Just as the wrestling world began coming to grips with the Chris Benoit tragedy, it has been dealt another deadly blow. For over three years, George “John Kronus” Caiazo and his partner Perry Saturn dominated the ECW tag team ranks. Billed as the Eliminators, they became household names in devoted wrestling circles and were sometimes even touted as the most entertaining duo in all of sports entertainment. Kronus passed away yesterday at the home of his girlfriend.
The cause of death has not yet been determined; however, Pro Wrestling Insider has been reporting that the former champion had recently undergone knee surgery. It’s truly heartbreaking that this death seems to be just another casualty in the trials and tribulations of ex-wrestlers. Whether it be from steroids, drug use, or a body simply too worn down to continue, John Kronus’ death needs to be treated as another and hopefully the last wake-up call for the squared circle industry.
Arguably the worst part of this entire epidemic is the lack of a hard and fast solution. Sure, more stringent drug and steroid tests would help to wipe out a few overdoses, but the fact of the matter is, spending forty or more weeks a year on the road with a close group of alpha males is a proven recipe for disaster. Something needs to be done, and it needs to be done now.
John Kronus was a phenomenal entertainer. Unlike most big men, he casually climbed the top ropes and put his body on the line for thousands of fans every single night. I’ll never forget his death-defying maneuvers and his goofy, lovable promos. The world of wrestling has undeniably lost a great man. He will truly be missed.
