Mike Bell (wrestler)

Michael Bell (March 18, 1971 – December 14, 2008) was an American professional wrestler who worked for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) as Mike "Mad Dog" Bell.[2] He was the brother of Mark Bell and Chris Bell (director of the 2008 documentary, Bigger, Stronger, Faster), and the 2015 follow up documentary, Prescription Thugs, in which Mike Bell's life and death by prescription drugs are explored.

Mike Bell
Birth nameMichael Bell
Born(1971-03-18)March 18, 1971
Poughkeepsie, New York, U.S.[1]
DiedDecember 14, 2008(2008-12-14) (aged 37)
Costa Mesa, California, U.S.
Cause of deathMyocardial infarction
FamilyChris Bell (brother), Mark Bell (brother)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Mike Bell
Saber
Mr. Grimm
Billed weight239 lb (108 kg)
Trained byDavid Schultz[1] Paul Roma[1]

Professional wrestling career

Bell worked as a jobber for WWE (then-named, the World Wrestling Federation, or, WWF) during the early-1990s, even performing on its flagship TV show, Monday Night Raw. Like many jobbers of that era, Bell worked on a match-by-match basis for the WWF, never being under continuous contract with the promotion.[3] Bell later worked with the original ECW, including performing at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center.

Bell was well known in the wrestling community for a 2001 incident with Perry Saturn during a taped WWF match for Jakked/Metal. Bell and Saturn botched a snapmare armdrag, causing Saturn to land on the mat head first. Saturn legitimately attacked Bell in retaliation for this perceived lack of professionalism and in-ring ethic, at one point tossing Bell out of the ring and causing Bell himself to land on his head on the safety mat. Neither performer sustained serious injury, and both were able to resume their respective roles and finish the match as planned, without most spectators realizing what had actually happened.

Personal life

Bell, who had a history with substance abuse, was featured in the documentary Bigger, Stronger, Faster along with his two brothers.[3]

Bell can also be seen in Prescription Thugs, a documentary created by his brother about prescription drug abuse in America.

Death

On December 14, 2008, he was found dead at a rehabilitation facility in Costa Mesa, California.[3] It was ruled that he died of an inhalation-induced heart attack brought on by inhalation of difluoroethane in Dust-Off.[4] Bell was 37 years old.

Championships and accomplishments
  • Ultimate Pro Wrestling
    • UPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[1]
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See also

References
  1. "Mike Bell". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2019-02-10.
  2. "Local pro wrestler Mike Bell dies at 37". Poughkeepsie Journal. Archived from the original on February 2, 2009.
  3. Associated Press (December 19, 2008). "Pro wrestler Mike 'Mad Dog' Bell found dead at 37". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-08-25.
  4. "Bell died of inhalation-induced heart attack | Under the Ring". blogs.poughkeepsiejournal.com. Retrieved 2019-02-06.
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