Darren Drozdov, WWE Wrestler and Beyond the Mat Star, Dies at 54

Former WWE Superstar Darren Drozdov has sadly passed away. The news was announced by WWE with the pro wrestling organization sharing that Drozdov, who used to perform in WWE under the ring names “Puke” and “Droz,” died on Friday. An additional statement written by Drozdov’s family notes that the former NFL player and pro wrestler died of natural causes. He was 54 years old.

“We lived this journey with him over the past 24 years,” the family statement reads, referring to the constant care Drozdov needed after his accident. “We were always there through the good times and the bad, and provided him with our unconditional love. We would like to extend our deepest appreciation to everyone. All of his fans, teammates, colleagues, and friends for all the love and support he received over the years. You all gave him meaning, purpose and something to live for. He loved each and every one of you and cherished the conversations, notes and letters he received. His faith in humanity never faltered, so know that for all the love you’ve shown him, he loved you back.”

The family adds, “We also would also like to thank WWE for treating him like family, and for all of their love, support and stepping up to make sure that Darren always had the proper care and treatment needed to live in his condition over the past 24 years.”

The accident happened on Oct. 5, 1999. Drozdov had been performing in a match with D’Lo Brown when a botched maneuver caused him to land improperly on his neck. With two vertebrae in his neck broken, Drozdov was rendered a quadriplegic, left with virtually no movement from the neck down. Through his commitment and determination, the former wrestler was eventually able to regain some movement in his arms and upper body. He would also continue to work for WWE, spending many years writing articles for the company’s website. Drozdov always said that the incident was an unfortunate accident, placing no blame on Brown whatsoever and maintaining a constant focus on positivity despite his challenges.

“He was a devoted son, brother, and friend who had always put others first, especially his family,” Drozdov’s family also says of the late wrestling star. “He was kind, generous and was always there for his people. He was our guiding light who lit up our lives with infinite love and wonder. His smile was healing. His warmth, love, and laughter were infectious. We could always turn to him for wisdom and solace and his absence feels like a giant hole in our family and our hearts.”

The statement conitnues, “Everyone who knew Darren was a better person because of it. He taught everyone so much about how to look at life: how to put things in perspective, how to overcome adversity, and how to show compassion for others. He would not want anyone to be sad at this moment and would want to this to be a celebration of his life, to be remembered for all the great things that he accomplished, the fun, the laughter, the great memories he shared with everyone.”

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Darren Drozdov Was Featured in the Famous Pro Wrestling Documentary Beyond the Mat

Darren Adrian Drozdov was born on April 7, 1969. After attending college at the University of Maryland, Drozdov pursued a career in the NFL, playing for the New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, and Denver Broncos. During this brief run in the NFL, Drozdov had been observed vomiting on television during a game, which resulted in him earning the nickname “Puke.”

That nickname will be familiar to those who’ve seen the 1999 documentary Beyond the Mat. The documentary had camera crews going behind the scenes of WWE, and it was one of the very first times pro wrestlers had deliberately peeled back the curtain to show fans how things were done in the business behind the scenes. Drozdov was featured in the documentary as a new wrestler joining the company, and one memorable scene featured WWE boss Vince McMahon encouraging him to “puke,” as was his nickname. Drozdov was hired by WWE and would perform under the “Puke” nickname before he later started going by “Droz.” His in-ring accident happened just weeks before Beyond the Mat was released.

Rest in peace, Darren Drozdov.