Former WWE wrestler Sean O’Haire commits suicide – report

Rappler.com

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

Former WWE wrestler Sean O’Haire commits suicide – report
Another former pro wrestler has died prematurely as Sean O'Haire was found dead in his South Carolina home of a reported suicide

Another former pro wrestler has died prematurely as Sean Haire, who competed under the name Sean O’Haire, was found dead at his home in South Carolina. He was 43.

The Associated Press is reporting that the Spartanburg County Coroner’s office will conduct a joint investigation with the Spartanburg Police Department to determine a cause of death, while external investigation results and toxicology reports are still pending.

Gossip website TMZ is reporting that local police believe the cause of death to be suicide, saying that he was found beside his bed with a rope tied around his neck connected to the bedpost. They report that it was his father who found his body.

Haire, who stood a reported height of 6-foot-6 and weighed 270 pounds, began his career with the now-defunct World Championship Wrestling in 2000, teaming with Mark Jindrak and won the WCW tag titles later that year. He later won the titles with Chuck Palumbo as his partner. 

“To run around in your underwear and get paid to beat people up and do flips, it was a dream come true,” said Haire during a 2004 interview about making it as a pro wrestler.

While still holding the tag team titles, Haire joined World Wrestling Entertainment in 2001 when WCW was bought out by the WWE and made an ignominious debut with Palumbo when they were beaten up by the WWE roster after attacking the Hardy Boyz and the Dudley Boyz.

Victims of the perceived anti-WCW bias from their owners, Haire and Palumbo were booked to look weak and eventually lost the titles their WCW tag titles to the Brothers of Destruction, Undertaker and Kane.

Haire underwent gimmick experiments and competed in “dark matches” and on lesser programs. Despite possessing natural athleticism and a money-making look, he failed to fit into the mold of “sports entertainment” and was released in 2004.

“The one reason I couldn’t get along very well with WWE is they wanted me to be a wrestler and act like a wrestler,” said Haire. “The reason I did well at what I did…is because when you see me in the ring, that’s really an extension of my personality. If you want me to be somebody else, I have to become an actor which I guess I’m not good at.”

He later ventured into kickboxing (0-4) and mixed martial arts (4-2).

Haire used the “Seanton Bomb,” his name for the Swanton Bomb finisher used by Jeff Hardy before adapting the “Widowmaker” reverse Death Valley Driver as his finisher.

Haire is the latest in the long line of professional wrestlers who have died at a young age. Former WWE champion Chris Benoit killed his wife and son before committing suicide in 2007, while fellow WCW/WWE alum Chris Kanyon also committed suicide in 2010. The most recent high profile wrestler to die was The Ultimate Warrior, who died in April of a heart attack at age 54. – Rappler.com

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!