The cause of Owen Hart’s death is laid out here, on May 23, 1999, during a stunt that failed, the injuries sustained by the talented WWE wrestler Owen Hart were too severe, leading to his tragic death.
Owen Hart Cause of Death
Owen Hart, a Canadian wrestler known by the stage name “The Blue Blazer”, was a promising WWE Superstar during the 1990s. He came from the famous Hart wrestling family, which had a long history in the wrestling world. Born on May 7, 1965 to Stu and Helen Hart, Owen was the youngest of their 12 children, eight of whom eventually became professional wrestlers.
Over the years, Owen has gone from hero to villain and back again, participating in various storylines and factions within the WWE. By 1999, he decided to revive The Blue Blazer gimmick despite changes in the wrestling landscape.
Tragically, during a WWE pay-per-view event on May 23, 1999, at the Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri, Owen Hart fell approximately 78 feet from the arena rafters to the ring during a stunt entrance. He hit his head, and the audience first thought it was part of the act before realizing the seriousness of the situation.
Medics rushed to the ring to administer CPR, but Owen Hart was pronounced dead on arrival at Truman Medical Center. He was 34 years old at the time of his death. An investigation into the accident found that a subtle movement could have triggered the unbuckling of the quick-release seat belt. Regardless of the cause, Owen Hart’s death deeply affected the wrestling community and fans, leaving a void in the industry.
Owen Hart’s legacy remains as one of the greatest WWE wrestlers and performers of all time. His untimely death brought to light the human side of pro wrestling’s incredible personalities, reminding fans that despite their faces, these entertainers are still real people beneath the glitz and glamour.
What happened to Owen Hart WWE?
Owen Hart died a tragic death during a WWE pay-per-view event on May 23, 1999. As “The Blue Blazer,” he was scheduled to make a stunt entrance from the rafters of the Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri. However, something went horribly wrong during the stunt, and Owen fell approximately 78 feet from the rafters of the arena to the ring below. He hit his head on impact.
At first, many in the audience thought it was part of the show, as stunts and dramatic entrances were common in professional wrestling. However, it quickly became clear that the situation was real and serious. Medical personnel rushed to the ring to render aid, but Owen Hart was pronounced dead on arrival at Truman Medical Center. He was only 34 years old at the time of his death.
The incident had a profound impact on the wrestling world and fans around the world. WWE (then WWF) canceled the rest of the pay-per-view event and suspended the planned storyline for the evening. The following night’s episode of “Raw is War” was dedicated to Owen’s memory, with the entire WWE team gathering on the entrance ramp for a 10-ring salute in his honor.
Owen Hart’s death had lasting effects on the wrestling industry, leading to changes in safety protocols for performers and stuntmen. Despite the tragic circumstances of his death, Owen is fondly remembered as one of WWE’s most talented and beloved wrestlers. He left behind a lasting legacy and fans and the wrestling community continue to commemorate him.
How did Owen Hart die?
Owen Hart tragically died during a WWE (then WWF) pay-per-view event on May 23, 1999. He was performing as his character “Blue Jacket” and was scheduled to perform with the rafters of the Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri.
During the stunt, Owen Hart was supposed to be lowered into the ring while attached to the rope. However, something went wrong during the descent and he fell approximately 78 feet from the rafters of the arena to the ring below. He hit his head on impact.
At first, some audience members believed it was part of the show, as dramatic stunts and scripted incidents were common in professional wrestling. However, it quickly became clear that the situation is real and serious. Medical personnel rushed to the ring to render aid, but tragically, Owen Hart was pronounced dead on arrival at Truman Medical Center.
The accident was a devastating and shocking moment in professional wrestling history. This led to widespread changes in safety protocols and practices in the industry, with a greater focus on ensuring the well-being of performers during high-risk stunts and performances.
Owen Hart’s untimely death left a deep impact on the wrestling community and he is still remembered as one of the most talented and beloved wrestlers of his time. His legacy lives on and is remembered by fans and fellow wrestlers alike.
Who is Owen Hart?
Owen James Hart, born May 7, 1965, was a famous Canadian professional wrestler associated with various wrestling promotions, including Stampede Wrestling, New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) . ). He achieved significant success in the WWF, performing under his real name and the moniker The Blue Blazer.
Born in Calgary, Alberta, Owen was the youngest of twelve children in the Hart wrestling family, led by his parents Stu and Helen Hart. He achieved several impressive feats in his wrestling career, such as winning the USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship once, the WWF Intercontinental Championship twice, the WWF European Championship once, and the WWF World Tag Team Championship four times. Additionally, he was crowned the WWF King of the Ring in 1994 and headlined multiple pay-per-view events for the WWF. Known for his exceptional abilities in the ring, Owen Hart was widely regarded as one of the best performers in the company.
Tragically, on May 23, 1999, during his entrance at the Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri, Owen suffered a fatal accident. The equipment responsible for lowering him into the ring malfunctioned, leading to his fall and subsequent death in front of the live and Pay Per View audience during the WWF’s Over the Edge event.
In his early life, Owen grew up with his eleven older siblings and showed wrestling potential during his high school days. He continued his wrestling career at the University of Calgary, where he met his future wife, Martha. Despite trying other career paths, Owen eventually embraced professional wrestling, training at his father’s Hart Dungeon and competing for Stampede Wrestling and England’s Max Crabtree Joint Promotions.
Owen’s talent and skills led him to Japan, where he wrestled for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and became the first non-Japanese wrestler to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship in 1988.
Unfortunately, Owen James Hart’s life was cut short at the age of 34, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most respected and talented wrestlers in the industry.
Owen Hart’s autopsy report
Hart’s cause of death was attributed to blunt force trauma to the chest, which resulted from a tragic accident during a stunt at Kemper Arena. The incident occurred when he bounced off the ceiling in his Blue Blazer character, falling from a height of 78 feet. Unfortunately, Hart’s aorta was severed after hitting the ring, leading to his untimely death.
Despite the seriousness of the situation, it is fortunate that no one else was injured during the incident. Originally, the plan included Max Mini joining Hart for the stunt, but this arrangement was canceled earlier in the day.
On May 23, prior to the evening’s ‘Over the Edge’ event, various tests were performed with a 250-pound sandbag that served as Hart’s stand-in. Both fitter Bobby Talbert and assistant Matt Allmen conducted the tests, with Allmen going down once and Hart doing a rehearsal in the afternoon.
After the tragedy, the show’s investigation looked into Hart’s lifestyle and whether alcohol or drugs may have affected his judgment that night. However, it was confirmed that neither alcohol nor drugs were in Hart’s system. Martha, his widow, revealed that he rarely consumed alcohol, and there was no evidence of steroid use, as WWE did not actively test talent during this period unless there was reason to suspect a problem. WWE implemented its Wellness Policy six years later, prompted by the death of Eddy Guerrero in November 2005.
Although unmarked prescription pill bottles containing diazepam and alprazolam, used to treat anxiety and insomnia, were found in Hart’s hotel room, those substances were not found in his body during the autopsy and were ruled out as factors influencing his decision.
The main focus of the investigation centered on equipment choices made by lead fitter Bobby Talbert. The WWF opted for Talbert after failing to reach a deal with Joe Branham, who had already done such gimmicks, including one with Hart the previous year. Martha’s book points out that the WWF was aware of the potential dangers associated with their request for a faster release, as advised by Brannam.
Usually this type of stunt involved the use of a metal carabiner with spare safety latches. However, the WWF aimed to eliminate the lag time involved in unhooking after landing, as seen with other performers like Sting in WCW. Their solution was a quick release shackle manufactured by Lewmar Inc. and purchased from Amspec Inc. Unfortunately, this decision contributed to the tragic outcome
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Categories: General
Source: HIS Education