whether with the knees, elbows, arms, or even belly or chest. But rather than taking the move the way it was intended, Austin jumped forward, and his head struck the mat, paralyzing him immediately from the shoulders down, causing his fourth, fifth, and sixth vertebrae to get severely damaged.
"When I hit the mat, I knew my neck was broken and that I was paralyzed," Chuck Austin recalls.
This came at a time when injuries were not very well regulated in wrestling. If you were injured, you were expected to suck it up and carry on. There was no doctor at ringside. As such, Chuck Austin laid on the mat for upwards of twenty minutes before he was helped out of the ring.
Chuck later sued WWF and Marty Jannetty. In 1994, a jury awarded him almost $27 million, which Jannetty had to pay a million of. The company appealed the ruling and wound up settling out of court for $10 million. Chuck Austin’s wrestling injury forced them to begin using only experienced and well-trained wrestlers as jobbers.
Chuck Austin Interview: A Glimpse into Life After Tragedy
Chuck Austin being interviewed in a 1990 American Journal broadcast, reflecting on the life-altering injury that ended his wrestling career. Photo Credit: American Journal.
In a 1990 American Journal broadcast, Austin described that he was able to regain the use of some extremities, even being able to walk with the use of crutches. He also saw some grip strength return.
He went from being able to bench over four hundred pounds at one point in his life to needing his twelve-year-old son to spot him as he worked with thirty pounds.
Tragically, all that progress seemed to go by the wayside.
In 2015, Chuck Austin was featured in a news report about pharmacists refusing to fill prescriptions, regardless of doctor’s orders. Austin complained of significant pain and was seen confined to a motorized wheelchair.
There was no follow-up on that piece. Like many others before and after him, Chuck’s story shows the need for proper training before entering a bout against a highly-trained wrestler. The physicality present in the business should never be underestimated.
2. Darren Drozdov’s Career-Ending Wrestling Injury in a Match with D’Lo Brown
Darren "Droz" Drozdov, pictured in his customized, tank-like wheelchair designed by his college friend, Under Armour founder Kevin Plank. Despite the tragic injury that left him paralyzed, Droz’s resilience and positive outlook remained an inspiration to many. Photo Credit: WWE.
We move on to Darren Drozdov, AKA Puke (for his ability to vomit on command), AKA Droz, also a former football player. He currently has quadriplegia due to a disastrous wrestling injury during a SmackDown taping on October 5th, 1999, at the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, New York. His opponent was D’Lo Brown.
As the best theory goes, Droz didn’t get the proper jump to aid in D’Lo’s running powerbomb, while Brown himself couldn’t get a good grip because of Drozdov’s loose shirt. This resulted in Droz crashing to the mat in a gruesome manner, leaving him paralyzed. It was a genuine accident.
Footage of this injury currently sits inside the WWE vault, alongside the tape of Owen Hart’s fall at Over The Edge 1999. Instructions on both read: Never view, copy, or destroy.
These are the only two pieces of WWE footage with this guidance.
D’Lo Brown Reflects on the Tragic Injury of Darren Drozdov
D’Lo Brown on the left and Droz on the right—two men forever connected by a tragic accident that changed both their lives. Photo Credit: WWE.
INTERVIEWER: "Do you feel comfortable talking about Darren Drozdov’s wrestling injury?"
D’LO BROWN: "Yeah, I do. Um, not one of my (pauses, a clear change happening as his mood turns blue) definitely not one of my brighter days. Probably the worst day of my life. Talking in terms of wrestling and real life. Um (pauses) just, uh, that’s an instant downer for me."
The Last Time D’Lo Brown Spoke with Droz
D’Lo Brown holding the WWE European Championship, a title he held multiple times during his career. Despite his success, his legacy is forever intertwined with the tragic accident involving Droz, a moment that had a profound impact on both men. Photo Credit: WWE.
When asked when the last time was that he spoke with Droz, D’Lo Brown replied:
"Probably about, um, six months ago. He and I, we were never close before the accident and, um, I don’t know how an accident can draw two people closer. And then, there’s heat with his wife and me for some reason; I don’t know. You know, she puts a lot of blame on things. Droz and I have talked about it on several occasions. We don’t know what went wrong.
“Out of respect, we don’t watch the tape. I can clear up a few [misconceptions]. It wasn’t a fan throwing ice in the ring, throwing garbage in the ring, and I didn’t slip. It was just, and it could’ve been anybody in the ring with him that night. It just happened to be me. It happened to be my sad misfortune to be in the ring, and because of that, you know, a man’s paralyzed.”
D’Lo on the Affect Droz’s Injury Has Had on Him
A recent photo of D’Lo Brown talking about the Droz incident that left him paralyzed. Photo Credit: TNA Wrestling.
D’Lo went on to describe the affect Droz’s injury has had on him.
“People ask me all the time, does that affect me? Hell yeah. If it didn’t, I wouldn’t be human. For probably about a year, I wrestled differently. I second-guessed everything I did and that, that-that was probably- I should’ve just taken- I mean, I should’ve taken time off. And if it hadn’t been for Jim Ross really talking to me, I was gonna quit the business. I was done.
“I was this close to saying, "The hell with it." I couldn’t- ’cause no one ever got hurt on my watch. No one has since, you know? And someone is trusting me to give me their body. I want them to walk out of the ring in the same condition they came in, and that’s one thing I prided myself on. Really, I was really close to quitting. Like I said, Jim Ross sat down with me.
“We had a long, long, probably three-hour conversation full of football references, and how we all know the risks going into the game, how it could’ve been anybody. He eventually turned me around and made me want to continue wrestling. But that accident not only affected me professionally but personally. I mean, I was a whole different person.
“You know, I almost separated from my fiancé during that time. I’m not a party guy, but all of a sudden, I was just living life like there was no tomorrow. Ass-wide open. Just gone. Because I didn’t know what to do, and that was my way of- I was depressed, and I didn’t know it. So my way of trying to get rid of my depression was to party.
“That took about a year, where I didn’t know really what was going on."
Darren Drozdov on the Day Wrestling Changed His Life Forever
Droz was a rising star in the WWE before his tragic injury. Photo Credit: WWE.
In an interview with Jim Ross for Fox Sports, Darren Drozdov spoke about the accident and his thoughts regarding Brown, "I have no hard feelings toward D’Lo because [it] happens and everyone who gets involved in athletics, including WWE, knows the risks that exist. It was an accident."
This perspective speaks to Droz’s incredible strength and resilience, which carried him through the years following the tragic incident. Sadly, on June 30th, 2023, Darren "Droz" Drozdov passed away at the age of 54, leaving behind a legacy of courage and perseverance. According to a statement from his family, Droz died of natural causes, bringing a somber end to a life marked by overcoming adversity.
Droz spent his final years in South Jersey, living with his sister and her family, where he required 24-hour in-home care and multiple medications daily. Despite the challenges, with the support of his medical staff and continued backing from WWE, he maintained a degree of independence, using a customized, tank-like wheelchair designed by his college friend, Under Armour founder Kevin Plank.
The tragic death of Droz brings into sharp focus the risks inherent in professional wrestling. While Chuck Austin’s story highlights the importance of proper training to prevent injuries, Droz and D’Lo’s incident stirs a much scarier thought: even the most technically sound wrestlers can suffer horrible misfortune. On any given night, a performer can get injured due to an accident, a reality Droz knew all too well.
Droz shared an inspiring perspective with Jim Ross in the years following his injury: "No matter what puts you down, in my eyes and in my mind, there is always another day. Just because I’m paralyzed and stuck in a wheelchair doesn’t mean my life is over. I’ve learned to live again, and my life is far from over."
Darren "Droz" Drozdov’s passing leaves a deep sadness and many questions about what might have been after his promising career was tragically cut short. However, he will always be remembered for his unwavering strength and ability to overcome the most daunting of circumstances.
3. Tyson Kidd’s Neck Injury: The Move That Almost Took His Life
After years of hard work and dedication, Tyson Kidd’s promising career was halted by a severe neck injury that changed his life forever. Photo Credit: WWE.
Onto our final subject: Tyson Kidd. Born Theodore James Wilson, famously known as the last graduate of the legendary Hart Dungeon. He wrestled his first match at age fifteen in Stampede Wrestling.
A year later, he teamed up with Andrew Picarnic to take on Teddy Hart and Harry Smith in the opening match of a WWE house show. The following year, he started training directly with Bret Hart.
Kidd wrestled for Stampede, Ring of Honor, New Japan Pro Wrestling, and various European promotions before finding his way to the WWE in November of 2006. He was twenty-six years old. His girlfriend (now wife), Natalie Neidhart, was also signed. Together, they moved down to the WWE developmental territory Deep South Wrestling (DSW).
Tyson made his WWE television debut on the February 10th, 2009 episode of ECW, with Natalie by his side as Natalya, his manager.
The Rise of Tyson Kidd: Tag Team Success and NXT Main Event Glory
A devastating neck injury abruptly ended Tyson Kidd’s WWE wrestling career. Photo Credit: WWE.
Throughout his tenure in WWE, Tyson Kidd saw the most success as a tag team wrestler. He won gold with David Hart Smith and Cesaro. He finally won acclaim as a singles wrestler during his time in NXT. He main-evented the first TakeOver, challenging Adrian Neville for his NXT Championship.
He went on to main event the next TakeOver as well, again challenging for Neville’s title, along with Sami Zayn and Tyler Breeze in a highly acclaimed Fatal 4-Way.
On the December 1st, 2014 episode of Monday Night Raw, Tyson began his celebrated partnership with Cesaro. They started by working as heels, calling themselves The Brass Ring Club. After winning the gold from The Usos, Kidd and Cesaro began a feud with The New Day, a face team.
How Samoa Joe’s Musclebuster Ended Tyson Kidd’s Wrestling Career
Despite a promising career, Tyson Kidd’s journey was tragically cut short. Photo Credit: WWE.
A double-turn soon took place, which was cemented at Extreme Rules 2015. Cesaro and Kidd, the Tag Team Champions, put on a fantastic performance, winning over the crowd, while New Day used dirty tactics to win and steal their titles. The Brass Ring Club got a few more opportunities from there but ultimately failed to regain the gold.
Misfortune struck not long after. On June 7th, 2015, WWE announced that Tyson Kidd suffered a severe wrestling injury from Samoa Joe’s Musclebuster finisher. It happened during a dark match on Raw, six days prior.
Tyson Kidd’s Fight for Survival After a Devastating Neck Injury
Natalya, alongside her husband Tyson Kidd and tag team partner Cesaro, during their celebrated run as The Brass Ring Club. Their teamwork and chemistry brought them championship gold, making them one of the most memorable tag teams in WWE at the time. Photo Credit: WWE.
As described to Dave Meltzer, the odds were twenty to one that Kidd would even survive the wrestling injury. He wound up with sixteen staples, four screws, and a rod inserted in his neck. The closest comparable situation is Christopher Reeves, who was famously paralyzed.
In an October 4, 2016 post on Twitter, Tyson wrote, "I can’t feel my head or move my head the way I used to, but EVERY day I’m focused on my recovery."
Tyson Kidd is a walking miracle. Not only is he alive, but he’s also not paralyzed. He may never wrestle again, but he’s here, and we’re thankful for that.
When Wrestling Dreams Turn to Nightmares: Injuries That Ended Careers
Tyson Kidd displays the lasting scar from his severe neck injury. Photo Credit: @TJWilson on Twitter.
Each of them has had their careers and lives changed by a wrestling injury. It is an unavoidable part of the job. Some are less severe than others. While many performers have consistently recovered and returned to their craft, others haven’t had that luxury. Professional wrestling is a scarily physical world with life-shattering consequences.
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Joseph Finnegan, a longtime contributor to Pro Wrestling Stories, is a published author and produced screenwriter with a BFA in Creative Writing from Full Sail University. Recently, he completed and released two feature films, now available as a double feature for just $5. Via the link above, you can gain access to and support a talented independent filmmaker.
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