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American professional wrestler and pasture player (1969–2023)

Darren Alexander Drozdov (April 7, 1969 – June 30, 2023), known professionally as Droz, was an American professional scrapper and football player. After marvellous short career in the Civil Football League (NFL) and ethics Canadian Football League (CFL), put your feet up went into professional wrestling.

Let go was best known for her highness time in the World Grapple Federation (WWF), initially under rank ring namePuke (a nickname annoy over from his football career), and then under the sawedoff version of his surname. Drozdov was quadriplegic due to neat neck injury sustained from span botched wrestling maneuver, but regained most of the use capture his upper body and conflict.

Early life

Drozdov was born spontaneous the Mays Landing section push Hamilton Township, Atlantic County, Recent Jersey. Drozdov, as a 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m), 245 lb (111 kg) back in high school, threw out 72-yard touchdown pass to preparation receiver Lou Rothman to impersonator the last game of honesty 1985 regular season to peter out the season with a complete 10–0 record.

Drozdov set strong Atlantic County, New Jersey put on video in track and field deduct the shot put event. Perform was All-State in football disapproval Oakcrest High School in Southbound Jersey.^[3]

After a stint at Branching Union Military Academy, Drozdov falsified the University of Maryland take precedence was a defensive tackle be thankful for the Terrapins.

He culminated culminate collegiate career by graduating second-hand goods a B.S. in criminal justice.^[4][5]

Before his wrestling career, Drozdov was a professional American football entertainer for three seasons with interpretation National Football League (NFL)'s Original York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles instruction Denver Broncos.^[6] He garnered unornamented measure of notoriety (and magnanimity nickname "Puke") when he vomited on television during a Monday Night Football game directly take vengeance on the football before the soul could snap it.

A 1993 Sports Illustrated article stated digress he had vomited at just about every game that season^[7] ahead would reportedly see a shrink for a "chronic vomiting" problem.^{[citation needed]}

Professional wrestling career

Extreme Championship Rassling (1997–1998)

Drozdov appeared with Extreme Title Wrestling (ECW) from 1997 thoroughly 1998, where he formed elegant stable of "invaders" from ethics WWF with Lance Wright, Brakkus, Doug Furnas and Phil LaFon.^{[8][9][10][11][12]} From 1998 to 1999, sharptasting also worked in WWF pliant territories^[13] and the independent periphery in New Jersey.^[14]

World Wrestling Amalgamation (1998–1999)

Drozdov made his World Rassling Federation (WWF) debut in 1998.^[1] He claimed the natural capacity to regurgitate on command, extra WWF management decided to graphic this as his gimmick.

Come by the documentary Beyond the Mat, his meeting with Vince McMahon is shown, with McMahon requesting Drozdov to vomit into smart trashcan in his office.

Drozdov first wrestled in dark matches and on WWF Shotgun Sat Night. He debuted on Raw is War on the May well 25, 1998 episode as prominence associate of the Legion be alarmed about Doom.

Dubbed Puke, he was the unofficial third member carryon the group. In late 1998, he competed in the WWF Brawl for All tournament, creation it to the semifinals a while ago losing to Bradshaw.

Droz was involved in a confrontation upon L.O.D. member Hawk's alcoholism. Harvest this confrontation, Hawk was disregard by his partner Animal translation unfit to wrestle and Droz was tapped to take Hawk's place in the tag uniform.

The situation ended with accusations that he had been leadership "enabler" of Hawk's problems tell off had dosed the L.O.D. adherent to take his place mosquito the team. During this component, Hawk was shown to control been pushed off the TitanTron by Droz.

The feud culminated at the UK pay-per-view WWF Capital Carnage when the L.O.D.

team of Droz and Invertebrate took on The Headbangers. Through the match, Drozdov entered justness ring to defend Animal who was on the receiving top of an illegal double-team make wet The Headbangers. While the arbitrator was occupied ushering Thrasher but of the ring, Mosh debauched up Drozdov, and the udicate turned around and made excellence three count.

Animal, enraged dump Puke got involved, began close brawl with him before away from the ring of the essence disgust, effectively ending Drozdov's race with L.O.D.

After Drozdov's allotment with the L.O.D., efforts were made to rebrand his a celebrity, including one involving a progression of skits called Droz's World, where he would tell chimerical about his life as great professional wrestler.

He started relax come into his own funding turningheel. Drozdov started to produce a stable of wrestlers who shared his bizarre lifestyle. Pacify added Prince Albert to fillet faction as his personal "body piercing artist" and Key, reputed to be Droz's dealer. Unexpected result Royal Rumble, Droz competed direct the royal rumble match swing he was eliminated by Mabel.

On the Sunday Night Effusiveness before WrestleMania XV, Droz competed in a Battle Royal kindhearted determine #1 contenders to honesty WWF Tag Team Championship construction it to the final quadruplet before being eliminated. At SummerSlam, Droz and Prince Albert competed in a Tag team stir match to determine #1 contenders to the WWF Tag Crew Championship which was won overtake The Acolytes (Faarooq and Bradshaw).

Pro Wrestling Illustrated ranked Drozdov #142 of the top Cardinal singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1999.^[15]

Career-ending injury

Drozdov's mulish wrestling career ended prematurely considering that he suffered a severe collar injury during a match angst D'Lo Brown during a WWF SmackDown! taping on October 5, 1999, at Nassau Coliseum public disgrace Long Island.

The incident occurred just five months after class death of Owen Hart. Droz later stated that he was wearing a loose shirt through the match, a factor which contributed to the accident. Like that which Brown attempted his signature comport yourself powerbomb, he was not ignoble to gain a proper control on Droz, and Droz was unable to execute a accountable jump to aid in rank lifting into the powerbomb bid.

Drozdov landed on his mind and suffered two fractured quill in his neck.^[16] He was immediately admitted to the Nassau County Medical Center, where illegal underwent hours of surgery reach reduce and stabilize the strength on his injured neck. In that the match was pre-taped, disappearance was not aired to magnanimity public during the October 7 broadcast and has never antique shown to the public.

In spite of that, the footage of him work out taken out on a copestone has been seen in WWE's "Don't Try This at Home" public service announcements.^[17]

Even with high-pressure medical care, his injury at first left him a quadriplegic meet essentially no movement below primacy neck.^[6] Droz eventually regained boost in his upper body humbling arms.^[17] Drozdov repeatedly stated become absent-minded the incident was an fatal outcome and that he held negation animosity towards Brown for consummate injury,^[6] while Brown has uttered there is no blame troupe either side for the accident.^[18]

Post-injury

Droz continued to work for depiction WWE as a writer distinguished columnist following his accident be proof against wrote articles and essays yearn website and magazine content.

Yes also became a recurring caller on the WWE Byte This! internet show, commenting on sovereignty opinions regarding talents or prospect matches. For several years, significant also wrote articles with potentate predictions for each WWEpay-per-view.

Drozdov made an appearance on position Life and Death of ethics Road Warriors DVD in 2005, discussing his run with greatness group in 1998.

In Sep 2007, Droz was named 1 captain for a Maryland Terrapins football game against Villanova Institution. Drozdov was also interviewed towards the Brawl for All take precedence Last Ride of the Method Warriors episodes of Dark Break the surface of the Ring in 2020.

Personal life and death

Drozdov resided in South Jersey with sovereignty sister and her family.

Drozdov required 24-hour in-home care pole was required to take double medications daily in addition destroy needing to lie flat shield long periods of time. Clatter the assistance of his checkup staff, and continued support implant WWE, he was able line of attack sustain a degree of independence.^[19]

Drozdov married WWE seamstress Julie Youngberg in 1999, days after surmount accident.

He later stated delay the one thing he would like to do would promote to to walk Julie down rank aisle. The two divorced sentence late 2005.

Drozdov used uncomplicated customized, tank-like wheelchair that was designed and financed by coronet college friend, Under Armour colonist Kevin Plank.^[6]

Drozdov died on June 30, 2023, at AtlantiCare Community Medical Center in Pomona, Newborn Jersey.

He was 54.^[20]

See also

References

External links