[Deathwatch] Curt Hennig, pro wrestler "Mr. Perfect", 43

[Deathwatch Central <cdw@slick.org>]

February 10, 2003 / 5:00pm

http://www.onlineonslaught.com/ticker.shtml

Curt Hennig, Dead at Age 43 

Curt Hennig, perhaps best known for his WWF run as "Mr. Perfect" in the
late 80s and early 90s, was found dead in a Tampa, FL, hotel room about
three hours ago.  He was in Florida to do interviews and help promote a
Jimmy Hart-organized event later this week.
 
At the present time, no foul play is suspected.  Suspicions have
already turned to Hennig's love of the party-it-up-on-the-road
lifestyle combined with the possibility of recreational drug use
motivated by back pain that kept him out of the ring for over a year in
the early 90s as possible scapegoats for yet another too-young
wrestling death.

Hennig, who came up through the AWA and also had a brief WWF run a
little over 20 years ago, really came to national prominence when given
the "Mr. Perfect" gimmick in the WWF.  There, he feuded with World
Champ Hulk Hogan, and enjoyed lengthy reigns as the InterContinental
champ.	As an "executive consultant" he was also key to Ric Flair's
lone WWF Title run, before returning to active in-ring duty in 1993
following 18 months off due to a bad back.

In WCW, he was a member of both the nWo and the "West Texas Rednecks,"
and he also got to make a brief return to the WWF early in 2002.  That
run ended as a result of Hennig's poor behavior (rumored to have
included a tussle with Brock Lesnar) on the return flight from an
overseas tour.
 
Additional details from PWTorch.com reveal that Hennig was fine at 9:30
this morning, and made a lunch date with referee Mickey Jay at that
time.  When Hennig did not show up on time, a check of his hotel room
found him dead.