Ten-bell salute

In professional wrestling, a ten-bell salute is given to honor a wrestler who has died, especially when the wrestler is a current member of the promotion or a distinguished former member of the promotion. It is the professional wrestling equivalent of a three-volley salute. It is typically given at the beginning of a card, with the current members of the promotion either in the entryway, in the ring, or around the ring. Both the wrestlers and audience observe a moment of silence while the bell is rung.

In Japanese wrestling, ten-bell salutes (“ten-count gongs”) are held not only for deceased wrestlers but also for retiring wrestlers to mark the end of their careers. Retirement ten-count gongs are often preceded with a retirement ceremony for the retiree where he or she is present with gifts, flowers and career memorabilia from the active roster, high ranking officials of the promotion and special guests.

Honorees

World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment/WWE

WWE (formerly known as the World Wrestling Federation and World Wrestling Entertainment) has included several ten-bell salutes in its television broadcasts and live events. Some of the honorees include:

In addition to honoring former wrestlers, several ten-bell salutes have been performed for non-wrestlers or to memorialize tragedies:

  • WWF Events following the September 11, 2001 attacks, to honor those who were killed in the attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C.. In 2018 on the 17 year anniversary of the event another ten-bell salute was performed.[12]
  • On December 16, 2012, a 26-bell salute was given at the beginning of WWE's TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs pay-per-view in tribute to the 26 victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting that had taken place two days earlier in WWE's home state of Connecticut.[13]
  • On May 30, 2016, The Memorial Day edition of RAW opened with a ten-bell salute in honor of fallen military members.[14]
  • On January 18, 2018, RAW opened with a ten-bell salute in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.[15]
  • On December 3, 2018, RAW opened with a ten bell salute in honor of former president George H. W. Bush, who had died a few days prior.[16]
  • On August 5, 2019, RAW opened with a ten bell salute in honor of the victims of the shootings in El Paso and Dayton that happened a few days prior.

Ten-bell salutes within WWF/WWE storylines

While ten-bell salutes have typically been reserved for real-life deaths, it has been used in kayfabe at least thrice in WWE history (see worked shoot). The most recent instance was in June 2007 for Mr. McMahon (WWE chairman Vince McMahon's on-screen persona), as part of an angle in which he was inside a limousine that exploded, and was presumed dead.

In 1988, Harley Race was "honored" with ten bells as part of a promo by Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, wherein Heenan accused Hulk Hogan of causing serious injuries to Race. This angle grew out of a match during which Race was legitimately injured during a match against Hogan, due to a mistimed move, and was forced to take a hiatus.

On a Raw Is War broadcast shortly after the Royal Rumble in January 1998, Paul Bearer and Kane rang the bell ten times in ring to mock The Undertaker, with whom they were feuding at the time. Their actions grew from an incident at the Royal Rumble where, in the storyline, Kane and Bearer had locked The Undertaker in a casket and set it ablaze, presumably killing Undertaker. However, that failed when Undertaker returned and accepted Kane's challenge for a fight, setting the stage for WrestleMania XIV.

In 1999, a ten-bell salute was given to Big Show's father, who was said to have died of cancer as part of a storyline. In reality, he had died of stomach cancer in 1992.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling

Arguably the best-known ten-bell salute in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is that given to Chris Candido at Hard Justice in May 2005. Candido had died of a blood clot due to complications of leg surgery two weeks earlier.[17]

There was also a ten-bell salute at a TNA event in Amsterdam, New York on May 20, 2011, in honor of "Macho Man" Randy Savage, who had died that morning.[18]

Usage in other promotions

In Extreme Championship Wrestling at the Cyber Slam event, a ten-bell salute was given in remembrance of Louie Spicolli, who died from an accidental drug overdose on February 15, 1998.

Combat Zone Wrestling at Cage of Death 7 did a ten bell salute for Eddie Guerrero. A fan rudely interrupted saying f*&% that during the salute and was kicked out.

Lucha Underground gave a ten-bell salute in remembrance of Perro Aguayo, Jr. on March 21, 2015, the night after Aguayo tragically died in the ring due to a freak accident that happened during a tag team match for The Crash in Tijuana.

On the morning of June 18, 2010, Trent Acid was found dead at his Philadelphia home by his mother.[19][20] It was later determined that he had died because of a drug overdose.[21] At a Ring of Honor show in Buffalo, New York that night, a ten-bell salute was given to Acid.[22]

Richard "Rick" Wilson, know professionally as The Renegade, committed suicide on February 23, 1999.[23][24] He was 33 years old. His death was announced eight days later on Nitro, where he was honored with an "In Memory..." graphic at the beginning of the show and given a ten-bell salute.[25]

On April 14, 2000, Masakazu Fukuda suffered a fatal head injury during a match with Katsuyori Shibata in the Young Lion Cup Tournament after taking a flying elbow drop. He was rushed to the hospital, but died five days later on April 19 due to a brain hemorrhage; he was 27 years old. The rest of the tournament was dedicated to Masakuza's memory and was honored with a ten-bell salute and a tribute show in September of that year.[26]

On December 15, 2001, Combat Zone Wrestling's Cage of Death 3 show had a ten bell salute for Russ Haas, with some wrestlers wearing black armbands, and others taping "RH" on their wrestling boots.[27]

Major League Wrestling held a ten-bell salute for Miss Elizabeth in 2003. In 2009, Ring of Honor held a ten-bell salute for Mitsuharu Misawa.

At MCW Shane Shamrock Cup 11 on July 30, 2011, a ten-bell salute was observed in honor of Tim Burke's death.[28][29] At the time of his MCW Hall of Fame induction, the company acknowledged the contributions of Burke and Dennis Wipprecht stating that "had it not been for these two men there may not be wrestling in Maryland today".[30][28][29]

Brian Hildebrand died from bowel cancer on September 8, 1999 at the age of 37. He refereed one last match at a local independent show mere days before his death. Hildebrand's death was briefly acknowledged on the following episode of Thunder, but the first WCW event to have taken place after his death was a house show on September 11 at the Baltimore Arena, which was held in his honor with a ten-bell salute. Late in the show, friends Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, and Shane Douglas (known as The Revolution) shared heartfelt words about Hildebrand and dedicated the show to him.[31]

Ohio Valley Wrestling held a 10-bell salute to honor Matt Cappotelli after his death in 2018.[32]

All Japan Pro Wrestling held a ten-bell salute for The Dynamite Kid in 2018.

In boxing

The ten-bell salute is also used in boxing to honor deceased boxers, where it is also known as the "final ten-count".

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See also

References
  1. Enigma, Hamster. "WWE Legacies of Stardom: A Fan's Tribute to 'Latino Heat' Eddie Guerrero". Bleacher Report.
  2. Mac, The Notorious Eddie (5 March 2017). "Paul Bearer Passes Away". Cageside Seats.
  3. WWE. "A tribute to the memory of The Ultimate Warrior: Raw, April 14, 2014" – via YouTube.
  4. WWE. "WWE Network: The WWE roster honors the life of WWE Hall of Famer "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes" – via YouTube.
  5. WWE. "The entire WWE roster honors WWE Hall of Famer "Rowdy" Roddy Piper: Raw, Aug. 3, 2015" – via YouTube.
  6. "Watch the ten-bell salute for Bobby Heenan from NXT Lowell". Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  7. "Bruno Sammartino gets the ten-bell salute at WWE Live in Cape Town". Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  8. "WWE's 10-Bell Salute to Jim Neidhart, Cena in Marquee Matches Preview". 14 August 2018.
  9. WWE. "NXT honors "Mean" Gene Okerlund with a 10-bell salute" – via YouTube.
  10. Bacardi, Francesca (20 January 2020). "Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson reveals father Rocky Johnson's cause of death".
  11. WWE (15 January 2020). "NXT honors Rocky Johnson with a 10-bell salute".
  12. WWE. "WWE remembers those lost on Sept. 11, 2001: SmackDown LIVE, Sept. 11, 2018" – via YouTube.
  13. Proffit, Maurice D. "WWE Does 26 Bell Salute For the Victims Of Sandy Hook Elementary". www.rantsports.com. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  14. WWE (30 May 2016). "WWE opens Raw with a Memorial Day 10-bell salute: Raw, May 30, 2016". Retrieved 19 April 2018 – via YouTube.
  15. "Martin Luther King Jr. receives 10-bell salute". Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  16. WWE. "WWE pays tribute to President George H.W. Bush: Raw, Dec. 3, 2018" – via YouTube.
  17. Keller, Wade (2005-05-15). "Keller's TNA PPV report 5/15: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of PPV". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2011-09-08.
  18. "‘Macho Man’ tribute part of TNA event," The Daily Gazette, http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2011/may/21/0521_tna/
  19. Caldwell, James (2010-06-18). "Other News: Former ROH tag champion Trent Acid reportedly found dead this morning at age 29". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2010-06-18.
  20. Lash, Adam (2010-06-18). "Trent Acid passes away at the age of 29". Indy Wrestling News. Retrieved 2010-06-18.
  21. Gerweck, Steve (2011-01-13). "Indy wrestler's death ruled accidental". WrestleView. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
  22. Gerweck, Steve (2010-06-19). "6/18 ROH Results: Buffalo, NY". WrestleView. Retrieved 2010-06-19.
  23. "Renegade profile". Online World Of Wrestling.
  24. Muchnick, Irvin (2007). Wrestling Babylon: Piledriving Tales of Drugs, Sex, Death, and Scandal. ECW Press. p. 146. ISBN 978-1550227611.
  25. "Nitro report on March 1, 1998".
  26. "Strong Style Spirit". www.puroresufan.com. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  27. Magee, Bob (2000-12-17). "AS I SEE IT - 12/17/2001". Retrieved 2008-12-01.
  28. Amdur, Jeff (August 7, 2011). "MCW Dundalk, July 30, 2011, Shane Shamrock Memorial Cup". PWInsiderXtra.com. Retrieved October 5, 2011.
  29. Maryland Championship Wrestling (2011). "MCW Shane Shamrock Memorial Cup 11". MarylandWrestling.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2012. Retrieved October 5, 2011.
  30. Maryland Championship Wrestling (2009). "Lucifer". 2009 Inductee. MarylandWrestling.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved October 5, 2011.
  31. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-09-12. Retrieved 2009-10-24.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) on line world of wrestling
  32. Ohio Valley Wrestling TV. "Matt Cappotelli Tribute & 10 Bell Salute" – via YouTube.
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