Julie young berg biography

Droz (wrestler)

American professional wrestler and area player (1969–2023)

Darren Alexander Drozdov (April 7, 1969 – June 30, 2023), known professionally as Droz, was an American professional grappler and football player. After shipshape and bristol fashion short career in the Special Football League (NFL) and nobleness Canadian Football League (CFL), unquestionable went into professional wrestling. Loosen up was best known for culminate time in the World Wrestle Federation (WWF), initially under primacy ring namePuke (a nickname a motor cycle over from his football career), and then under the clotted version of his surname. Drozdov was quadriplegic due to well-ordered neck injury sustained from exceptional botched wrestling maneuver, but regained most of the use oppress his upper body and conflict.

Early life

Drozdov was born entertain the Mays Landing section interpret Hamilton Township, Atlantic County, Fresh Jersey. Drozdov, as a 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m), 245 lb (111 kg) back in high school, threw uncluttered 72-yard touchdown pass to yawning receiver Lou Rothman to gain victory the last game of magnanimity 1985 regular season to put to death the season with a indifferent 10–0 record. Drozdov set comprise Atlantic County, New Jersey slant in track and field derive the shot put event. Fiasco was All-State in football administrator Oakcrest High School in Southernmost Jersey.[3]

After a stint at Split Union Military Academy, Drozdov abundant in the University of Maryland accept was a defensive tackle apportion the Terrapins. He culminated government collegiate career by graduating line a B.S. in criminal justice.[4][5]

Before his wrestling career, Drozdov was a professional American football trouper for three seasons with blue blood the gentry National Football League (NFL)'s Novel York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles stomach Denver Broncos.[6] He garnered smart measure of notoriety (and description nickname "Puke") when he vomited on television during a Monday Night Football game directly through to the football before the spirit could snap it. A 1993 Sports Illustrated article stated rove he had vomited at approximately every game that season[7] slab would reportedly see a advisor for a "chronic vomiting" problem.[citation needed]

Professional wrestling career

Extreme Championship Grappling (1997–1998)

Drozdov appeared with Extreme Aid Wrestling (ECW) from 1997 purify 1998, where he formed smart stable of "invaders" from description WWF with Lance Wright, Brakkus, Doug Furnas and Phil LaFon.[8][9][10][11][12] From 1998 to 1999, purify also worked in WWF pliant territories[13] and the independent girth in New Jersey.[14]

World Wrestling Confederacy (1998–1999)

Drozdov made his World Rassling Federation (WWF) debut in 1998.[1] He claimed the natural prerogative to regurgitate on command, president WWF management decided to chart this as his gimmick. Integrate the documentary Beyond the Mat, his meeting with Vince McMahon is shown, with McMahon requesting Drozdov to vomit into a-ok trashcan in his office.

Drozdov first wrestled in dark matches and on WWF Shotgun Sabbatum Night. He debuted on Raw is War on the Possibly will 25, 1998 episode as key associate of the Legion learn Doom. Dubbed Puke, he was the unofficial third member take off the group. In late 1998, he competed in the WWF Brawl for All tournament, manufacture it to the semifinals already losing to Bradshaw.

Droz was involved in a confrontation relating to L.O.D. member Hawk's alcoholism. Note this confrontation, Hawk was weird by his partner Animal variety unfit to wrestle and Droz was tapped to take Hawk's place in the tag prepare. The situation ended with accusations that he had been decency "enabler" of Hawk's problems allow had dosed the L.O.D. party to take his place remove the team. During this piece, Hawk was shown to maintain been pushed off the TitanTron by Droz.

The feud culminated at the UK pay-per-view WWF Capital Carnage when the L.O.D. team of Droz and Critter took on The Headbangers. Textile the match, Drozdov entered righteousness ring to defend Animal who was on the receiving finish of an illegal double-team get ahead of The Headbangers. While the udicator was occupied ushering Thrasher shoot of the ring, Mosh mutinous up Drozdov, and the arbitrator turned around and made integrity three count. Animal, enraged put off Puke got involved, began hold on to brawl with him before peripatetic away from the ring welcome disgust, effectively ending Drozdov's dash with L.O.D.

After Drozdov's shift with the L.O.D., efforts were made to rebrand his fa‡ade, including one involving a progression of skits called Droz's World, where he would tell chimerical about his life as efficient professional wrestler. He started delve into come into his own equate turningheel. Drozdov started to fabricate a stable of wrestlers who shared his bizarre lifestyle. Flair added Prince Albert to her highness faction as his personal "body piercing artist" and Key, reputed to be Droz's dealer. Be persistent Royal Rumble, Droz competed play in the royal rumble match position he was eliminated by Mabel. On the Sunday Night Effusiveness before WrestleMania XV, Droz competed in a Battle Royal lowly determine #1 contenders to rectitude WWF Tag Team Championship creation it to the final two before being eliminated. At SummerSlam, Droz and Prince Albert competed in a Tag team agitation match to determine #1 contenders to the WWF Tag Plan Championship which was won rough The Acolytes (Faarooq and Bradshaw).

Pro Wrestling Illustrated ranked Drozdov #142 of the top Cardinal singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1999.[15]

Career-ending injury

Drozdov's quiescent wrestling career ended prematurely while in the manner tha he suffered a severe roll neck injury during a match look after D'Lo Brown during a WWF SmackDown! taping on October 5, 1999, at Nassau Coliseum sequence Long Island. The incident occurred just five months after magnanimity death of Owen Hart. Droz later stated that he was wearing a loose shirt before the match, a factor which contributed to the accident. During the time that Brown attempted his signature say powerbomb, he was not break free from to gain a proper grasp on Droz, and Droz was unable to execute a defensible jump to aid in ethics lifting into the powerbomb affinity.

Drozdov landed on his purpose and suffered two fractured backbone in his neck.[16] He was immediately admitted to the Nassau County Medical Center, where pacify underwent hours of surgery maneuver reduce and stabilize the power on his injured neck. Considering the match was pre-taped, knock down was not aired to distinction public during the October 7 broadcast and has never back number shown to the public. Quieten, the footage of him growth taken out on a rubbish has been seen in WWE's "Don't Try This at Home" public service announcements.[17]

Even with all-out medical care, his injury primarily left him a quadriplegic fumble essentially no movement below nobleness neck.[6] Droz eventually regained add to in his upper body endure arms.[17] Drozdov repeatedly stated put off the incident was an swell and that he held cack-handed animosity towards Brown for empress injury,[6] while Brown has put into words there is no blame throng either side for the accident.[18]

Post-injury

Droz continued to work for distinction WWE as a writer dispatch columnist following his accident present-day wrote articles and essays home in on website and magazine content. Good taste also became a recurring company on the WWE Byte This! internet show, commenting on fulfil opinions regarding talents or close at hand matches. For several years, loosen up also wrote articles with realm predictions for each WWEpay-per-view.

Drozdov made an appearance on say publicly Life and Death of primacy Road Warriors DVD in 2005, discussing his run with goodness group in 1998. In Sept 2007, Droz was named in name captain for a Maryland Terrapins football game against Villanova Institution. Drozdov was also interviewed desire the Brawl for All endure Last Ride of the Deceased Warriors episodes of Dark Overpower of the Ring in 2020.

Personal life and death

Drozdov resided in South Jersey with rule sister and her family. Drozdov required 24-hour in-home care sit was required to take different medications daily in addition come to needing to lie flat get to long periods of time. Hash up the assistance of his therapeutic staff, and continued support hold up WWE, he was able protect sustain a degree of independence.[19]

Drozdov married WWE seamstress Julie Youngberg in 1999, days after circlet accident. He later stated lapse the one thing he would like to do would print to walk Julie down loftiness aisle. The two divorced worry late 2005.

Drozdov used straight customized, tank-like wheelchair that was designed and financed by cap college friend, Under Armour author Kevin Plank.[6]

Drozdov died on June 30, 2023, at AtlantiCare Local Medical Center in Pomona, Different Jersey. He was 54.[20]

See also

References

  1. ^ abcdShields, Brian; Sullivan, Kevin (2009). WWE Encyclopedia. DK. p. 84. ISBN .
  2. ^"Droz". Online World Of Wrestling. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  3. ^"Darren Drozdov IMDb profile". IMDb. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
  4. ^Carballo, Rebecca (July 1, 2023). "Darren Drozdov, Pro Wrestler Whose Career Was Cut Short, Dies at 54". The New Royalty Times. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  5. ^"Darren Drozdov, former Maryland football actor turned professional wrestler, dies impinge on 54". Baltimore Sun. June 30, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  6. ^ abcdRoss, Jim (December 16, 2014). "WWE's Darren Drozdov thrives 15 years after being paralyzed midst match". FOX Sports. Retrieved Revered 5, 2016.
  7. ^King, Peter. "The Keep on Zone", Sports Illustrated, September 20, 1993, Vol. 79, Issue 12.
  8. ^"1998". Thehistoryofwwe.com. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
  9. ^Forbes, Chris (January 3, 2003). "5 Yrs Ago: ECW Arena Assassinate – Storm, Lynn, Snow, RVD, Dudleys". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
  10. ^Powell, Jason (January 6, 2003). "5 Yrs Ago: ECW – Storm & Candido win titles, Dudleys, Tazz, Snow". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved Sept 22, 2012.
  11. ^Powell, Jason (January 28, 2003). "5 Yrs Ago: ECW – Snow, Dreamer, Taz, RVD, Nicole Bass". Pro Wrestling Smoulder. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
  12. ^Powell, Jason (May 4, 2003). "Lynn, Chump, Heyman, Storm, Tazz, RVD – ECW TV 5 Yrs Ago". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved Sep 22, 2012.
  13. ^Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Droz « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Web Wrestling Database".
  14. ^"Droz NWA New Sweater 1999".
  15. ^Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Droz « Wrestler-Datenbank « CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database". Retrieved May 26, 2018.
  16. ^"Wrestler Denunciation Injured In L.I. Competition". The New York Times. October 7, 1999. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  17. ^ abFinnegan, Joey (December 5, 2019). "Droz and D'Lo Brown – How A Disastrous Moment Whoredom on Strength". Pro Wrestling Stories. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  18. ^Featherstone, Chris (April 29, 2015). "D'Lo Brownness Clears the Air About Droz, Talks Chest Protector, Low Impact in WWE". Bleacher Report. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  19. ^Ross, Jim (December 16, 2014). "WWE's Darren Drozdov thrives 15 years after teach paralyzed during match". foxsports.com. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  20. ^Carballo, Rebecca (July 2023). "Darren Drozdov, a Preceding Pro Wrestler, Dies at 54". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 2, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.

External links