Report: Cocaine killed wrestler "Mr. Perfect' (original) (raw)

Published March 26, 2003|Updated Aug. 31, 2005

A cocaine overdose killed professional wrestler Curt "Mr. Perfect" Hennig, who was found dead in a hotel room in February, the medical examiner's office said.

Hennig, 44, of Champlin, Minn., died from "acute cocaine intoxication," said Shernea Tippins, an investigator for the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's Office.

The office did not release any other information Tuesday about Hennig's death.

Hennig was scheduled to wrestle at the Florida State Fair in Tampa on Feb. 10. A housekeeper at the Homestead Suites Hotel in Brandon found Hennig dead in a room about 1:30 p.m. that day, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said.

Hennig, son of Minneapolis wrestler Larry "The Axe" Hennig, wrestled professionally for more than 30 years, according to an Internet biography. He worked for the World Wrestling Federation and most recently wrestled for Jimmy Hart All-Star Wrestling.

Hart was promoting the event at the fair. He said a referee associated with the event had spoken with Hennig about 9:30 a.m. that day. Later, the housekeeper entered the room when Hennig didn't respond to repeated knocks on the door, Hart said.

During the late 1980s and early 1990s Hennig had a successful run in the WWF, performing with such stars as Hulk Hogan, Kerry Von Erich, Bret Hart and Ric Flair.

Former pitcher pleads

in suspended license case

TAMPA _ Former major league pitching star Dwight Gooden pleaded no contest Tuesday to a misdemeanor charge of driving with a suspended license. County Judge James Dominguez ordered him to pay court costs and withheld adjudication. Gooden was arrested in January after a deputy saw him driving suspiciously on Interstate 275, authorities said. The State Attorney's Office said Gooden's license had been suspended in December 2002 due to unpaid financial obligations.

_ From staff, wire reports