Owen Hart Cause of Death: What Happened to Owen Hart WWE? How Did Owen Hart Die?
by Maivizhi A | Updated Jul 22, 2023
Owen Hart Cause of Death
Owen Hart, a Canadian wrestler known by his stage name "The Blue Blazer," was a promising WWE superstar during the 1990s. He hailed from the renowned Hart wrestling family, which had a long history in the wrestling world. Born on May 7, 1965, to Stu and Helen Hart, Owen was the youngest of their 12 children, eight of whom eventually became professional wrestlers.
Over the years, Owen transitioned from hero to villain and back again, participating in various storylines and factions within the WWE. By 1999, he decided to revive The Blue Blazer gimmick despite changes in the wrestling landscape.
Tragically, during a WWE pay-per-view event on May 23, 1999, at the Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri, Owen Hart fell approximately 78 feet from the arena rafters to the ring during a stunt entrance. He hit his head, and the audience initially thought it was part of the act before realizing the severity of the situation.
Medics rushed to the ring to provide CPR, but Owen Hart was pronounced dead upon arrival at Truman Medical Center. He was 34 years old at the time of his passing. An investigation into the accident suggested that a subtle movement might have triggered the quick-release harness to unhitch. Regardless of the cause, Owen Hart's death deeply impacted the wrestling community and fans, leaving a void in the industry.
Owen Hart's legacy endures as one of the WWE's all-time best wrestlers and performers. His untimely death brought to light the human side of the larger-than-life personalities in professional wrestling, reminding fans that these entertainers, despite their personas, were still real people beneath the glitz and glamor.
What Happened to Owen Hart WWE?
Owen Hart died a tragic death during a WWE pay-per-view event on May 23, 1999. As "The Blue Blazer," he was set to make a stunt entrance from the rafters of the Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri. However, something went terribly wrong during the stunt, and Owen fell approximately 78 feet from the arena rafters to the ring below. He hit his head upon impact.
At first, many in the audience thought it was part of the show, as stunts and dramatic entrances were common in professional wrestling. It quickly became apparent, however, that the situation was real and serious. Medical personnel rushed to the ring to provide aid, but Owen Hart was pronounced dead upon arrival at Truman Medical Center. He was only 34 years old at the time of his passing.
The incident had a profound impact on the wrestling world and fans worldwide. WWE (then WWF) canceled the rest of the pay-per-view event and suspended the planned storyline for the evening. The following night's episode of "Raw is War" was dedicated to Owen's memory, and the entire WWE roster gathered on the entrance ramp for a 10-bell salute in his honor.
Owen Hart's death had lasting repercussions on the wrestling industry, leading to changes in safety protocols for performers and stunts. Despite the tragic circumstances of his passing, Owen is fondly remembered as one of the WWE's most talented and beloved wrestlers. He left behind a lasting legacy and continues to be commemorated by fans and the wrestling community.
How Did Owen Hart Die?
Owen Hart died tragically during a WWE (then WWF) pay-per-view event on May 23, 1999. He was performing as his character "The Blue Blazer" and was scheduled to make a stunt entrance from the rafters of the Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri.
During the stunt, Owen Hart was supposed to be lowered into the ring while being attached to a cable. However, something went terribly wrong during the descent, and he fell approximately 78 feet from the arena rafters to the ring below. He hit his head upon impact.
At first, some members of the audience believed it was part of the show, as dramatic stunts and scripted incidents were common in professional wrestling. However, it quickly became evident that the situation was real and serious. Medical personnel rushed to the ring to provide aid, but tragically, Owen Hart was pronounced dead upon arrival at Truman Medical Center.
The accident was a devastating and shocking moment in the history of professional wrestling. It led to widespread changes in safety protocols and practices in the industry, with a greater focus on ensuring the well-being of performers during high-risk stunts and performances.
Owen Hart's untimely death left a profound impact on the wrestling community, and he continues to be remembered as one of the most talented and beloved wrestlers of his time. His legacy endures, and he is commemorated by fans and fellow wrestlers alike.
Who is Owen Hart?
Owen James Hart, born on May 7, 1965, was a renowned Canadian professional wrestler associated with various wrestling promotions, including Stampede Wrestling, New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), World Championship Wrestling (WCW), and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). He achieved significant success in the WWF, performing under his real name and the ring name The Blue Blazer.
Born in Calgary, Alberta, Owen was the youngest of twelve children in the Hart wrestling family, which was led by his parents Stu and Helen Hart. In his wrestling career, he accomplished several impressive feats, such as winning the USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship once, the WWF Intercontinental Championship twice, the WWF European Championship once, and the WWF World Tag Team Championship four times. Additionally, he was crowned the WWF King of the Ring in 1994 and headlined multiple pay-per-view events for the WWF. Known for his exceptional in-ring abilities, Owen Hart was widely regarded as one of the top performers in the company.
Tragically, on May 23, 1999, during his entrance at the Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri, Owen met a fatal accident. The equipment responsible for lowering him to the ring malfunctioned, leading to his fall and subsequent death in front of a live audience and on Pay Per View during WWF's Over the Edge event.
In his early life, Owen grew up with his eleven older siblings and showed wrestling potential during his high school days. He continued his wrestling journey at the University of Calgary, where he also met his future wife, Martha. Despite trying other career paths, Owen eventually embraced professional wrestling, receiving training in his father's Hart Dungeon and competing in Stampede Wrestling and England's Max Crabtree's Joint Promotions.
Owen's talent and skills took him to Japan, where he wrestled for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and became the first non-Japanese wrestler to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship in 1988.
Regrettably, Owen James Hart's life was cut short at the age of 34, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most respected and talented wrestlers in the industry.
Owen Hart Autopsy Report
Hart's cause of death was attributed to blunt force trauma to the chest, resulting from a tragic accident during a stunt at the Kemper Arena. The incident occurred when he was repelling from the ceiling in his Blue Blazer character, falling from a height of 78 feet. Regrettably, Hart's aorta was severed upon impact with the ring, leading to his untimely demise.
Despite the gravity of the situation, it was fortunate that no other individuals were harmed during the incident. Originally, the plan involved having Max Mini attached to Hart for the stunt, but this arrangement was called off earlier in the day.
On May 23rd, before the evening's 'Over the Edge' event, various tests were conducted with a 250-pound sandbag serving as a stand-in for Hart. Both rigger Bobby Talbert and assistant Matt Allmen carried out tests, with Allmen descending once and Hart performing a rehearsal in the afternoon.
Following the tragedy, the show's investigation delved into Hart's lifestyle and whether alcohol or drugs might have influenced his judgment that night. However, it was confirmed that neither alcohol nor drugs were present in Hart's system. Martha, his widow, revealed that he seldom consumed alcohol, and there was no evidence of steroid use, as WWE was not actively testing talent during that period unless there was a reason to suspect a problem. The WWE implemented its Wellness Policy six years later, prompted by the death of Eddy Guerrero in November 2005.
While there were unmarked prescription pill bottles found in Hart's hotel room containing Diazepam and Alprazolam, which are used to treat anxiety and insomnia, these substances were not detected in his system during the autopsy and were ruled out as factors influencing his decision-making.
The main focus of the investigation centered around the rigging choices made by head rigger Bobby Talbert. The WWF had opted for Talbert after failing to reach an agreement with Joe Branam, who had previously handled such stunts, including one with Hart the previous year. Martha's book outlined that the WWF was aware of the potential dangers related to their request for a quicker release, as advised by Brannam.
Normally, this type of stunt involved the use of a metal carabiner with backup safety latches. However, the WWF aimed to eliminate the lag time involved in unhooking upon landing, as seen with other performers like Sting in WCW. Their solution was a quick release snap shackle manufactured by Lewmar Inc. and purchased from Amspec Inc. Unfortunately, this decision contributed to the tragic outcome
Owen Hart Cause of Death - FAQs
Owen Hart's cause of death was attributed to blunt force trauma to the chest, resulting from a tragic accident during a stunt at a WWE pay-per-view event on May 23, 1999. He fell approximately 78 feet from the arena rafters to the ring below during his Blue Blazer character entrance.
At first, many in the audience thought Owen Hart's fall was part of the show, as dramatic stunts and scripted incidents were common in professional wrestling. However, it quickly became apparent that the situation was real and serious.
No, there was no evidence of alcohol or drugs in Owen Hart's system during the autopsy. He was not under the influence of any substances that could have influenced his judgment or contributed to the accident.
Owen Hart's death had a profound impact on the wrestling community and fans worldwide. It brought to light the risks and dangers involved in professional wrestling stunts and performances.
Owen Hart had prior experience with high-risk stunts and aerial performances during his wrestling career. However, the specific stunt at the Kemper Arena involved equipment and rigging choices that ultimately led to the tragic accident.