Darren Drozdov, a Former Pro Wrestler, Dies at 54

Darren Drozdov, a former N.F.L. soccer participant who pursued a profession in professional wrestling that was reduce quick after an accident within the ring that paralyzed him, died on Friday. He was 54.

His dying, at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Pomona, N.J., was confirmed by his sister, Rommi Drozdov, and his agent and longtime buddy, Cliff Stein. A reason for dying was not instantly clear.

Before Mr. Drozdov made his mark within the wrestling world, he first got here to the general public’s consideration as an N.FL. participant after he vomited on a soccer at a Monday evening recreation, Mr. Stein stated. Some studies point out that he puked greater than as soon as.

Mr. Drozdov grew up in Mays Landing, N.J., the place he spent most of his grownup life. He attended the University of Maryland, the place he performed soccer, and graduated in 1992 with a bachelor’s diploma in legal justice.

After commencement, he was signed as an undrafted rookie for the Denver Broncos. Mr. Drozdov, who was 6 ft 3 inches tall and weighed 280 kilos when he performed soccer, additionally had stints with the New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles.

While he was enjoying for the Montreal Alouettes, an expert Canadian soccer staff, he began to consider a profession in professional wrestling, Mr. Stein stated. It was one thing that had at all times been behind his thoughts.

“His personality was so colorful, and the mohawks and the tattoos and the way he talked, everyone would say, ‘You are a wrestler,’” Mr. Stein recalled. “He would call you ‘brother.’ He’d pick you up. His presence was so big.”

Mr. Drozdov, who was referred to as Droz and Puke, was finally accepted to a WWE coaching program. After that, he was put into extra matches. He turned a member of the Road Warriors, a preferred tag staff, and have become recognized for his “Droz’s World” vignettes, the WWE stated.

Early in his profession, he was in a WWE coaching program with different notable wrestlers like Matt Bloom, referred to as Prince Albert, and Dwayne Johnson, the actor referred to as the Rock, who mourned Mr. Drozdov’s dying on Twitter.

“We wrestled on a lot of cards together,” Mr. Johnson wrote. “Such an awesome dude. Great personality and great wrestling talent. We always talked about football and fishing. Sending love, strength, mana and light to his family. RIP brother.”

During a 1999 wrestling match on the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y., Mr. Drozdov sustained an harm that rendered him quadriplegic, bringing his wrestling profession to an finish.

He fractured two discs in his neck in a stunt gone mistaken after he was thrown to the mat by his opponent, D’Lo Brown, and landed on his head as a substitute of his again.

Mr. Drozdov was born in Wilmington, Del., on April 7, 1969, the son of Olaf and Cyndi Drozdov. His mom labored in actual property and owned three laundromats, and his father was a professor at Atlantic Cape Community College in New Jersey.

Survivors embrace Mr. Drozdov’s dad and mom and his sister. A wedding in 1999 resulted in divorce in 2001.

Mr. Drozdov’s sister helped look after him after he was injured. He spent a lot of his time cheering on her 4 youngsters, she stated.

“He loved watching them grow up,” Ms. Drozdov stated. “He would go to all the soccer games, football, tennis, everything. You could always find him on a sideline that my kids are on.”

He additionally continued to hunt, one in every of many out of doors sports activities he loved.

Kevin Plank, Mr. Drozdov’s buddy and the founding father of the sportswear firm Under Armour, facilitated the design of a wheelchair that was basically a “tank with wheels,” permitting Mr. Drozdov to maneuver via the woods, Mr. Stein stated.

Mr. Drozdov’s relations described him as being relentlessly optimistic within the aftermath of the wrestling accident.

In a press release, they cited his personal phrases.

“There is always another day,” he stated. “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.”